- The following is content from the press release -
(Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Chairman and President: Yasuhiko Okamoto; hereafter "Rike Kids"), a subsidiary of Rike Corporation (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Chairman and President: Yasuhiko Okamoto; hereafter "Rike"), a provider of childcare, human resources, and nursing care services, has launched a new service for preschool children called (headquartered in Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Takutake Okamoto, President; hereinafter "Like Kids"), an operator of an educational toy subscription service for preschoolers called "Toysub! (headquartered in Nakano-ku, Tokyo; Norimichi Shida, President; hereinafter "Trana"), which operates an educational toy subscription service for preschoolers, and Makiko Nakamuro's Laboratory at Keio University, will begin joint research on "the effects of timely and appropriate use of educational toys on growth and development" in July 2023.
Intellectual and educational toys are widely used in homes and daycare facilities as items that promote children's growth and development. Recently, there has been growing interest in the quality of early childhood education and how educational toys contribute to the growth and development of young children. To address this issue, "Nijiiro Nursery School" operated by Like Kids, Makiko Nakamuro Laboratory at Keio University, which has expertise in educational economics, and Trana, a provider of educational toy subscription services, have decided to conduct a joint research project.
At Nijiiro Preschool, operated by Like Kids, we believe that play is an important element in nurturing children's minds and promoting well-balanced development. Therefore, we have created a playground where each child's interests and curiosity can be satisfied. Professor Makiko Nakamuro advocates the use of scientific evidence in education, and is conducting research using data to clarify the effects of educational environments and practices on children's academic performance, learning habits, and non-cognitive abilities. Trana's "Toysub! is a subscription-based educational service that delivers educational toys tailored to the growth of each preschooler from 0 years and 3 months to 6 years old. The service began operations in November 2015 based on the corporate vision of "Let's increase happy parent-child time. We share a common desire to contribute to the growth of each and every child, which led us to conduct joint research.
Through this joint research, we will use scientific evidence to clarify how educational toys contribute to children's growth and development, and explore the possibilities and methods of effectively utilizing educational toys in early childhood education. We also hope to obtain concrete results and findings, and to use this information in practice in the field of early childhood education.
Expected Research Results
In young children, we will analyze the correlation between the improvement of activity and developmental status by educational toys, and aim to prove that children's activity is activated and development is promoted by providing appropriate educational toys at the right time, and to obtain age-specific effects.
Joint Research Outline
Research: Effects of Timely and Appropriate Use of Educational Toys on Growth and Development
Joint research team: Trana Corporation, Makiko Nakamuro Laboratory, Keio University, Like Kids Co.
Start of research: July 2023
Professor Makiko Nakamuro, Faculty of Policy Studies, Keio University Comments
Many domestic and international studies have shown that the quality of early childhood education has a positive impact on children's cognitive and linguistic development. Our research group has focused on the quality of childcare and has been studying how to improve it. We are pleased to announce that, together with Trana Corporation and Like Kids, Inc,
We hope to contribute to creating a more fulfilling childcare environment by conducting research to clarify the impact of educational toys on the quality of childcare and children's development.
Comment from Mr. Norimichi Shida, President of Trana Co.
Through this joint research with Makiko Nakamuro Laboratory and Like Kids, we believe that we can prove what we have felt so far through our business, that the use of growth-oriented educational toys contributes to children's growth and development, based not only on the experiential value but also on an academic approach Based on the results of this research. Toysub! We hope to use the results of this research as a basis for taking on the challenge of further increasing the value of the Toys "R" Us service.
Takutake Okamoto, President and Representative Director, Like Kids Co.
Our philosophy at Like Kids Co., Ltd. is to nurture the "ability to live (i.e., rich sensitivity + consideration for others + ability to think and act independently)" through rich encounters and experiences with people, things, and nature, while staying close to the heart of each individual child. Through this joint research, we will quantify the quality of childcare services that we have refined in our practice from an academic standpoint, and this will lead to the provision of homogeneous, high-quality services that do not rely solely on empirical rules.
About Like Kids
Like Kids operates a wide range of childcare facilities, including licensed Nijiiro Nursery School and in-house daycare facilities, as well as school-age clubs and childcare centers, at more than 380 locations throughout Japan. In our brightly lit nursery rooms made of natural materials, we create an environment where children feel they belong and where they can exercise their imagination and be spontaneous. We hope that the children will spend a carefree time while experiencing the warm sensation of the furniture and handmade playground equipment made from Japanese cypress and other wood from thinned forests in abundance in their daily lives.
About Us
Trade name: Like Kids Co.
Representative: Takutake Okamoto, President and Representative Director
Location: 150-0043
17F West, Shibuya Mark City, 1-12-1 Dogenzaka, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo
Established: December 1989
Business description: Provides "public childcare services" operating various types of childcare facilities such as "Nijiiro Nursery School," a licensed nursery school, school children's clubs, and childcare centers, and "contracted childcare services" operating on-site childcare facilities (companies, hospitals, universities, etc.) on consignment.
Capital: 50 million yen
URL:https://www.like-kd.co.jp/academy/
For inquiries regarding this matter, please contact
Rike Group PR Office (in Initials) Attn: Shinkai, Toyama, Miyashita, Matsumura
TEL: 03-5572-7334 (Suzuki cell phone: 050-5235-5078, Toyama cell phone: 050-5235-4948)
FAX: 03-5572-6065 MAIL: like-gr@vectorinc.co.jp
