Welcome to
Kaze to Hana Daycare!
Located in North Oakland, CA
Facility Number 013423598
About us
Hi, I'm Chihiro Ito, the founder of Kaze to Hana Daycare.
Thank you for your interest in our daycare!
Born and raised in Japan, I graduated from Rikkyo College with a degree in Early Childhood Education. I completed 12 credits in administration and the Reggio Emilia Approach at Santa Monica College and furthered my training by joining a Reggio Emilia program in Italy.
With over 10 years of experience working with children in Japan, Vietnam, and the U.S., across kindergarten, preschool, and daycare settings, I am passionate about fostering growth and learning in young minds. After moving to the U.S. in 2020, I launched Kaze to Hana Daycare in November of that year.
At Kaze to Hana, our mission is to share the beauty of Japanese culture and language with children in the U.S. while supporting the development and education of children from all backgrounds. We also strive to build strong connections with families and the local community.
Our program
Kaze to Hana Daycare is a Japanese immersion,
Reggio Emilia Approach-inspired
learning environment.
Our BELIEFS
風を感じよう
Feel the breeze
花を育てよう
Let’s plant some flowers
生活と遊びの中で心が動く経験を
Experiences that touch the heart through
daily life and play
風と花デイケアでは「自然」「生活」「遊び」の３つを基本に
のびのびと育つ子どもたちの心と体をサポートします。
There are three concepts we believe are foundational to a child’s development: Nature, Life, and Play.
Daily Schedule
Morning | Afternoon | ||
8:30 AM - 9:30 AM | Arrival and Indoor play | 1:00 - 3:00 PM | Nap Children who are over 3 years old and no longer need a nap engage in quiet activities (such as origami, puzzles, or playdough) for 1 hour, followed by 1 hour of kid-friendly screen time. |
9:30 AM | Activities include going to the park, walking around the neighborhood, painting, and doing sensory activities to foster physical development and social skills. | 3:00 PM | Snack, diaper change |
10:45 AM | Washing hands, change of clothes | 3:20 PM | Indoor play |
11:00 AM | Indoor play: includes activities such as crafts, magnets, puzzles, drawing, and learning Japanese to support imagination, creativity, cognitive, and language skills. | 3:30 PM - 4:00 PM | Departure |
11:30 AM | Lunch | ||
12:10 PM | Diaper change, cleaning | ||
12:30 PM | Storytime and circle time English and Japanese children’s books and singing songs |
Japanese immersion
Japanese environment
Japanese will be primarily used to communicate. We have many Japanese toys and children’s books and we sing many Japanese songs everyday!
Our goal for learning Japanese
At Kaze to Hana Daycare, our goal is to support Japanese families or those with a Japanese background living in the U.S. We also strive to introduce the beauty of Japanese culture, customs, and the intricacies of the Japanese language to the local community. Regardless of a child's Japanese proficiency,
we welcome families and children of any background.
Let's enjoy Japanese culture and traditions together with family and community! 日本の文化や習慣をぜひ家族やこのコミュニティで楽しみましょう！
Teacher Ratio
1 (teacher) : 4 (children)
We maintain a ratio of 1 teacher for every 4 children, meaning that two teachers care for 8 children.
When additional support is needed, such as when welcoming new students or during outings to the park, Chihiro's husband, Kai, steps in as needed to assist.
Daycare License
8 children capacity
We are licensed by CDSS (California Department of Social Services) for a Family Large Daycare. According to the regulations, we are permitted to care for up to 12 children (with no more than 4 under the age of 2). However, based on our available space, we limit the number of children to a maximum of 8 (with no more than 4 under the age of 2).
Our daycare opened in November 2020.
Reggio Emilia-Inspired Learning
Creativity
At Kaze to Hana Daycare, we nurture children's creativity by offering a wide range of sensory play experiences that engage their imaginations, even at a young age. From water and sand to bubbles and shadows, we incorporate natural elements to stimulate their senses. We carefully select toys that promote learning about shapes, space, numbers, and quantities, often using recycled materials to create them. By the time children reach around three years old, we encourage them to invent their own play, fostering independence and innovation.
Discovery
We believe that nature is one of the best environments for children to discover and explore. At Kaze to Hana Daycare, we dedicate plenty of time to outdoor activities, where children can interact with plants and animals in their natural surroundings. Whether we’re taking walks through the neighborhood or visiting local parks two to three times a week, we provide ample opportunities for children to immerse themselves in the world around them and develop a curiosity for the living environment.
Relationship
Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, we emphasize the importance of relationships in learning. We see children as capable individuals who learn through their interactions with peers, teachers, and their environment. At Kaze to Hana Daycare, we foster a strong sense of community, encouraging collaboration and communication. Through these meaningful connections, children feel empowered to express themselves, build confidence, and thrive within their social and educational development.
Tuition
We are open from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm, Monday through Thursday.
One-Time Enrollment Fee
$150
Two days per week class (Mon & Wed / Tue & Thu)
8:30 am - 4:00 pm
$1,050 for all ages
Four days per week class (Mon - Thu)
8:30 am - 4:00 pm
$1,790 for all ages
Four days per week morning class (Mon - Thu)
8:30 am -12:30 pm
$1,650 for all ages
Supply Fee / each month
$83 for Four days per week class or morning time class
$43 for Two days per week class
* Supply fee includes snacks, beverages, craft items, toys, books, and wipes.
Lunch fee is not included. There is no charge during summer and winter recess.
Lunch Fee / each month
$130
We provide nutritious lunches for children who attend the Four days per week class.
This is optional and if you choose to prepare your child’s lunch, no lunch fee will be incurred.
*If your child has wheat allergies or is vegetarian, we kindly request you to prepare their own lunch.
For children with other allergies, please inform the daycare so we can make arrangements.
Late fee
The late pickup fee is $5 if you arrive after your child's scheduled pickup time.
If you arrive after 15 minutes, a $20 late fee will be charged. This fee will be added to the following month’s invoice.
Late payment is $30 and will be charged on the following month's invoice.
Tuition Included
2024/12/23 - 1/2 Winter Recess
2025/1/20 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
2/17 Presidents Day
3/24- 3/31 Spring Recess
5/26 Memorial Day
6/19 Juneteenth
7/1 - 7/18 Summer Recess*
9/24 - 9/25 Fall Recess
*There are 3 breaks per year (March 5 days, September 2 days, and December 8 days) total 15 days
These breaks are included in the childcare fees.
In July, there is 12 days break.
Childcare fees are discounted by 50% for July.
Absent days
No tuition refund will be issued for sick days or voluntary or involuntary absences.
Admission
Kaze to Hana Daycare Enrollment
Kaze to Hana Daycare provides a Japanese immersion, Reggio Emilia Approach inspired school for children between
12 months to 5 years old. We welcome all children from all cultures, races, ethnicities, and religions.
We are now accepting a few students starting in January 2025.
Requirements
Families interested in Japanese culture and wishing to learn Japanese.
Children over 12 months old, do not require a morning nap AND do not need breast milk during the day.
While not mandatory, we highly recommend introducing sleep training at home before your child begins attending.
Admission Steps
1. Join an in-person tour with your child.
2. Submit an enrollment form.
3. Receive an invoice for the first month's tuition.
4. Payment for the first month’s tuition via Zelle and keep your child’s spot.
Things to bring
Items | About it | |
1 | Backpack / Handbag | For carrying the items. We recommend bringing a small backpack for children 2 years and older. |
2 | 4 Paper or cloth diapers / Underwear and socks | As needed |
3 | Meal bib | As needed |
4 | Lunch box | As needed |
5 | Hat / Cap | Fits your child perfectly and has a strap. Hats that are too big or too small are not suitable for play. We strongly recommend the Infant or Toddler size from “Sunday Afternoons”. |
6 | Water proof bag | For dirty clothes. Please use a waterproof bag with a zipper instead of a plastic bag. Make sure your child’s name is labeled. If your child uses cloth diapers, please bring an extra waterproof bag as well. |
7 (Optional) | Sunscreen, Morning snack, Medicine | Sunscreen: Please apply sunscreen to your child before coming. If we go outside in the afternoon and it is sunny, we will apply sunscreen for them at the daycare. Morning snack: If your child doesn’t have time to eat breakfast at home or struggles to last until lunch due to their age, please bring cereal or a smoothie pouch. Make sure to label the cereal box and pouch with your child’s name. Medicine: We do not administer pain relievers (such as Tylenol) at daycare. For medications related to allergies or eczema etc, we require a doctor’s signature and instructions on when and how to use them. If your child has sensitive skin and is prone to irritation, you may bring moisturizing creams like Vaseline without needing any additional paperwork. |
We provide | Afternoon snacks, beverages (water, barley tea, and milk), cups, wipes, and extra clothes | Cup: If your child has difficulty drinking from a regular cup without a straw, please bring their own empty bottle. Clothes: Since we frequently do activities involving paint, sand, and water, please dress your child in clothes that can get dirty. No rompers, please. If your child wears a skirt, make sure they have leggings or shorts underneath. If their clothes get dirty, we provide an extra clothes, so there’s no need to bring it. |
Q&A
Q1. Is lunch only for children attending four days per week? What kind of lunch is provided?
Yes, the lunch program is available only for children attending four days per week. For 2 days out of the week, lunch is prepared at the daycare, and for the other 2days, we use a toddler-friendly catering service from Nurture Life. All meals are low in sugar, low in salt, and include two or more servings of vegetables or fruit. If a child has severe food allergies, is vegetarian, or has picky eating habits that make our meals unsuitable, we ask parents to provide lunch from home.
Q2. Can you assist with potty training at daycare?
We recommend starting potty training around the age of two, when you have about 2-3 weeks of relaxed time at home, including weekends. It’s difficult to make progress if potty training is only happening at daycare and the child is still wearing diapers at home. Once potty training has started at home, we will mirror your methods and support the process here at daycare. There is no extra charge during this period.
Q3. My child does not like to nap or hasn’t started sleep training at home. What is the nap time environment like at the daycare?
For children over the age of three who do not need a nap, we offer one hour of quiet activities (such as puzzles, drawing, or crafts) followed by about one hour of screen time with age-appropriate content. If your child finds it difficult to stay quiet for about two hours, we may suggest switching to a morning-only class.
Children under three years old need naps for their development, so we only accept children who can nap for about 2 hours at daycare. If your child hasn’t been sleep trained at home, we ask that sleep training be completed before enrollment, as we cannot provide rocking, stroller naps, or two-hour cuddle naps at daycare.
Contact us
Join the tour!
Location
1072 57th St Oakland, 94608
