Nursery schools in Japan?

well... i need some help about this.

I am wondering about concept of nursery schools/preschool education in Japan. I have read something about ''tsutaeai'' system, that is (seem to be) realized in several objects of child care. But, I do not know much about it. Also, it would be great if anyone here knows concept of these kind of buildings.. or maybe there is some well known object of this type... or just give me some tips or links.. that would be great too...

sorry for my bad english

The word "tsutaeai" is a compound word from "tsutaeru" (to communicate or relate/relay some information) and "au" (mutually, back-and-forth, in both directions). So "tsutaeai" (伝え合い) just means to communicate some idea or information with each other. I have no idea how it could apply to a type of building. A quick glance at some of the summaries of Japan Google search hits for 伝え合い and 幼稚園 (kindergarten) makes it seem that the word relates to encouraging the children to communicate with each other.

I suspect it is just the latest educational/psychobabble buzzword.

thank you Mike.
way of organization of day time can affect way the building is composed. i assume if kids are communicating with each other no matter age all the time, they probably spent time in one or two big rooms. in other hand, old fashioned kindergartens use to separate kids in groups by age in smaller rooms.

Mike's explanation was the only thing I came up with. It sounds more like a concept rather than the construction of the building to me.

Where did you read this, Alma? And, what other things were written about "tsutaeai"?

You are right about the nursery schools and the kindergartens in Japan separate children into same age groups.

well, maybe i wrote it wrong.. of course it is a concept, as i previously read, and mike explained based on mutual communication between kids. i am not saying that this is way of constructing building, but concept of spending time does affect how the building is done, too. so, i heard just about this one, but cannot find more info about it... and i am sure there is lots of different concepts about preschool education around the world.

so, i was just thinking that maybe somebody here knows more about this (not just tsutaeai, but other systems, too) part of education in Japan..