Impact of COVID-19! Special childcare services have begun on Miyakojima as well

First, a word of thanks

I am truly grateful that the daycare center has continued to accept my child despite the current circumstances.

I imagine the staff at the daycare, who have children of their own, must have coordinated with their families to be able to come to work—and as a parent myself, I can’t help but feel nothing but gratitude.

Thank you very much

Details of the Notice

Here is the content of the notice!

Excerpted from the Miyakojima City website

The program clearly emphasizes that it is intended for those who absolutely cannot take time off from work

With the recent increase in people moving here from the mainland, the situation has become difficult for those who have no other relatives to rely on

Ever since we learned of the infection on Ishigaki Island, our child has stayed out of daycare as much as possible, with their grandparents taking care of them instead

We are truly grateful for this backup support.

There’s also information regarding workplaces

In the case of Miyakojima City, you need to fill out an application form when requesting special childcare services.

The form also included a section for the workplace

Since an example was included in a separate document, I personally found it easy to understand.

Since the program covers quite a wide range of industries, I do worry that if many people continue to use it, it might put a strain on the childcare providers.

However, I’ve heard that, surprisingly, many people rely on family members to provide childcare

Support from relatives plays a major role.

When discussing the high number of people using home-based childcare, the topic of support from relatives often comes up.

Circumstances vary from family to family, so it’s hard to generalize, but

in my circle, it’s common for grandparents to look after the children at home.

I imagine it’s difficult for them on a daily basis, since they’re farmers or have their own jobs, but

I often hear stories of them stepping in to help out for limited periods of time

That’s the case in my family, too.

What surprised me was hearing that at a certain daycare center, every child in the [age] class is being cared for at home.

I don’t know the exact number of children or the duration, but even for a class of about 10 children, I think this is quite an unusual situation.

Although Japan is said to be facing a declining birthrate and an aging population, with the birthrate per person falling,

Okinawa Prefecture has the highest birth rate in the country, and it is the only prefecture in Japan experiencing natural population growth.

While there are likely various factors at play, the significant support from extended family and the understanding within the community are often cited as key reasons.

Although this information is a bit outdated, it has been officially endorsed by the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare.

Personally, I feel that the emphasis on having a male heir is a bit outdated…

While a communal spirit can be problematic if taken too far, I believe the warmth of the people and the ease of living that I feel when I return to the island stem from this very spirit.

While there are concerns that the coronavirus pandemic may drag on, let’s get through this by supporting one another.

I hope this article serves as a moment of respite for someone striving to raise their children.

Thank you for watching! ♪