学童(がくどう)

がくどう
noun
schoolchild; school-age child
formalpersoneducation
1. schoolchild; school-age child
A child of elementary school age, roughly 6 to 12 years old. Often used in official or institutional contexts rather than casual conversation.
学童(がくどう)保育(ほいく)に申(もう)し込(こ)む。
To apply for after-school childcare.
学童(がくどう)の通学路(つうがくろ)を安全(あんぜん)にする。
To make the route that schoolchildren take to school safe.
共働(ともばたら)きの家庭(かてい)にとって、学童(がくどう)クラブは大(おお)きな助(たす)けになっている。
For dual-income households, after-school clubs are a great help.

Refers to children of elementary school age (roughly 6–12). While the literal meaning is simply 'school-age child,' in modern usage 学童(がくどう) is strongly associated with 学童(がくどう)保育(ほいく) — the after-school childcare programs that look after children while parents are at work.

Common collocations

  • 学童(がくどう)保育(ほいく): after-school childcare (for elementary school children)
  • 学童(がくどう)クラブ: after-school club
  • 学童(がくどう)疎開(そかい): wartime evacuation of schoolchildren (historical)
  • 学童(がくどう)の列(れつ): line of schoolchildren

Usage

In everyday conversation, people usually say 小学生(しょうがくせい) (elementary school student) rather than 学童(がくどう). The term 学童(がくどう) appears primarily in official contexts, policy discussions, and as shorthand for after-school care programs.

Similar words

Related Words

Compare: 小学生(しょうがくせい) (elementary school student)
Compare: 児童(じどう) (child)
general
Added 2026.3.30 6:21 · Revised 2026.9.2 13:02
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