POTATO ViVi

クリスマス飾り　Christmas Decorations

2009-12-03T10:49:00.007+09:00

Time flies. Can't believe that it is already December. Today's craft is a Christmas tree. The kids will decorate the Christmas tree with marker and the using a crunched up piece of aluminium foil as the background, the picture is pasted on a colored construction paper photo frame. The kids will use stickers, pre-cut stars and markers to decorate the photo frame. Also using origami paper, stars are made and if you stick 3 of the stars together, you will get a three dimensional star. One of the kid turned 5 so we celebrated her birthday today too. There will be a pot luck Christmas party on 18th of December at 11:00 a.m at room 403 with Japanese class members. All POTATO members are invited. Also the next POTATO gathering will be on 14th of January. See you then and till then here's wishing everyone a HAPPY NEW YEAR.

Japanese Class

今日は雨で寒い日になりました、もうそろそろ一年が終わると思うとあっという間で驚きます。今日はクリスマスの飾りを作りました、クリアファイルとホイルを使って壁に飾れるようにしました。緑や赤を使うだけでクリスマスっぽくなるので色々試してみてください。子ども達が書く絵は各々、個性があるので飾ってみるだけで立派なアートになります、子どもの絵でお家を飾りつけるのも素敵だと思いますよ。今日はお誕生日だったお友達がいたのでバースデイカードをプレゼントしました、喜んでくれるといいのですが。来週からポテトは少し長いお休みに入ります。次回は年明けの１月１４日木曜日になります、紙を切って雪の結晶を作りたいと思います、寒いのでみんな一緒にダンスもして暖まりましょう。みなさんよいクリスマスとお正月をお過ごしください。後、１２月１８日金曜日11:00から日本語教室のクリスマスパーティがあります、一品何か料理をお持ちください。いつもポテトに来ていただいている皆さんも参加歓迎いたしますとの事なのでぜひ参加してみてください、楽しいですよ。

ボランティア日本語教室

Snowman

2009-11-26T11:44:00.005+09:00

Weather is getting colder and colder. However, we are blessed with fine autumn weather today. For crafts today, using origami paper, we made a snowman. The snowman is pasted on to a black sheet of construction paper and using colored origami paper, we decorated the snowman by putting on scarf, hat, buttons, eyes, mouth, etc. Then using crayons, snow is drawn on. As usual, we have story telling in English. Next week, we will be making Christmas decorations. Do come and join us.

新聞で変身してみよう！Newspaper! Newspaper!

2009-11-19T11:18:00.005+09:00

今日はとても寒い日ですね、お友達たちはきませんでしたお家の中でのんびりしてるのでしょう。ところで皆さんは新聞紙で遊んだりしますか？帽子にしたり、服にしたり、チラシでもいろいろ作れるんですよ。大きい紙で作ると子ども達にはちょうどいいサイズになります、親子で一緒に工作してみると楽しいかもしれません。うちの子供は小さい頃、新聞紙で作ったステッキと服で魔法使いに変身してました。ぜひお家でも試してみてください、おすすめですよ。来週は折り紙で雪だるまを作りたいと思います、折り紙を折ったり、切って貼ったりお子様達にも楽しめると思います、お待ちしてます。

During a cold rainy day and you are stuck at home, why not dig out some unwanted newspapers or advertisments and use it to play with your kids. Let the kids tear the newspapers or make balls out of it or throw the newspapers around. For today, we prepared wands made from papers and paper hats made out of newspapers. However sad to say, no one came. Next week, we will be making a snow man using origami paper and decorating it using crayons. Do come and join us.

秋の落ち葉製作　Autumn Crafts

2009-11-12T10:35:00.005+09:00

今日は秋の製作をしました、最近は大分紅葉も進み山がいろんな色でとてもきれいですよね。そんなイメージで製作をしてみました。画用紙に木の幹をプリントした紙を貼って葉っぱは紙の葉っぱと、自分達の手を使いました。指にインクを付けてペタペタすれば不思議と木に紅葉した葉があらわれます、私も見本に作りましたが、子どもの手のほうが小さくてきれいに見えます。木の下に落ち葉も飾って素敵な秋のアートが完成しました、壁にかけれるように紐をつけたので家の中で紅葉が楽しめるのではないでしょうか、みなさんもお子様と一緒にぜひ作ってみてください。来週は新聞紙で遊びたいと思います、侮るなかれ新聞紙。大きな紙で帽子なんかも作ろうかなと思います、みなさんぜひ来てくださいねお待ちしてます。

Autumn is here. If you take a walk in the park, you will see fallen leaves and the leaves are all colored. For crafts today, we printed out a tree trunk and prepared different types of autumn leaves. Using a stamp pad, the kids first imprinted their tiny finger prints on the paper and made tiny leaves. Next, they pasted on the autumn leaves on the tree and also on the ground. Lastly, using markers and crayons to decorate it, the craft was completed. We strung a string through the top of the craft so that it can be hung and decorated at home. Next week, we will be playing with newspapers. Do come and join us.

仮装してみました。Halloween Party

2009-10-29T11:24:00.006+09:00

ハロウインの仮装をして楽しみました。ティガ、白雪姫、ミツバチ、魔女などに変身しました。最初は嫌がっていても次第に慣れてくると嬉しくてたまらない様子です。大きい子は着物（和装）に挑戦。羽織つきの着物とぞうりを履いて記念の写真も撮りました。それから、お菓子入れのバッグも作りました。大きなかぼちゃのマークのバッグには何を入れましょうか？来週は散歩に行きます。枯葉や木の実を探して来ましょう。その次の週に、それを使ってクリスマスの飾りも作ります。
Halloween is just around the corner. Today, we have Tigger, Honeybee, Snow White, Pumpkin, Red Indian, and others joining us at the party. The kids look so adorable in their costumes. For crafts, the kids each made a Trick or Treat bag using printed paper and black string and at the end of the day, the kids lined up and were given treats. A totally enjoyable day. As usual, we also have story telling in English and Japanese and dancing and singing in English. Next week, we will be having a stroll and collecting autumn leaves. Meet us at room 403 at 10 a.m. See you next week.

POTATO Schedule

2009-10-28T23:04:00.003+09:00

Schedule for November 2009 to January 2010 is up. There will be no gathering from Dec 10 to Jan 7.

Schedule

かぼちゃの折り紙とおばけ　Halloween Crafts

2009-10-22T11:29:00.005+09:00

10月の行事のハロウインの折り紙をしました。オレンジのかぼちゃは作り手によっていろんな形・表情になります。笑ったかぼちゃ、少し怒ったかぼちゃがたくさんできました。人気のあったのは白い紙で作った‘おばけ’です。これも又様々な表情で笑わせてくれました。色々な作品を好みの色の大師に貼ってサインをしてお土産にしました。お家に帰って家族の皆さんとお話してください。今日は初めて参加のお友達もいました。楽しんでいただけたと思います。また来週！！お待ちしています。
Halloween crafts today. Using colored paper, we folded a pumpkin, ghost and witch. Using markers, we drew on the faces. Today, we also have a new friends from China joining us. Most of the kids that came today are around 1 year old so origami, folding paper crafts are still too difficult for them. The mothers though had fun making the crafts and the kids helped with drawing on the faces. While the mothers were making the crafts, the kids played at the room next door. As usual we have story telling in Japanese and English and also singing and dancing to English songs. Next week is our Halloween party. If you have any costumes, do bring them along. We will also have some costumes prepared here so do come and let's dress up. See you next week.

お散歩　Stroll

2009-10-15T11:52:00.006+09:00

今日はとてもいいお天気です、お散歩日和ですね。1歳のお友達と清水公園と戸室児童館に行ってきました。
お母さんは外国の方なので、児童館の利用の仕方や手続を教えて名札をもらい遊びました。最初はおかあさんの近くからはなれませんでしたがしばらくすると少しづつ1人でおもちゃを持ってきたり新しいお友達ともちょっとですが交流できたようです、同じ年頃のお友達を作るには公園や児童館はいい出会いの場になりますね。また遊びに行きたいと思います。次回は折り紙等でハロウィンの飾りを作りたいと思います。皆さんぜひ来てくださいね、お待ちしてます。

Nice autumn weather today. We took a stroll to the Shimizu Park and Tomuro Kids Community Center. As we walked, we could smell the fragrant olives, small orange flowers which is in bloom at the moment. Also persimons are ripe and in season. First we dropped by the Shimizu park and played for a while and progressed to the Tomuro Kids Community Center. There are lots of kids and toys at the Kids Community Center and everyone played together. An enjoyable day.　　Next week we will be making Halloween crafts. Come and join us.

マラカス製作 Maracas

2009-10-08T11:36:00.005+09:00

今日は朝からすごい台風でした、なのでお友達は来ませんでしたが幼稚園がお休みになったので大きいお姉さん達と過ごしました、本日はマラカス作りです。必要なものは子どもの乳酸飲料やヨーグルトの入れ物や小さいペットボトル、後は中に小豆やアイロンビーズなどを入れてテープで止めて完成です。今日はみんな大きい子たちだったので外に自分達で好きなテープやシールを貼って素敵に飾り付けしました。自分達のセンスで真剣に切ったり貼ったり。かわいい作品ができました。来週はお散歩です。いいお天気になることを祈って、
みんなで公園に行って思い切り遊びましょう、お待ちしてます。
Typhoon in Kanagawa area this morning. As a result some of the kindergarten is closed and thus some of the older kids came to POTATO play group today. First using empty bottles and putting small beads and red beans inside, we made maracas. Colored tapes, stickers and colored paper are used to decorate the bottles. The kids were very involved and made very colorful maracas. As we are making musical instruments today, we also prepared handbells and the older kids used the handbells and played various songs like 'Twinkle Twinkle Little Star' and others with it. As usual, story telling in Japanese and English and singing and dancing in English. Yet, another enjoyable day.　　Next week, we will be going for a walk. Meet at 403 at 10 a.m. If it rains, we will play at room 403. See you next week.

小麦粉粘土　Clay from flour

2009-10-01T11:45:00.006+09:00

秋晴れの一日でした。本当は外へ散歩したいような気持ちでしたが、室内で小麦粉粘土で遊びました。小麦粉と油と水を混ぜで作りますが色は「食紅」を使います。赤・黄色・緑で色をつけた小麦粉粘土は、まるで耳たぶのような感触。お母さんが赤ちゃんの耳を触ったくらいの感じがいいです。それぞれ思い思いの形にしましたが、2～３日しか日持ちがしないので少し残念です。でも久しぶりにゆったりした遊びができました。
Today we have a new friend from Peru. Using flour, oil and food coloring mixed with water, we made clay. Pink, green and yellow clay. Clay made from flour is safe even for small kids who might accidentally put it in their mouth. Playing with clay can also trigger the imagination of kids. Today, we made snow man, snails, butterfly, star, heart, moon, little girl, snake and others. It was lots of fun. As usual, we have story telling in Japanese and English and singing and dancing in English. Next week, we will be making musical instruments. Do come and join us.

お店やさんごっこ Shopping

2009-09-24T11:13:00.003+09:00

今日はお店やさんごっこをしようと思ったのですが最近、新型インフルエンザの流行もありお友達は来ませんでした。ですが、次回以降に楽しむためにいろいろ作ってみました。お菓子、野菜、果物、つくろうと思ってもなかなか難しいですね、試行錯誤しながらがんばりました、お金も作ったので今度遊ぶときにはみんなにお買い物してもらうのが楽しみです。いつか本当におつかいに行く時の練習になればいいなあと思います。
来週１０月1日木曜日、次回のポテトは小麦粉粘土をやります。小さいお子様でも安心な小麦粉粘土で楽しく遊びたいと思います、お待ちしてます。

Nice autumn weather today. Let‘s go shopping. There is a cake shop, fruits stall, vegetables stall and fish stall. By playing shopping, you can teach the kids the name of the vegetables, cakes, fruits, etc. You can also teach the kids about numbers from the money that they use to buy the things. Kids always watch the parents go shopping and it would be fun for them to go shopping. However sad to say, no one turned up today. We can do it again another day. For next week, we will be playing with clay. Come and join us. We will be waiting.

敬老の日カード作りCard for grandparents

2009-09-10T11:24:00.004+09:00

今日は21日の敬老の日におじいちゃん、おばあちゃんに贈るメッセージカード製作をする予定でしたが、残念ながらお友達はだれも来ませんでしたのでした。皆さんは敬老の日や色々な記念日にカードを贈ったりしますか？日本人は子どもの時は作りますが大人になるとあまりカードを贈るということは無い様に思います。でも普段なかなか言えない感謝の気持ちを紙に書くことで伝わるならとてもすばらしいことだと思います。最近はメールで済んでしまう事もありますが、たまには自分の字で相手に気持ちを伝えるというのもいいのではないでしょうか。来週はお散歩ですが雨が降ったら教室で敬老の日カードを作りたいと思います。皆さんぜひ来てくださいね。待ってます。
In Japan, 21st of September is the day to Respect the Elder. As such, today's craft is to make a card for the grandparents. We planned to take a picture of the kid and mother and to paste it on the card and to decorate it with ribbons. Markers and crayons are prepared to write the message. Sad to say no one came. Next week, we will be taking a stroll to the nearby park and kids community center. We will gather at room 403 at 10 a.m. Do come and join us. If it is raining next week, then we will make the card for the grandparents.

パラシュート　Parachute

2009-09-03T11:41:00.004+09:00

ビニル袋を使って小さなパラシュートを作りました。小さく切ったカラーテープを張ったり、マジックで絵を描きました。投げるとビニルが広がってゆっくり降りてきます。でもお部屋の中は天井が低いので本当はお外で遊びたかったです。天気も良くて過ごしやすい一日でした。9月9日の水曜日は202号室で親子でダンス遊びをします。10時から11時までです（無料）。10日のポテトはおじいちゃんおばあちゃんのカードを作ります。来てください。
Summer holiday is over. All the bigger kids have gone back to kindergarten so it is quieter at POTATO. Seems like autumn is approaching as weather is cooler nowadays. For today, we used toilet rolls, plastic bags and strings to make a parachute. For decorations, we used colored tapes and marker. Standing on top of the chair, the parachute will swirl down and it is really fun to play. Makes us feel like throwing the parachute out from the window and see it swirl down four storeys. Today, we celebrated one of the kids birthday. It so happened that her birthday falls on today. Happy Birthday. As usual, we have story telling in Japanese and English and singing and dancing in English. Next Wednesday, we will be having a Dance for Kids at Room 202 from 10 a.m. - 11 a.m. Next Thursday, POTATO will be making cards for grand parents. Do come and join us.

Earthquake Emergency Procedures

2009-09-01T22:21:00.003+09:00

Be Prepared for Earthquakes
86 years ago, on Sep. 1, 1923, the great Kanto earthquake occurred and over 30,000 people became victims in Kanagawa. Today, Sep. 1 is designated as Disaster Prevention Day to remind all of us to be prepared for any disaster.

For example, it is very important to have a stock of food and water enough for 3 days. Learn more from the website below about what you can do to minimize the damage.

「Earthquake Emergency Procedures」
(English, Portuguese, Chinese and Korean)
(Spanish, Tagalog, Thai, Vietnamese, Laotian, Cambodian)

Learning Japanese and Life in Japan Handbook

2009-08-30T22:20:00.003+09:00

Published by Agency of cultural affairs, this book contains basic information for foreigners living in Japan, as well as useful expressions in Japanese. This hand book is available in 5 languages and distributed at foreign registration counters at city hall or ward office and also can be viewed online.

"Handbook of Learning Japanese and Life in Japan"
(English)
(Chinese)
(Portuguese)
(Spanish)
(Korean)

If your family members or friends would like to receive INFO KANAGAWA (information for foreigners in Kanagawa), send an e-mail to infokanagawa@k-i-a.or.jp
Please specify the language in which you want to receive the bulletin.

ボディペインティング＆パネルシアター　Body Painting and Story Telling

2009-08-27T11:48:00.009+09:00

今日は久しぶりにお天気がよく暑くなりました。絶好のプール日和です。今日のポテトはいつものプールの前にボディペインンティングをしました。みんな大きい子たちだったので早速足や腕やお腹に色を塗ります。全身に赤を塗って「血だらけだぁ」と大はしゃぎしたり、お互いに色を塗りあったり、あまり家ではできない絵の具を体に塗るという感触を楽しんだようです。部屋に戻ってからはパネルシアターをしました。今日は人数が少なかったのもありみんなにお手伝いしてもらいながらやりました。小さい子も最後にはパネルを貼ったり取ったりいつもは見てるだけの物ですが手に触ってみるのが楽しかったようです。来週のポテトはパラシュートを作ります、自分達で絵を書いてオリジナルのパラシュートを作りたいと思います。お待ちしてます。

Sunny and warm today. Body painting is on. Naked except for short pants, the kids painted themselves. Initially they were wary but later, they ran around with the paint brush and painted each other. Backs, feet, body and hands. After painting, they played with potato starch mixed with water. The potato starch became like clay and the kids ran their fingers through it and made shapes out of it. Then a quick shower to wash away the paint and dipping in the pool. Today will be the last day of pool for this year as the weather is getting cooler. Next we proceed up to room 403 and had story telling with pictures on a felt board. The older kids helped to place the pictures for the story. After the story telling is over, the younger kids also took turns to place the pictures on the board. As usual story telling and singing in English. Next week, our craft will be parachute making. Come and join us.

野菜スタンプ　Vegetable Stamping

2009-08-06T11:47:00.008+09:00

今日は曇りでしたが、プールに入れました。ちょっと水は冷たいかなと思ったら子ども達の体温であっという間にぬるま湯になりました。小さいお友達もだいぶ水に慣れてきたように思います。部屋に戻ってからは野菜スタンプをしました。今日のお野菜は、じゃがいも、オクラ、ゴーヤ、ピーマンなどです。好きな色を付けてみんな必死です、なぜか最終的には指や手もスタンプして大満足のようでした。不思議な形の野菜のスタンプはお母さん達にも好評だったようです。私も昔野菜をはがきにスタンプして送った記憶があります、大きい子には野菜を彫ってスタンプするのもいいかもしれませんね。後は絵本とダンスでした。最近は大きいお友達がいるので小さい子達は先生よりもお兄さん達の動きを見てまねしてます。年の違う子達とも仲良くなりみんなたくさん成長してます。来週と再来週はお休みです。次回は27日になります、晴れたらボディペインティングをする予定ですので水着ではなく、古くなった下着等をお持ちください。お待ちしてます。

Cloudy today but it's not raining. Pool is on. For crafts today, vegetable stamping. Lady fingers, bitter gourd, carved out potatoes and green peppers. You can see all the little artists at work. You get not only beautifully decorated papers but also decorated hands, hair and clothes. The kids had lots of fun. After that, story telling in Japanese and English and singing and dancing in English. POTATO play group will not be on for the next 2 weeks. Next POTATO gathering will be on 27th of August. We will be doing body painting on that day if weather permits before pool time so bring an old pair of underwear. See you on August 27th.

リズムとダンス　Music! Music!

2009-07-30T11:49:00.006+09:00

今日は久しぶりの青空でとても暑い日になりました。先週までは、あまりプールに入れなかったので、今日の子ども達はみんなとても元気に水浴びをしました。大きいお友達はどれだけ長く息を止められるか競争してます。部屋に帰ってからは先生と一緒にリズム遊びとゲームをしました。ゲームは、みんなで輪になって鈴を後ろ手にまわしながらどの人が持ってるかを当てるゲームでしたが、みんな見つからないように一生懸命隠してる姿がとてもかわいらしかったです。終わりのダンスはもうみんな覚えたようですね、しっかり腰をシェイクしてましたよ。来週は野菜スタンプをします。日本人の私は昔小学校でやった記憶があります、楽しいんですよね。外国人のみなさんはやった事があるのでしょうか？お母さん達も子どもに戻って楽しんでもらえたら嬉しいです。10：00からはプールに行ってますのでプールに入るお友達は来てくださいね。
Bees are not around. Nice, hot, sunny weather. Pool is on today! 12 kids came today so the pool is pretty packed. We have a new friend joining us from China today. Welcome! After lots of splashing at the pool, everyone came up and next it is music time. Using different types of instruments like tambourines, castanets, bells and maracas, the kids moved their instruments to the music. It is like a mini orchestra. Next the kids and mothers sat in a circle and passed a bell behind their backs. One kid will be it and stand in the middle with his or her eyes closed and when the rhyme stop, the kid has to guess where the bell is. As usual story telling in Japanese and English and also dancing to English songs. Next week, pool time and also vegetable stamping. Come and join us.

お化け紙コップ　Paper Cup Ghosts

2009-07-23T11:52:00.006+09:00

今日は夏休みに入ったこともあり、たくさんのお友達が来てくれました。今日の製作は紙コップとビニール袋を使って飛び出るお化けを作りました。みんなでビニール袋に好きな絵を描きストローにつないで空気を入れるとお化けがニョキニョキ出てきます。みんな大喜びで必死に膨らましていました。お友達同士で絵の見せ合いっこをして大騒ぎで、とても楽しそうでよかったです。その後に手遊び、絵本を読んで最後にダンスをしました。今日は普段幼稚園に行ってる大きいお友達もいたのでダンスの時間は大盛り上がり、みんな腰をシェイクしてノリノリでした。来週は晴れてプールに入れたらいいなと思います。遊びに来てくれるお友達は水着を持ってきてくださいね。来週もたくさんのお友達が着てくれたら嬉しいです、」待ってます。11 kids came today. Summer holiday is on in Japan so the older kids that are in kindergarten came to join us today. We also have a new friend from Thai today. Welcome! As it was drizzling this morning, we did not have pool time. We made paper cup ghosts today using paper cups, plastic bags and straws. In Japan, they like to tell ghost stories during the summer as supposedly being afraid will send the shivers down your spine and cool you down. The kids drew on the plastic bags with markers, decorated the paper cups with stickers and blew on the straw to blow up the ghost. After that they will attack the blown up ghost and make it small and keep it back into the cup. It was a hit amongst the kids. There is also story telling in Japanese and English and singing and dancing in English. Next week, we will have a Let's Sing Together session. Come and join us. If it is sunny, bring along your swim suit and towel.

水遊びとはち　Water Toys

2009-07-16T11:39:00.008+09:00

梅雨も明けてとっても青い空が広がっています。思いっきりプール遊びをしようと出て行ったのですが、蜂が何匹か飛んできました。水の中やマットの上に止まっていたり、ぶんぶん飛び回ってくるのでとても危険でしたので、場所を変えて水を使った遊びだけをしました。保育園のお友達も一緒でとても楽しく過ごしました。入り口にはお花がたくさん咲いていてそれもきれいです。子どもたちは本当に水遊びが大好きで、顔に水がかかっても泣いたりしません。これから長い夏休みの間、たくさん遊んで大きくなって欲しいです。今日からまた新しいお友達もきました。来週は水遊びと紙コップを使ったお化けを作ります。どうぞいらしてください。
Bees! There are bees flying around our normal pool area today so we moved the small pool and played at a different spot. Hopefully, we can find the nest of the bee and remove the bees by next week. We have new friends joining us today from India and Britain. Welcome! Water toys. Using plastic bottles, we made handles from strings and pierced holes at the bottom of the bottles. Then using colorful plastic tapes and markers, the kids decorated their toys. Also using a milk carton, we made a slide where you can pour water and let the water run. It is hot and sunny today so playing in the water is a lot of fun. As usual, we read some English story books and sang and danced to English songs. Next week, we will be making a Paper Cup Ghost. Do you know what it is? Why not come and find out. Remember to bring along swim suits and towels.

Pot Luck Party

2009-07-10T14:39:00.009+09:00

Pot luck party today. Food! Food! Food! POTATO play group members, Japanese class members and English class members joined the party today. Lots of different types of food. Peruvian, Korean, Malaysian, Japanese, Thai, Vietnamese to name a few. After food, we played some Japanese word games. It is like charade where you try and guess what the word is except that instead of using gestures you have to explain the word in Japanese.

You may wonder about the Japanese class mentioned here. Well the place that POTATO play group gathers is actually the venue for a voluntary Japanese class. Class fee is 2000 yen per month. Classes are held on Wednesday and Friday morning (10 a.m. to 12 p.m.) and afternoon (1 p.m. and 3 p.m.). Child care assistance is also available. For more information, you can refer to the link below.
Voluntary Japanese Class

Hello! Hello!

2009-07-09T12:03:00.004+09:00

Not raining this Thursday. Yippee! Pool time is on. The kids played at the small pools set up at the back of the building. They had lots of fun. One of the kid did not bring his swimming things and played in his diaper. After that, we made a telephone using string and paper cups. The kids decorated the telephone with pictures and stickers. The mum will go a distance and speak through the paper cup and it is just amazing to see the eyes of the kid light up and their lips curl up in a smile when they hear their mummy's voice. I guess to the kid, there is no one greater than mummy and daddy. As usual we have story telling and dancing and singing in English. We have a new friend joining us today from India. Welcome and do continue to join us. Today, the POTATO play group members exchanged contacts and arranged to meet each other at their houses. It is nice to see that POTATO is facilitating as a place to meet new friends. Tomorrow, we will be having a pot luck party at room 403 from 11 to 2 pm. Do come and join us. For next week, there will be pool time and we will be making toys to play in the pool. Till then, see you.

Japanese Star Festival, Tanabata

2009-07-02T10:46:00.003+09:00

Japanese Star Festival, Tanabata Festival is a Japanese tradition wherein people write their wishes on tanzaku papers (colorful, small strips of papers) and hang them on bamboo branches. Depending on regions, tanabata is celebrated on July 7th or August 7th (which is near July 7th on the lunar calendar). People decorate bamboo branches with various kinds of paper decorations and place them outside their houses. Many cities and towns hold tanabata festivals and have tanabata displays, decorating the main streets. In some regions, people light lanterns and float them on the river, or float bamboo leaves on the river. Today, we brought a bamboo branch and prepared Star Festival decorations using paper cups, colorful streamers and stars. However, as it was pouring this morning, no participants came. Next week, we will be making a toy phone. Do come and join us. Also next Friday, July 10th, there will be a pot luck party from 11 to 2 pm. All POTATO members are invited. Bring a dish and come.

リズム遊び　Let's Sing

2009-06-25T11:26:00.006+09:00

今日はリズム遊びの日なのでみんなでたくさん歌い、踊りました。遊びに来てくれたお友達はまだ一歳くらいなので手遊びを中心にやりました。好きな楽器を持って楽しく踊ります。お母さん達とは七夕の歌を、意味を解説しながら覚えてもらいました。みんな歌の意味を知り納得してました。子ども達は歌ったり踊ったりすることがとても大好きなので家族みんなでやってもらえたら嬉しいです。次回は七夕飾りを作ります。七月から天気のいい日には水遊びもしますので、入れるときにはお子さんの水着やタオルを持参して下さい。７月10日（金）　11：00～2：00まで　403号室で一品持ち寄りパーティをします。何か食べるものを一品お持ちください。お菓子でもおかずでも果物でも何でもいいです。待ってます。
Kids love music. So do adults. Tambourines, castanets and bells. Using these musical instruments, we sang and played together. Japanese celebrate the Star Festival on July 7th so for today we sang the Star Festival song in Japanese and also If You're Happy song in English. As usual, we have story telling and dancing and singing in English. Also today, one of the kids turned one so we gave her a birthday medal. On July 10th, from 11 am to 2 pm, there will be a Pot Luck Party at room 403 with the Japanese class teachers. All POTATO members are invited. Bring a dish and come. From next week onwards, if weather permits, we will play at the pool. Bring along your swim suit and a towel. Do come and join us.

Emergency Medical Care

2009-06-22T09:40:00.005+09:00

If someone in your family is sick during night time, weekends or public holiday, do you know where to go? In Atsugi, there is a Medical Center that is open during the weekends and night time for emergency.

Address: Mizuhiki 1-16-45, Atsugi, Kanagawa, Japan
Telephone: 046-297-5199
Opening times:
Monday - Friday 19:00 - 21:30
Saturday 18:00 - 21:30
Sundays, Public Holiday 9:00 - 11:30, 14:00 - 16:30, 18:00 - 21:30

For more information, refer to the link below
Atsugi Emergency Medical Care

Stroll

2009-06-18T11:07:00.005+09:00

It's cloudy and chilly today. Is it going to rain? Is it not going to rain? Gloomy weather today. POTATO play group was going to take a stroll to the park, play with bubbles there and stop by the Tomuro Kids Community Center. However, sad to say, no participants came today. Hopefully the weather will be bright and sunny next week. For next week, we will have a 'Let's Sing Together' session. Do come and join us. We will be waiting.

By the way, do you know what is a Kids Community Center? It is a place that mothers with young kids can gather and play in the morning. Various toys and books are available. The opening time and location of the Kids Community Center nearest to your home can be found at the link below. For Tomuro Kids Community Center, it is open from Monday to Friday from 10 am - 12 pm for small kids.
Atsugi Kids Community Center for Young Kids Information

紙でアジサイ作り　Hydrangea in Full Bloom

2009-06-11T11:54:00.010+09:00

今日はあじさい作りをしました。お友達が来なかったのは残念でしたが、かわいいでんでん虫などができました。折り紙やお花紙等を使うときれいな花が咲きます。次回のPOTATOはお散歩なのでお天気がいいといいですね。梅雨に負けずたくさん遊びましょう。もし雨が降ってしまったらお部屋で遊びます。

Hydrangea is in season. If you take a stroll in Atsugi, you will notice the hydrangea flower blooming. The craft that we prepared today is Hydrangea Craft. For the kids, they will tear colored papers and stick on a round circle to make the hydrangea flower and for the mothers, hydrangea origami in various colors. However sad to say, probably due to the rain, no one came. For next week, we will be taking a stroll to the kids community center and park. If it is raining, we will play in room 403. Do come and join us.

ぱっちんかえる　Jumping Frogs

2009-06-04T11:42:00.007+09:00

今日は、’ぱっちんかえる’を作ってみんなでぴょんぴょん飛ばして遊んだり、もうすぐ梅雨になるので’てるてる坊主’を作り、てるてる坊主の歌を歌ったりしました。’ぱっちんかえる’には、それぞれ素敵な絵を子ども達は描き、ピョ―ンっと飛ぶかえるに「おもしろ～い！」の声。満足そうな笑顔がみられました。日本語、英語の本の読み聞かせ、英語の歌にあわせてダンスをしたりもしました。リズムに合わせて体を動かし、とても楽しそうでした。次回は、６月１１日（木）に’あじさい製作’を行います。

Today, we made jumping frogs and "Teru Teru Bozu" which is a doll to hang out when you want to wish for good weather. In Japan, the rainy season is usually around mid June. When you want to go out and hope for good weather, Japanese will make the "Teru Teru Bozu" doll and hang it out on the window and there is also a song to sing with it. Using tissue paper, colored paper, rubber band and yarn, we made the "Teru Teru Bozu" doll. The face is drawn using markers. As for the jumping frog craft, it was a great hit with the kids. Using hard card board taped together in the middle with cellophane tape and binded with a rubber band, the frog can jump up really high. It was really fun. As for the kids creation, they ended up with jumping rabbits, jumping butterflies and all sorts of designs. As usual, we have story book time in English and Japanese and also dancing and singing to English songs. Next week, we will be making hydrangea flower craft. Do come and join us. We will be waiting.

POTATO Schedule

2009-05-28T11:06:00.006+09:00

Schedule for June, July and August is up. In July and August, if the weather is fine, there will be water play at the small pools that we have. Please bring along a swim suit, towel and change of clothing for the kids.

Schedule

Father's Day

2009-05-28T10:42:00.005+09:00

Raining today. What a shame. Our stroll is cancelled. In Japan, Father's Day is celebrated on the third Sunday of June. Due to that, the craft that we prepared is a door knob hanger to be made by the kids and given to the father as a present with the message "I LOVE YOU DAD". Japanese are supposedly not good at expressing their emotions so when the principle saw the craft that was prepared, she said that this craft is definitely not from Japan. Maybe due to the rain, no participants came today. 　Let's do the craft again another day. Next Thursday, we will be making jumping frogs. Do come and join us. We will be waiting.

ゲーム　Game

2009-05-21T11:35:00.004+09:00

今日は沢山の遊びをしました。新聞紙で輪投げとボールを作りました。ボールはかごに投げいれます。
後、的当てもしました、子ども達には輪投げと的当てが人気でした。輪投げは遠いとなかなか入らないので
最終的にはみんな上から落とすという形になりました。的には点数が書いてあるので高い点数になるとみんなから拍手され嬉しそうです。手遊びは日本の「グーチョキパー」と「げんこつ山のたぬきさん」みんなノリノリでした、最後のダンスは、最近ダンスがとても上手になってびっくりです。子どもの吸収力の速さには感心しました。

Today we have a new friend joining us from Hong Kong. Welcome and do continue to join us. Game time today. Target ball throwing use soft felt balls thrown to a soft felt mat, ring toss, and ball toss today. We hand made the ring toss game using newspaper. Also for the ball toss game, we hand made the balls using newspaper and toss it into a small baby bed that we have here. For the ring toss game, the younger kids just walked near the pole and put the newspaper ring over it. Very innovative. The kids also had a nice time singing with finger play to Japanese songs. As usual, we have story time in English and Japanese and singing and dancing to English songs. Next week, we will be going for a stroll to the park if weather permits. Please gather at room 403 at 10. Care to try out jazz dancing with your kid? Come and join us at room 202 on next Wednesday at 10. See you there.

フィンガーペイティング　Finger Painting

2009-05-14T11:39:00.004+09:00

フィンガーペイティングをしました。指絵の具を使って好きな色で絵を描きました。最初は人差し指でとんとんと色をつけましたが次第に手の平全体に絵の具をつけて描きました。お花やハートや木やひまわりそしててんとう虫も描きました。にぎやかな作品が沢山できました。筆で書く絵とはまた違った味わいがあります。お母さんも一緒に楽しみました。絵の具は水で洗えば落ちるので気楽にできます。またやりましょう。来週はゲームです。そして27日の水曜日は保育園202号でジャズダンスで遊びます。来てください。

Finger painting today. For today, we used paints and the kids painted pictures using paint brushes and their fingers. Initially the kids used one finger and then as they got more involved, they used their whole hand to paint. As usual, we have story telling in Japanese and English and dancing to English songs. Next week, we will be playing games. What type of games? Come and find out.

風船遊び　Balloons

2009-05-07T11:37:00.007+09:00

Mother's Day is just around the corner. We prepared a folding card for the kids to decorate and to give as a present. Apart from that we also played with balloons. Using an air pump, we pumped air into the balloons and made some shapes with the balloons. Then using markers and stickers, we decorated the balloons. One of the mothers made various shapes with the balloons. As usual, we read some English books and sang and danced to some English songs. We have a new Japanese volunteer today. She helped to read some Japanese story books to the kid and helped to enquire about how to get free books from the library for the kid. Next week, we will be making fingerprint art. Do come and join us.

今日は初めてのPOTATOお手伝いでしたが1人だけでした。
一緒に風船遊びと歌を歌いました。
小さい子と遊ぶと自分の子どもの赤ちゃんのころを思い出して
懐かしく楽しいですね。
次回は沢山のお友達と遊びたいと思います。
待ってます＾＾

Carp Streamers

2009-04-23T11:40:00.002+09:00

5th of May is Children's Day in Japan. During April to early May, you will see Japanese flagging carp streamers, in honor of sons and in the hope that they will grow up healthy and strong. Today, we made carp streamers using colored papers and stickers for the eyes. The scales of the carp comprise of the finger prints of the kids and mothers. After completing their carp streamers, the kids ran around the room with it. One of the kid that has been attending POTATO playgroup since the first day it started turned 2 today. Everyone sang a birthday song to him and gave him a birthday card. As usual we read 2 English story books and danced and sang to some English songs. There will be no gathering next week but do come and join us on May 7th. Let's play with ballons and make a Mother's Day Card.

Cherry Blossom Collage

2009-04-16T11:16:00.004+09:00

For today, we prepared cherry blossom collage and a flipping butterfly. However, sad to say, no participants came. For next week, we will be making carp streamers. Japanese have a custom of hanging out carp streamers for family who has boys when it nearing Boy's Day which is on May 5th. Do come and join us.

POTATO Schedule

2009-04-16T08:22:00.001+09:00

Schedule for April and May is up.

Schedule

花見　Cherry Blossom Party

2009-04-03T21:48:00.006+09:00

Cherry Blossom is in season. If you are in Japan, you would have heard of the word "Hanami" during the cherry blossom season. Literally translated "Hanami" means "flower viewing" but it usually refers to cherry blossom viewing. Hanami can be just a stroll in the park, but it traditionally also involves a picnic party under the blooming trees. POTATO play group joined the "Tabunka Tomodachi Center Japanese Class" cherry blossom party today. We are blessed with nice sunny weather. The kids had a nice time and played by the river bank after their lunch. Throwing rocks in the river, picking flowers, contemplating to build a bridge across the river are some of the fun that they had.

You may wonder about the Japanese class mentioned here. Well the place that Potato gathers is actually the venue for a voluntary Japanese class. Class fee is 2000 yen per month. Classes are held on Wednesday and Friday morning (10 a.m. to 12 p.m.) and afternoon (1 p.m. and 3 p.m.). Child care assistance is also available. For more information, you can refer to the link below.
Voluntary Japanese Class

Clay

2009-04-02T12:11:00.006+09:00

One of the kid that joins the POTATO play group will be starting kindergarten from next week. We took a group photo together and made a photo frame for her as a farewell gift. We will miss her and her mum greatly but I am sure they will join us during holiday seasons. For today, the kids played with clay. They made snowman, cars, frogs, cookies, roll cake, Mickey Mouse, strawberries, grapes, etc. It is fun to see how imaginative the kids can be. As usual, we read 2 English story books and sang to some English songs. Do come and join us next week for some more fun activities.

フォトフレーム

2009-03-26T12:17:00.002+09:00

この３月でポテトから卒業する予定のお友達がいるので、思い出に‘フォトフレーム’を作りました。
きざきざの厚紙で枠を作り、春らしい花びらのデコレーションをしました。
写真を撮る時どうしても嫌がる子どももいましたが、出来上がるころはすっかりご機嫌になってにこにこ顔になりました。
ポテトを卒業して幼稚園に行く子や祖国に帰る子どもたちが、これからも元気で楽しく過ごしてほしいと思います。時々ポテトのことを思い出してく入れるといいなと思います。その時はフォトフレームを見てくださいね。
来週はもう４月になります。皆さんどうぞ来てくださいね。

Hand and Foot Stamping

2009-03-19T09:56:00.004+09:00

Using different color stamp pads, the kids had a nice time imprinting their hand and foot prints on colored papers. As some of the kids hands and feet are quite large, we need to use 2 different papers, one for the hands and one for the feet. There was a baby and he could fit both his hand and foot prints on one sheet of paper. The kids also made flowers and butterflies with their finger prints and decorated their paper with crayons and colored papers. Lastly the kids wrote their name and today's date. One mother suggested laminating the prints so that it can be used as a place mat and that is what we did. As usual, we have story telling in English and dancing to English songs. Next week, we will be taking photos of the POTATO group members and making a photo frame. We will also be having a farewell for the kids that will be going to kindergarten starting April and those that will be moving back to their country. Do come and join us. We will be waiting.

ペープサートを作りました　Puppet Play

2009-03-12T11:35:00.006+09:00

ペープサートを作りました。取っ手は安全を考えて紙を丸めて使いました。裏と表に思い思いのキャラクターを書いて色を塗りました。アンパンマンやバイキンマンやドキンちゃんやトーマスなどを自由に書きました。そして裏と表を使って短いお話を作ったり、カードのように使ってゲームもしました。本は‘こねこがにゃあ’と‘ハンバーグーチョキパー’と英語の本‘Thomas and the weather'と'Wacky Weekend'を読みました。座っているのは我慢できないぐらい楽しそうでした。最後に15分ぐらい英語の歌にあわせてダンスをしました。元気にはねるのが大好きな子どもたちです。来週は手形足形を採ります。来てください。

お知らせです。15日（日曜日）1時から4時30分まで厚木国際交流平和フェスタ２００９があります。場所は厚木市文化会館小ホール、地下展示室です。みんなで行きましょう。

Puppet play today. The kids are each given a blank puppet and the kids drew different types of picture on their puppet. There are Anpanman, Baikinman, Garfield, Thomas amongst others. After the puppets are completed, the kids made up their own stories using their puppets. They seemed to enjoy themselves a lot. As usual, we read some Japanese and English story books and sang and danced to English songs. Next week, we will be doing hand and foot prints. Come and join us.

Note: Atsugi city will be holding an Atsugi Peace International Festival 2009 this Sunday, 15th March. The place will be at Atsugishi Bunka Kaikan from 1:30p.m. to 4:30p.m. Let's go together.

Stroll to Tomuro Kids Community Center

2009-03-05T11:53:00.005+09:00

The weather has been cold and wet recently but we are blessed with fine sunny weather today. Our stroll to the Tomuro Kids Community Center is on. The mother that joined POTATO play group today is introduced to the Kids Community Center which is open in the morning from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. for small kids to play. The Kids Community Center helper was very helpful and passed us a book to tell us where is the nearest kids community center for Hase area which is where the POTATO play group mother lives. There was a poster about the library giving out 2 free books to babies and she was also told about that too. The mother used her electronic dictionary and interacted with the other Japanese mothers there and her baby played with other Japanese kids too. There was one boy who was very friendly and kept asking how old the baby is and said that he is 3 years old. A nice outing. Next week we will be playing with puppets at POTATO play group. Come and join us.

Atsugi International Peace Festival 2009

2009-03-05T10:08:00.005+09:00

Did you know that there are about 6,100 foreigners from 74 different countries living in Atusgi itself? Through communication, we should learn more about the different cultures from different countries. To facilitate this, Atsugi City will be holding an International Peace Festival next Sunday.

Date: 15th March 2009 (Sunday)
Time: 1:00 ~ 4:30 p.m.
Venue: Atsugi Bunka Kaikan (Small Hall, Exhibition Hall)
Program:
Small Hall (1:00 ~ 2:00)
-Speech in Japanese by foreigners
-Stage performances
Exhibition Hall (3:00 ~ 4:30)
-Communication stage
-Let's make friends with people from all over the world.
-Exhibition corner
-Enjoy food and tea from different countries.

For more information contact 046-225 2050

おひな祭り Girl's Day

2009-02-26T11:26:00.008+09:00

4組で子どもたち6人の参加でした。紙のお雛様を作りました。折り紙で身体を作り丸い顔を付けて色々な表情を書きました。笑っているお雛様やウィンクしているお雛様が笑わせてくれます。色々な天気の時に何をきるか考える絵本と指遊びをしながら仕事の紹介をする英語の絵本を読みました。最後にリズム遊び５曲ほどを思い切り踊りました。今日の天気は小雨交じりの寒い日でしたがポテトは暖かくにぎやかです。来週は児童館に行きます。10時に４０３室に集合しています。待ってます。

In Japan, they celebrate Girl's Day on March 3rd. Japanese with girls will display a set of hina dolls and props in the house, wishing girls healthy growth and happiness. Hina dolls are dressed in Japanese ancient costumes and are displayed on the shelves of a stand covered with a red carpet from the end of February to March 3rd. For today, we used origami paper and made 2 hina dolls. The hina dolls were then stuck on to a piece of red paper folded into two and ribbons were used as handles. Stickers and origami papers were used to decorate the craft. This is a representation of the hina dolls decoration and the kids can bring it back to decorate it in their house. After that the kids played among themselves and at 11 a.m. we read 2 English story books　(Jazzy Jobs and What Should I Wear) and sang and danced to English songs. We will be going to Tomuro Kids Community Center next week. We will gather at 10 a.m. and go together. If it rains, we will stay in room 403. Come and join us. We will be waiting.

韓国の日 Influenza

2009-02-19T09:53:00.002+09:00

今日は韓国の日でした。とてもにぎやかに集まることができました。今日も又バックを作りましたが子どもよりお母さんが一所懸命で素敵な作品ができました。お母さんのそれぞれのセンスが光っていてまるで展覧会のようでした。ジェニーがいなかったのですがリズムダンスがどうしてもやりたいということで自作自演で踊りました。思い切りはねて楽しく過ごしました。

I cannot join POTATO play group today as I caught influenza for the 2nd time this year. What bad luck! Today, all the POTATO play group attendees are Koreans. They were not present last week so we made the bags that were made last week. Everyone had fun and in the end, the kids wanted to sing and dance. As I was not around to lead them, they sang and danced by themselves. Makes me happy to know that they enjoy singing and dancing with me.

紙のバック作り　Bag making

2009-02-12T11:35:00.007+09:00

オレンジと緑の画用紙を使ってバックを作りました。横に穴をあけてビニルの紐でからげていきました。穴から穴へ紐を通すことは子供にとってはなかなか難しいです。でも時間をかけて仕上げました。バックの模様はクレヨンで絵を描いたりシールを貼ったりして楽しくできました。最後にマンゴプリンのおやつを入れておしまいです。とても嬉しいそうでした。来週は19日でお誕生会とリズム遊びです。

Just back from Malaysia. It is nice to be back and meeting everyone again at POTATO play group. There are not many people that came today and one kid kept asking, where is everyone but anyhow we enjoyed ourselves. The kids made a paper bag. Using 2 pieces of paper with holes punched down the side, the kids threaded nylon strings through the papers to make a bag. Next, using crayons and stickers, the kids decorated the bags. After the bag is completed, the question is what to put inside. I brought back some mango pudding as souvenirs from Malaysia so the kids are all smiles when they put their mango pudding in their bags. As usual, we sang some English songs and read an English story books. As some kids will be starting kindergarten this April, we read a book Penelope at School to prepare the kids for kindergarten. The book was a hit among the kids. Next week, we will be having a birthday celebration and singing some songs. Do come and join us.

もうすぐお正月　Christmas and New Year Party

2008-12-25T13:27:00.006+09:00

今日は今年最後のポテトでした。5月から始まりあっという間の年の暮れです。色々な人にめぐり合い色々な考え方に触れました。ポテトでのめぐり合いは私の財産になると思います。今日は日本の伝統的な正月遊びをしました。福笑いとすごろくです。福笑いはいろいろな顔になりすごろくは真剣勝負でした。私が一番負けました。紙芝居はおみそかの話でした。英語の本とダンスはみんなすごく上手に踊れました。これも毎週踊っているからでしょう。みんな様も良い年をお過ごしください。1月は休みです。2月12日からスタートです。

New Year is just around the corner. POTATO members are introduced to some indoor games that Japanese play during the New Year. There is a game similar to snake and ladder but instead of snakes it is elephant and mice. There is another game with has the pictures of a traditional Japanese lady and man. The kids are blindfolded and they are given the eyes, eyebrows, nose and mouth of the characters and they are supposed to guess where is the parts of the face and place it on the picture. The face will end up distorted and everyone will burst out in laughter and there is a saying that laughter brings blessings. Musical intruments were passed out and the kids sang to Anpanman songs with the instruments. As usual, we have Japanese and English story telling and today a primary 2 Korean girl read the story in English for everyone. Everyone was amazed that she can read a second language so well at such a young age. Next, party time. One of the mothers suggested to have a pot luck party today so today we have many different dishes. Delicious. Korean seaweed roll, authentic Indian food, cakes, Korean glutinous rice, sandwiches, Japanese chirashi sushi, roast pork, Chinese steamed pork and others. I will be going back to Malaysia in January so there will be no gathering for POTATO playgroup in January. We will gather again on Feburary 12th so do come and join us then.

年賀状作り　New Year Card

2008-12-18T13:38:00.002+09:00

日本の年の初めご挨拶のカードを作りました。墨をすり筆にたっぷり墨を含ませ本来であればあけましておめでとうとか賀正などと書きますがみんなはクリスマスカードのようなものになってしまいました。しかし筆ではがきを書くことは楽しかったようです。墨の香りや私が持って来た年賀状の見本など見て日本の正月を楽しめたと思います。来週は25日で持ち寄りクリスマスパーティと正月の遊びをやります。最後ですので来てください。待ってます。

Japanese have a custom of sending out New Year Card on the 1st of January. The New Year card being sent out is in the form of a post card. For today, we gave each and every one a card and introduced the kids to calligraphy brushes. The kids used calligraphy brushes and crayons to decorate the card. Since Christmas is still in the air, some of the cards became Christmas cards rather than New Year Cards. Next week, we will be having a Pot Luck party. We will also be singing some songs and play some New Year games. Bring a dish and come and join us next week.

クリスマス模様　Christmas is in the air

2008-12-11T13:30:00.005+09:00

クリスマスカードを色々な材料で作りました。色紙、鈴、星型に抜いた紙、ピカピカ光るテープ、モール、今回も写真のように個性豊かに仕上がりました。工作もだんだんその子の個性が出てきて面白いです。デンマークの方が紙を編んで作るクリスマスのハートを教えてくれました。私は第一段階の一番やさしいのを習いました。とても指先を使い注意深く作りました。ブログに乗せてありますのでご覧ください。来週は年賀状つくりです。日本の伝統的な便りです。
A new friend from China joined us today with her daughter. Welcome and do continue to join us. Christmas cards and Christmas decorations today. First, the kids are taught how to make a Christmas card　using a green card and decorated with shiny tapes, bells and stickers. After the kids are done with the cards, they played among themselves and we progress on to the next class which is to weave a patterned heart using 2 different color papers. This is taught by mother from Denmark. She can make really complicated patterns but for today, we started off with very simple patterns. As usual, we have story telling and singing and dancing in English. There will be a Japanese class party at room 403 (12 December) from 11 am to 2 pm. All POTATO members are invited. There will also be a party at room 202 on 13 December by the ViVi Day Care. Next week, we will be making New Year Cards. Do come and join us.

厚木北児童館　Christmas Decorations

2008-12-04T13:36:00.005+09:00

秋晴れの空の下お散歩がてら厚木北児童館のおひさまタイムに参加しました。0歳児から3歳児までの日本人のグールプの中に入りおままごとをしたり自動車遊びにしたりして過ごししました。思ったよりすんなり中に入る事ができ安心しました。この年齢の子供たちは人種や言葉など関係なく最初はぎこちなく近いより遊び始めました。児童館から帰るのはいやで道路でだだをこねて私たちを困らせましたがおなかがすいていたのでしょうがなくポテトに戻りました。来週はクリスマスの飾りを作ろうと思います。先生は参加者のお母さんです。すごく楽しみにしています。

Mother from Denmark came today and brought with her more Christmas decoration crafts. Using 2 different color papers, you trace the templates of the pictures that you want to make and cut it using a scissors. After that, you weave the 2 pieces of paper together and it is like magic, you get really nice heart shape pictures. There are also some very simple templates that kids can make. We plan to do some of this next week so do come and join us. Nice weather today. We walked to the Kita Kids Community Center and unlike the previous time, there are lots of mothers and kids today. There is a person today from the Atsugi City Parenting Support Center and the teacher sang some songs and read some stories to the kids. No wonder it is so crowded today. We also dropped by the Kita Community Center to inquire about "Ai Ai" playgroup as one of the mother from India is interested to bring her boy there. After lunch, we ate some delicious Denmark Christmas treats that the mother from Denmark brought. Recipes of the treats will be posted later. Try it out if you like.

お姫様　Let's Sing

2008-11-27T12:59:00.006+09:00

今週は雨のため出席者が1人しかいませんでした。彼女はいつもお母さんにくっついていてママ大好きなお子様です。しかし今日は私の手をとったり大きな声でお話したりいつもと違う一面を見ました。きっと家では大きな声で話したり、笑ったりしているのでしょう。多くの人の中に出るとそのような面が消えてしまい黙ってしまうでしょう。とてもいい笑顔なのにもったいないなと思いました。また笑顔を見たいです。リズム遊びをしました。子供は乗りが悪く大人の合奏になりました。こんな日もあるでしょう。来週は北児童館へ行きます。10時15分に出発します。来てください。

Cold, rainy and cloudy. Gloomy weather today. Many of the kids have caught a cold and could not come today. Only 1 came. Anyhow, we had a nice time. A mother from Denmark showed us how to make stars which she uses for Christmas decorations. The stars are made using 4 long strips of paper. In Denmark, they usually use white and red which are the colors of the Denmark flag. She said that kids from age 5 could make the stars but try as I could it is impossible with my dexterity level. Castanets, hand bells and tambourines. Using these musical instruments, we sang to some children songs. It is a bit difficult though to form an orchestra with only 1 kid. We will try again next month and hopefully we will have more participants then. For next week, we will be going to Kita Kids Community Center so do join us. We will depart at 10:15 so come before then or meet us there.

どんぐりを食べる　Newspaper! Newspaper!

2008-11-20T13:10:00.006+09:00

韓国のお母さんがどんぐりのゼリーを作ってきてくれました。テーブルに乗るまで甘いお菓子のようなゼリーを創造していました。どんぐりのゼリーはこんにゃくのようでそれを薄くきり生野菜と韓国風ドレッシングを混ぜた惣菜の一品でした。口当たりもよくどんぐりの粉と作り方を教えてもらいましたが20分間も混ぜなくていけないので辞退しました。作ってくれたのを食べるのが一番いいです。今日の工作は新聞紙で遊ぼうでした。シンデレラ、スーパーマン、大きいな鳥、かわいいウサギなどに変身しました。発想はみんなさん豊かで写真をごらんください。来週はリズム遊びです。
Newspaper! Newspaper! Using newspaper, the kids were taught how to fold a hat. Then using shiny ribbons, papers and stickers, the kids and mother decorated the hat. Next, it is dressing up time. Cinderella, Superman, Rabbit and Bird. It is almost like a Halloween party. The mothers were very innovative and made costumes for the kids per the kids request. Next, paper gun. Using newspaper, we folded a paper gun. Well it does not look anything like a gun, or rather it looked like a simple triangle but when you quickly flip it down, BANG! explodes the paper gun. That too was a hit amongst the kids.

Day of the Bird. There is such a day in the Japanese calendar. On that day, there is a custom to decorate a rake like ornament which has some grains of rice and a face on it. This ornament is called "Kumade" which means 'Bears Hand'. Rice represents money in the olden times and the rake is for raking in all the wealth. Day of the Bird occurs twice or thrice in a year. For the year that it appears thrice, there is a saying that fire outbreak will happen easily so beware of fire.

For dancing time today, a mother requested for the song Ring a Ring of Roses so we sang that on top of the other songs. Kids and mothers alike enjoyed going round and falling to the ground. Last week, when we made autumn crafts using acorns, one of the Korean mothers mentioned that in Korea, they make acorn jelly during autumn. Today, she made the acorn jelly salad and brought for everyone to try. It is vegetarian so the vegetarians can also eat it. Next week we will be having a "Let's sing together" session. Come and join us.

どんぐり　Autumn Crafts

2008-11-13T12:56:00.004+09:00

秋のタペストリーを作りました。折り紙でどんぐりと葉っぱと本物のどんぐりもつけました。きらきらしたテープに色名どんぐりが付いてギャラーリのようでした。落ち葉を集めて作ってみたらどうでしょうか。来週は新聞紙で遊ぼうと11月のお誕生会です。時間を作って来てください。

It has been cold for the past few days but today we are blessed with nice autumn weather. Autumn crafts today. Using origami paper we folded chestnuts, acorns and ginkgo tree leaves. The kids and mothers were very creative. The end products were pasted on a sparkling tape as a decoration. After that, story telling in English and Japanese and dancing and singing. It is nice to see how the kids have progressed through the months and they can dance to perfection. Kids are kids and their learning abilities are amazing. Join us next week at room 403.

清水公園でシャボン玉遊び　Bubbles at Shimizu Park

2008-11-06T13:21:00.004+09:00

朝タンポポの花をもらいました。韓国語では「ミンデレ」と教えてもらいました。発音が悪く彼女からは違うと何度も言われました。清水公園行くときも日本の名前の草と韓国の名前の草の言い比べしました。柿は韓国でも「かき」らしいです。落ち葉のいっぱいある公園で遊動木に上ったり、すぺり台を滑ったりしました。シャボン玉はうまくふけなかった子供も最後にふけるようになり、ビンに水を入れて最後は水遊びになりました。お天気が良かったので他所ぬれても乾いてほっとしました。来週は工作をします。お弁当を持ってきてください。

Nice autumn weather today. Sunny, cool and dry. A new friend from Indian joined us with her son. The kids had such a nice time at Shimizu park that we did not have time to proceed to the Tomuro Kids Community Center. Bubbles, slides, swings, climbing frames, running around the park, leaves picking are just a few of fun activities that the kids did. After coming back, lunch time and as usual story telling, songs and dancing in English. Join us next week at room 403. We will be making some autumn crafts.

ハロウィンパーティ　Halloween

2008-10-30T13:44:00.008+09:00

ポテトのメンバーが自宅からかわいい衣装を持ってきました。かぼちゃ、ティガー、白雪姫、ピカチュウ、スパイダーマン、ミツバチハッチ、ゴレンジャなどでした。下の保育室にお菓子をもらいに行きました。驚いている子やずっと泣いていたばかりの子もいました。驚かしてごめんなさい。世界中の祭りはできる限りやってみたいと思いますが、あまり知識のない私は回りの方に助けられています。本当のハロウィンの日は10月31日です。みんな様もお化けになってみませんか。面白いですよ。来週はお天気が良かったらお散歩に行きます。待ってます。
Several new friends joined us today. 2 mothers from China and one mother from Korea with 2 kids. A warm welcome and do continue to join us. Halloween party today. We have Tigger, Bumble Bee, Spider Man, Snow White, Pumpkin, Pikachu and others amongst us today. The kids have a nice time putting on their costumes. We also made a ghost mask for those who are without costumes or did not want to put their costumes on. After everyone is dressed up, we went trick a treating at the ViVi Day care center. We greeted the small kids at the day care, scared a few of them to tears and got our bag of treats. As usual we also have story telling session in English and Japanese and English songs and dance. Next week, if weather permits, we will go to Shimizu park and Tomuro Kids community center. Come and join us.

中央公園で遊ぶ　Chuo Park

2008-10-23T14:22:00.008+09:00

雨が降りそうな天気の中、中央公園に行きました。途中消防署の前を通り消防自動車の訓練を見たり救急車がサイレンを鳴らしながら通るのを見ながら行きました。中央公園にはすでに大勢の子供とお母さんが遊んでおりみんなも遊び始めました。危険だっと思う縄のジャングルジムも注意ぶかく遊び、日本の友達とも譲り合って遊びました。上ってくる人を待ったり、声をかけたり、いい体験だったと思います。曇り空の下お弁当を食べ、雨の降る前に解散しました。次回は４０３号室で、ハロウィンパーティです。待ってます。
Today POTATO play group went to Chuo Park. We met several other foreigners with small kids at the park and invited them to POTATO play group. Hope that they will join us. The weather was kind to us and it only poured after we reached ViVi day care. The kids had a nice time climbing and playing on the slides. The smaller kids seems tired after playing for an hour so we moved to another part of the park and let them play with bubbles. After that it is lunch time and after lunch, story telling in Japanese and English. An enjoyable outing. For next week, we will be having a Halloween Party at room 403. Come in your costumes. We will be waiting.

デンデンダイコ　Hand Drum

2008-10-16T13:20:00.005+09:00

鈴と紙皿を使いデンデンダイコを作りました。本来、棒を付けて鳴らすものですが幼い子がいるので棒を省き大きい紙皿を使い作りました。太鼓の絵は子供と親が絵を書き楽しい作品が出来上がりました。韓国では小学校入学前に時計が読めるそうです。二人の韓国の子供は時計を書いていました。日本は小学校で時計の読み方を習います。国が違うと違いますね。来週は中央公園に行きます。晴れていたら公園でお弁当を食べましょう。お待ちしています。雨だったらお部屋でハロウィンの折り紙をします。
Today, we have a Korean mother joining us with her daughter for the first time. POTATO group is increasing. Yippee! For crafts today, we made hand drums. First, the kids are given 2 paper plates and they are to draw on them. After that, the plates are stapled together, 2 holes punched, one at each side and small bells stringed and tied through the holes. Later, the teacher sang a song and the kids made music with the hand drum according to the rhythm of the song. For English story book session today, we read the 10 little rubber ducks by Eric Carle. The squeaking made by the rubber duck at the end of the book was a hit. Next week, if weather permits, we will go to Chuo Park. We will depart from here at 10 am and walk to the park. Bring along your lunch, we will eat at the park and dismiss from there. If it rains, the gathering will be at room 403 as usual. On October 30th, we will be having a Halloween party. Bring along costumes for the kids and join us at room 403. We will go trick a treating and get some treats.

厚木北児童館にお散歩　Stroll to Community Center

2008-10-09T13:21:00.005+09:00

とても良い秋晴れの中、厚木北児童館まで歩いて散歩に行きました。児童館ではポテトの部屋にはないおもちゃが山のようにあり、子供たちは目を輝かせて遊びました。塗り絵がいっぱいあり、お母さんが集中していろ塗っていました。大人の塗り絵がはやっています。塗り終わった達成感はすがすがしいです。お母さんもすっきりしたようでした。帰り道は裏道を通り金木犀の花や柿の実、セージなどを見ながら帰りました。いい香りの道でした。来週はデンデンダイコを作ります。お待ちしています。
Perfect weather for a stroll today. A new friend from Korean joined us today with a 4 month old baby. As we were leaving for the community center, we met a new friend from Argentina with 3 kids. Previously we met 2 of the kids before with a baby sitter but it is our first time to meet the mother and the brother. We greeted each other and left together for the Atsugi Kita Community Center. The stroll there was not very pleasant as we were walking on the main road. Finally, when we reached our destination, we first progressed to the Atsugi Kita Kids Community Center, which is next door, and ended up playing there. The person in charge and one Japanese mother there was very friendly and the kids enjoyed themselves so much that we did not have time to proceed to the community center to check out the facilities there. We shall plan a trip there again in the future. On the way back, we were told of a new road which goes through the housing area. The stroll back was really nice. We passed through a shrine, saw some persimmon trees, saw butterfly, flowers and introduced everyone to the fragrant olive plant (Kinmokusei), a plant with small orange flowers and blooms for about a week during autumn and gives out a really nice fragrance. After lunch, we had story telling using boards about Hide and Seek. The kids have to guess what is hidden behind the stone, leave, flowers, etc. For next week, we will be making hand drums in room 403. Do come and join us.

ないしょ話　Okonomiyaki and Chijimi Party

2008-10-02T13:35:00.005+09:00

10月下旬に子供が手術するお母さんから相談がありました。小児科では外国人に対して説明が不足ではないでしょうか。簡単な手術でも親はとても心配で細かく状況を説明してもらいたいものです。もっと丁寧に納得行くまで親に説明をしてあげて欲しいです。不安な思い出子供を手術を受けさせる親の思いはいかばかりかと思います。今日のチヂミは韓国のお母さんが作ってくれました。お好み焼きもおいしいかったしチヂミはとてもおいしいかったです。来週は公民館探索に行きます。

Okonomiyaki (Japanese pizza) and Chijimi (Korean pizza) party today. One of the Korean mother taught us how to make the Chijimi. Check out the recipe below.

Chijimi recipe
Ingredients
4 potatoes, 1 onion, starch, salt, leek (nira)
Instructions
a) Peel and grate the potatoes and onion. Drain out any excess liquid.
b) Cut the leek into 2cm pieces.
c) Add in starch and mix it until it becomes a batter.
d) Add salt to taste and mix in the leek.
e) Add some oil to the pan and pan fry until golden brown.
Chijimi Sauce
Mix all the following ingredients for the chijimi sauce.
Soy sauce - 3 tablespoons, Vinegar - 2 tablespoons, Sugar - 1 tablespoon, Grated garlic - 1/2 teaspoon, minced leek (negi) - 1/2 teaspoon, sesame seed oil - 1 teaspoon, sesame - 1 teaspoon, chilli powder - to taste.
For the chijimi, you may add an egg to the ingredients. We made a vegetarian version today without any eggs.

Okonomiyaki recipe
Ingredients
1/2 cabbage, 500 gm flour, 4 eggs, 200 gm pork, pickled ginger.
Instructions
a) Cut the cabbage into small pieces. Cut the pork into small pieces.
b) Mix the eggs, flour and water to form a batter.
c) Mix in the cabbage, pork and pickled ginger.
d) Add some oil to the pan and pan fry until golden brown.
Okonomiyaki topping
Add in the following topping to taste
Mayonnaise, Okonomiyaki sauce, dried bonito flakes, green laver

In India, there is also something similar to okonomiyaki. Cabbage is thinly sliced and carrots and tomatoes are added to the batter. After lunch, the kids listened to a Japanese story, sang some songs and had finger plays. Even though time is running out but we cannot go back without our Hokey Pokey dance. Next week, if weather permits we will be taking a stroll to the Community Center. Ever wonder what facilities is available at your local Community Center. Let's go and check it out together.

マラカス製作　Maracas

2008-09-25T13:05:00.004+09:00

プラスチックの空きビンを使用しマラカス製作をしました。ビーズと小石を入れ音の良く出るように工夫しました。ビンには丸いシールをはりユニークな作品が出来上がりました。どれも個性的な作品で嬉しいそうにもって帰りました。韓国の男の誕生日会をしました。母親が韓国製のチョコパイを積み上げてろうそくをともして祝いしました。韓国では誕生日の時学校にチョコパイを持っていってみんなでお祝いするそうです。韓国のチョコパイの味は日本製と違いました。来週はお好み焼きとチヂミパーティです。お待ちしています。
Small plastic beads and small stones. Empty bottles. Stickers. Tape. These are what we used to make the maracas. The kids were given an empty bottle each and to develop their finger motor skills, they are asked to put in the small beads into the bottle. Then the bottle is sealed with tape and to tap their imagination, they are to decorate the bottle with stickers. Outcome is a pig maracas, cat maracas and girl maracas. There is also a birthday celebration today. In Korea, the kids will bring choco pie to school on their birthday and pile up the choco pie like a cake and eat it with their friends there. The mother of the birthday boy brought choco pie to celebrate her son's birthday here with his friends. Today apart from the normal English story book and English songs session, we had Korean story book and Korean children songs session too. Next week, we will be having an Okonomiyaki (Japanese pizza) and Chijimi (Korean pizza) session. Come and join us.

「おはぎ」パーティと折り紙 Ohagi party and origami

2008-09-18T15:46:00.009+09:00

今年の秋分は9月23日です。その日は「おはぎ」を作りみんなで食べます。春は「ぼたもち」と季節の花で名前が変わると教えてあげましたが、本物を味わいたい希望が有り作りました。折り紙を折りながら隣でお母さん達がせっせと美味しそうな、あんこ、ごま、きなこのおはぎ作りを見ました。おいしかったよ！
23rd of September is the Autumnal Equinox day in Japan and on that day, the Japanese have the custom of visiting the cemetery and making the ohagi dessert. Ohagi dessert is made from glutinous rice and wrapped with red bean paste, kinako powder or grated black sesame powder. As one of the POTATO play group mother likes red bean paste and Autumnal Equinox day is next week, we decided to kill two birds with one stone and had an impromptu ohagi dessert making class and of course after that ohagi party time. While the mothers are making the ohagi, the kids had an origami session making animals. However, there is a creative kid who decided to make a bullet train all on his own. it is nice to see the kids that come to POTATO play group progress and develop in various skills. As usual, there is story telling in Japanese and English and also dancing to some English songs. Today a new song, "Ring a ring of roses" is taught to the kids. During lunch time, a mother from India brought corn curry to share and Korean mother brought cucumber kimchi to share. It was delicious home cooked food and not something that you can get at restaurants. Interesting. Next week, it is maracas making session and birthday party. Come and join us.

”おはぎの作り方　Ohagi recipe”

シミ　Autumn is here

2008-09-11T13:29:00.007+09:00

お母さんからの質問で、簡単なシミの落とし方がありました。幼稚園のトレーニングウェアーはなぜあのように白いのか？　だいたい白いウェアーは洗濯が大変です。制服であればしょうがないので日本人の親はせっせっと漂白したりこすったりしてシミを落とします。基本的には洗ってあればシミがあってもいいのにシミ一つなく落とすのは日本人の特徴なのではないでしょうか。清水公園で二人の子供とファミリーサポートの人に会いました。お母さんは日本語が不自由だそうです。そのような人のためにポテトがありぜひ勇気を持ってポテトに来てください。大歓迎です。お散歩の途中、ねこじゃらしを見つけ韓国ではいぬのしっぽと教えてもらいました。来週は動物の折り紙です。来てください。
Autumn is here. The breeze is cool. The air is dry. It is a nice day for a stroll. Where did we go today? One of the mother is unsure what to use to remove stains on kids clothes. So our first destination is to drop by the nearby drug store to get the stain remover. Next destination is the Tomuro Kids Community Center. As the weather is nice, the kids played outside. Then off to the Shimizu park. The kids played bubbles there and there are supposedly acorns at the park but searching with all my might, only one was found. At the park, we met 2 new friends from Argentina. A baby sitter is looking after them at the moment as their mother needs to be with their brother at the hospital. We told them about the POTATO play group so hopefully they will join us next time. It is nice to stroll outside with the kids and as we stroll along, the kids picked flowers, stones and looked at the vegetables growing at the small vegetable plot. Next week, it is origami time at room 403. Come and join us.

紙粘土作り　Paper clay craft

2008-09-04T13:16:00.008+09:00

紙粘土、木や葉やどんぐりや小さい栗を使用して色々な物を作りました。子供の発想はすばらしく、パイナップルや雪だるまは驚くほど上手にできました。山椒の葉、ローズマリー、ラベンダーなど香りの高い葉を手でちぎりながら紙粘土で物を作りあげる事は子供の情操教育に良いものではないでしょうか。
It was unexpectedly quiet with only 2 mothers and 4 kids joining us where in the previous week we had 12 kids and 5 mothers joining us. Today, a new friend from Ukraine joined us with her cute twins, a boy and a girl. Paper clay craft today. Acorns, chestnuts, leaves and branches were collected and used to decorate the end product. One of the mother and kid were very creative and made pineapple, snowman, cartoon characters, Anpanman and Baikinman and various other crafts. Other crafts made were crocodile, deer, porcupine, snake, tortoise, house, etc. Next week, we will be talking a stroll to Tomuro Kids' Community Center. We will gather at room 403 and depart at 10:30 am. In case of heavy rain, the outing will be cancelled and we will be at room 403. If it is raining lightly, bring your rain coats and the outing will be on.

あやとり Cat's cradle

2008-08-28T13:25:00.009+09:00

朝、あやとりをはじめようと思い、紐を取り出したらデンマークの人がひとりあやとりをはじめました。本当に驚いてしまいました。ヨーロッパの子供の遊びもあやとりがあり、女の子が遊んでいるそうです。また、韓国の女の子たちがいろいろな形を作ってくれました。日本独自の遊びだっと思いましたが世界中で同じ遊びをしているのですね。夏の最後にうちわに手形をつけました。カラフルな色の手形に母国語で名前と日付を入れました。夏の良い思いでになればと思います。
Rainy and cloudy today. Pool time is off but there are lots of other fun things planned out for today. Also we have a new friend from Korea joining us with her 2 daughters. Cat's cradle. In Japanese, it is called 'Ayatori'. It is a traditional game played in Japan mostly by girls where a string is looped on the fingers to form an intricate pattern between the player's hands and can be transferred to another player's hands. I have not played this game before in Malaysia and tried to remember several simple forms like broom and rubber band in preparation for today. Mothers from Denmark and Korea very good at it. I was fascinated watching them. Apart from playing cat's cradle, the kids are each passed a fan and they are given stamp pads to print their hand prints on one side of the fan. The mothers will print their hand prints on the other side of the fan. One of the kid from Korea drew the Korean Olympic soccer team mascot on the fan and another kid drew Pokemon characters. As usual, we have story telling in Japanese and English and dancing to some English songs. During lunch, we can barely squeeze everyone into the table. Yet another fun gathering. For next week, we will be making things using paper clay. Do come and join us.

POTATO Brochure

2008-08-28T12:13:00.000+09:00

POTATO play group brochure is ready! Check it out.

POTATO Brochure

野菜のスタンプ　Vegetable Stamping

2008-08-21T13:37:00.011+09:00

レンコン、オクラ、ピーマン、生姜の葉（ペンにしよう）、ジャガイモのスタンプにカットした物を用意して、スタンプ台、絵の具で色をつけて自由に画用紙に絵を書きました。みんなきれいな色彩でとてもきれいに書けました。誕生日会をしました。お誕生日の子供の母親の手作りケーキでお祝いをしました。彼はちょっと恥ずかしくて照れていましたがだんだんと調子に乗ってきてお騒ぎになりました。お友達がもうすぐアメリカに転勤です。さびしいです。日本を楽しいんでください。
Vegetable stamping today! Lady fingers, burdock root, green peppers, lotus root, ginger leaf stalks and potatoes. Potatoes were sliced and decorations were cut into them. Lady fingers, burdock root, green peppers and lotus root were sliced. Huge colored stamp pads were used and the kids had a nice time decorating their papers with vegetable prints. What about the ginger leaf stalks? The ginger leaf stalks were used as paint brush. The kids dipped the ginger leaf stalks into different colored paints and started drawing things and writing their names on their paper. The kids hands and faces somehow got decorated as well. After that, the kids played in the pool for a while. After pool time, we read a Japanese story and an English story, From Head to Toe, by Eric Carle. The kids mimic the actions in the books and moved their body to the story. Birthday celebration today. The mother of the birthday boy baked a cake for everyone and we had a nice birthday celebration. As one of the participants was vegetarian, the cake was made without eggs. Just before going back, we danced to the Hokey Pokey and other English songs. The kids are getting used to the dance and kids and mothers alike jumped, shouted and had a nice time dancing. For next week, we will be doing hand prints on a paper fan. Come and join us.

保育園ViViの行き方　Directions to ViVi

2008-08-18T22:42:00.009+09:00

Ever had problems trying to find out where ViVi is? Check out the directions from Hon Atsugi station to ViVi.

By foot - 20 minutes walk (refer to map below)
By bus - Take bus 16, 19 or 20 from bus stop no. 5 opposite the Hon Atsugi Station and stop at bus stop 愛光病院前(Aiko Byouin Mae). Cost 170 yen. Takes about 7 minutes.

小田急本厚木駅より
徒歩：２０分
バス：本厚木駅より５番乗り場、宮の里、宮が瀬行き愛光病院前下車。料金１７０円。７分ぐらいかかります。

地図　Map to ViVi from Hon Atsugi station

Birth of POTATO

2008-08-18T08:15:00.005+09:00

Ever wondered how the POTATO play group came about? Check out the reasons why POTATO play group was started up and what we hope POTATO play group will be.

Aims and History

Voices of Mothers

2008-08-18T08:09:00.005+09:00

The long awaited comments from mothers that attended Potato is finally uploaded. Please check it out.

Voices of Mothers

ホットケーキパーティーPancake party!

2008-08-07T13:22:00.005+09:00

ホットケーキを外国の人に言っても通じません。英語でも韓国語でもホットケーキはパンケーキです。私はホットケーキは英語だと思っていました。60年近く生きてきて驚きです。このように異文化の人達としゃべるといっぱいいっぱい驚きがあります。ちなみに今日のホットケーキは私が作った物はだめでした。パンケーキは直径10センチにも満たない物です。食べてみると小さいパンケーキはチョコレートつけてもメープルシロップつけても食べやすく、シロップガぼたぼたこぼれません。みんな様もたまには小さなホットケーキでおやつをいかがですか。アメリカのパンケーキはブルーベリーやストロベリーをきじに入れて焼きます。今日も作ってもらっておいしかったです。来週はお休みします。21日はお誕生日会です。8月生まれの人は来てね。

Pancakes! Pancakes! Pancake party today. One of the mothers specially bought a book concerning pancakes and read it to everyone today. It was a very interesting book by Eric Carle and it describes the process of making pancakes right from how to get flour, butter and so forth. The kids dipped in the pool at around 10:15 a.m. and we started making the pancakes around 11 a.m. The pancakes turned out to be more popular than the kids' lunch. Who could resist teddy bear shaped blueberry pancakes with maple syrup, chocolate spread and whipped cream. Yummy! There will be no gathering next week so join us the week after for finger painting and vegetable stamping.

風船工作　Balloons! Balloons! Balloons!

2008-07-31T13:01:00.005+09:00

風船にテープやモールをセロテープで付け、顔や動物、ポケモンのキャラクターをマジックで書き、うちわで打って遊ぶゲームをしました。親子ともに真剣で風船を落とさないようにゲームをしました。プール遊びの後、昼食の時7月生まれの誕生日会もしました。メダルは彼女の首にずっとかかっています。5歳のお誕生日おめでとう。いい事がいっぱいありますように。食後、輪になってダンスをしました。やせました。来週はホットケーキパーティです。日本スタイル、インドスタイル、アメリカスタイルのホットケーキパーティです。おいしいそう。来てね。
As it was summer holidays in Japan, kids from primary school and kindergarten joined the Potato group today. Each kid is given a balloon, markers and ribbons to decorate the balloons. One of the primary school kid is very good at drawing pictures from the Pokemon cartoon series and one of the younger kid wanted the same picture on his balloon. It is nice to see how kids can just make friends so easily regardless of race and age. After that it is pool time, lunch time and dancing time. The older kids were shy and did not want to join in the singing and dancing but the younger kids had a nice time singing and dancing to their favourite Hokey Pokey song. Next Thursday is Pancake Party. Japanese, Indian and American pancakes. We will be waiting.

粘土遊び　Playing with clay

2008-07-24T13:14:00.003+09:00

食紅の赤、緑、黄色をペットボトルに入れて色水を作り。小麦粉、食用油と色水をビニール袋に入れてよくもみ小麦粉粘土を作りました。小麦粉粘土は口に入れても安全で0歳からの工作によく使います。ポテトでは色々な作品ができました。ワニ、アヒル、タコ、ドキンちゃん、そのた色々面白い作品ができました。11時から水遊びの予定でしたが粘土から離れられず11時20分からプール遊びをしました。大きい男の子がリーダーになり、プールの中で大騒ぎをしました。ポテトも2ヶ月たち、母親同士がニュースの交換をして、友達の輪が広がっています。これからとても楽しみです。
Summer holidays has started in Japan. Primary school kids and kindergarten kids are also invited to Potato group. A mother from Peru with 3 kids and a mother from China joined us today. Using flour, oil, water and food coloring, mothers and kids learned how to make clay. Using the colored clay, the kids used their imaginations and made various crafts. There is an octopus, duck, strawberry, crocodile and many other creations. During lunch, the room was packed with 18 people but it was fun. Next week, we will be playing with balloons. Come and join us!

ペーパープリンセス　Paper princess and paper hero

2008-07-17T13:01:00.006+09:00

新聞紙とトイレットペーパー、色つきのガムテープを使い造形遊びをしました。家では新聞紙を破いたりすることは禁止されている家が多いが今日は思い切り新聞紙を破いたり、丸めたり、テープでお団子をしたり遊びました。新聞紙のペーパープリンセスとスーパーマンが出来上がりました。スーパーマンは家までバーギーに乗ってご機嫌で帰っていきました。プール遊びははじめは嫌がる子供もいましたが気持ちよく水遊びをしました。次回もプールで遊びましょう。

Dress up time today! Using newspapers, toilet papers, paper ribbons and colored tape the kids are dressed up as princesses and heroes. They paraded around the room and asked to be carried in front of the mirror so that they can look at themselves. For pool time, Potato group kids played together with the ViVi day care kids. Some of the kids were nervous to meet other kids and did not want to join in but on the other hand, some of the kids just jumped in and started splashing everyone. Some of the ViVi day care kids noticed that one of the Potato group kids is Indian and started making a conversation asking "Are you Indian?". It was good exposure for both the Potato group kids and also the Japanese kids to mix and play together. After lunch, the Korean mothers exchanged information about what books to use to teach their kids Korean and English language. Potato group has been existing for nearly 2 months and we asked the mothers about how they feel towards the group. We will soon put up a column - "Voices of the Mothers" so watch out for it. Ever tried making clay from flour? Why not come and join us next Thursday and try it out.

日本語クラスパティーに参加しました　Japanese Class Party

2008-07-11T20:12:00.005+09:00

今回は多文化ともだちセンターの日本語クラスのパティーに参加しました。おいしいものがいっぱいあってとても幸せな気分になりました。おなかがいっぱいになるとどの国の人もとてもいい顔になります。女性ばかりのパティーで色々な国のお料理のレシピも聞き今度作ってみようと思いました。夏休みになったら小さなお友達もポテトでパティーをしましょう。
ボランテア日本語クラス

Party today! Food! Food! Food! Korean food, Chinese food, Peru food, Vietnamese food, Thai food, Japanese food...... Yummy! The food that you get here is not what you can buy at the restaurants but authentic home cooked food. After eating, it is word games time. For example, how does the pig cry? In Japanese it is "Boo Boo", in English it is "Oink Oink" and you also get the Spanish version, Thai version, Chinese version and Korean version of the cry of the pig. It was very interesting and everyone burst out into laughters. What can I say but that I deeply felt that the participants have great love for their country and put in lots of effort to prepare the food for the party. Some Japanese class students has kids who goes to kindergarten or primary school and they are all invited to join the Potato group during summer holidays. Looking forward to an even more international gathering of Potato group. You may wonder about the Japanese class mentioned here. Well the place that Potato gathers is actually the venue for a voluntary Japanese class. Class fee is 2000 yen per month. Classes are held on Wednesday and Friday morning (10 a.m. to 12 p.m.) and afternoon (1 p.m. and 3 p.m.). Child care assistance is also available. For more information, you can refer to the link below.
Voluntary Japanese Class

プール遊び　Pool time

2008-07-10T13:32:00.007+09:00

保育園の友達と遊べると思ったら涼しいので彼らは散歩にいったしまいました。プールはポテトのみでしました。小さいプールとベビーバスを出してペットボトルやジョウロで遊びました。はじめはこわごわ水に入ったがだんだんと慣れてきてお友達に水をかけたりジョウロの取り合いをしてたのしみました。終了の合図をしたが泣いて遊びたいと言いました。みんなで遊ぶ事は楽しいですね。昼食後薬を見せながら説明をしました。虫刺さされ、熱さましシート、傷の薬、大人の風薬、胃腸の薬などでした。次回のレクエストは子供用な下痢薬、風薬、破棄止め薬などでした。プリントにして各々に配りたいと思います。来週の予定はプール遊びと新聞紙で遊ぼう。
A new friend from India joined us today. Potato group is increasing again. One of the mother asked....who pays for this group to exist? True! Nothing is free in this world. No fee is collected from the mothers and kids so who pays for it? Well, our tax money pays for it actually. Atsugi city has funds allocated to assist mothers with child care and that fund actually subsidies Potato group so lucky us. Pool time today but is it too cold to play in the pool? It is not raining but the wind is kind of chilly. However, so as not to dissapoint the kids, we brought out a tiny pool and filled it up with warm water. Initially the kids were wary about entering into the water but they soon warmed up and enjoyed themselves. Before going down to the pool, we had story telling in Japanese and English and also danced to the Hokey Pokey dance. Ever had problems with what medicine to use in Japan? Today, we introduced various over the counter medicines in Japan. For example, what to use when you get bitten by insect, what to use to reduce fever, etc. Our homework for this week is to come up with a document so that it is easier for foreigners to buy medicines at the drug store. Next Thursday is pool time and playing with newspaper. Tomorrow's pot luck party is also on at 11am. We will be waiting.

児童館は何？ Excursion to the Kids Community Center

2008-07-03T17:21:00.006+09:00

清水公園と戸室児童館へ探検に行きました。清水公園までみんなで歩きました。アジサイの花やきゅうりの花を見ながらおしゃべりしました。公園でシャボン玉遊びをしましたがうまく子供たちは吹けませんでした。お母さん達が頑張っていっぱいシャボン玉を空に飛ばしました。その後児童館に行き使い方を指導員から教わりました。幼児と保護者同士の交流場として、平日の午前中、児童館を解放しています。平日１０時から１２時までです。図書室も利用できます。私たちはおままごとをしたり、ピアノを弾いたり、児童館の庭でスペリ台やブランコをしました。帰るのを嫌がり泣く子もいいましたがまた来る事を話して帰ってきました。来週はプール遊び。水着とタオルと着替えを忘れずにお持ちください。7月１１日（金）午前１１時から多分化ともだちセンターの人たちと一品持ち寄りパティーがあります。待ってます。
児童館午前中利用

Yippee! No rain today. Our excursion is on. Today we have a new friend from India joining us. Potato group is increasing. We gathered at room 403 and left to Shimizu park at 10:30 am. We played bubbles at the park and went to the Tomuro Kids Community Center. Did you know that there is a facility called "Kids Community Center" (jidoukan) in Japan? In Tomuro, the Kids Community Center is open for small kids on every weekday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. There are toys there, a small library where you can borrow some children books and also a small park with slides, swing and climbing frames. Mothers with small kids are welcome to use the Kids Community Center in the morning. However, for the Kids Community Center in other area, the opening hours varies. For more information refer to the link below. When it was time to go back, there are kids who wanted to play some more. It was an enjoyable excursion. Next Thursday is pool time. Do remember to bring along a swim suit, towel and extra change of clothing. We will also be having a pot luck party on 11th of July (Friday) from 11 a.m. with Japanese class students and teachers. Do come and join us. We will be waiting.
Atsugi Kids Community Center for Young Kids Information

七夕の飾り、紙芝居

2008-06-26T13:37:00.007+09:00

2008.06.26
台風のような雨の中4組の親子が来てくれました。いくつもの星をつなげて七夕飾りを作りました。七夕は日本の季節の行事で中国もあるようです。思い思いのお願い事を家で書いて飾ります。紙芝居は「ニャンオン」で猫と月のお話です。子供たちはすごく喜んで、特に猫の絵に興味を持ったようです。次回は7月3日です。探検に行きます。目的地は戸室児童館です。雨だったら保育園４０３室で行います。お待ちしています。
Raining again today! Ever since we started the [Potato] - Let's Play Together - Parent and Child session, it has been raining... raining.... raining..... Despite the rain, 4 groups attended the play session today. A new friend from Denmark joined us for the first time. She had a hard time finding the place (the taxi driver could not find the place) but managed to make it in the end. For today, we used colored papers and made stars, drew faces on the stars and threaded a ribbon through it. In Japan, on July 7th, Japanese will make decorations, write their wish on the decorations and hang it on a bamboo stalk in their house. After everyone has completed the craft, we had a picture story telling session. The kids enjoyed the story about the Cat and the Moon. What a coincidence! One of the mother that attended actually borrowed the same picture story from the library and is reading it at her home. As usual, we read some English story books and danced and sang to the Hokey Pokey song and Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes song. Next Thursday, if weather permits, we will have an excursion to the nearby Kids Community Center (Tomuro Jidoukan). Do come and join us. We will be waiting.

おりがみ Origami

2008-06-19T00:15:00.001+09:00

2008.6.19
おりがみ製作、初めてであったがうまく出来たと思う。我が家の笹（生）をセロテープでつけ、ひこぼしおりひめの人形を貼り付け、お願い事を書き、持ち帰った。
The craft for today is origami. As July 7th is Star Festival Celebration in Japan, the origami for today is the characters from the Star Festival story. After completing the origami, it is stuck on a piece of white paper and decorated with bamboo stalks. The kids wishes are written on the paper. After completing the crafts, the teacher told a story using board and pictures. It is a story about animals and later the animals body and head gets all scrambled up and the kids has to pick and choose the correct head for the correct animal. It was a hit among the kids.

パネルシアター

2008-06-12T00:15:00.001+09:00

2008.06.12
パネルシアターで食べ物のクイズをしました。子供たちは喜んで遊びました。英語の本‘Bye Bye Bear’で’あいさつ、拍手、いないいないばあ、さよなら’の言葉を習いました。日本語のわらべ歌‘あめあめやんでくれ’を歌いました。傘をさしながら踊りました。でんでんむしの歌も歌いました。英語で‘Hokey Pokey’の踊るを踊りました。食事時韓国のはるさめとインドのカレーの作り方を教えてもらいました。お母さんどうしがとても楽しそうに話してしていました。
Food riddle today. Using board and pictures, the teacher asked the kids questions like "What is square, brown and tastes sweet?" Do you know what it is? The answer is chocolate. The kids had a nice time trying to guess the name of the food shown on the picture. The question that all kids are stuck with is "sour plum". I guess "sour plum" is a very typical Japanese food but not many foreign children takes "sour plum". During lunch time, we exchanged recipes on how to cook a Korean noodle dish called "Chapchi" and Indian curry.

Story telling

2008-06-05T00:12:00.002+09:00

2008.06.05
The theme for today is Story telling. Using an apron and characters from the famous Hans Christian Andersen story of the "The Emperor's New Clothes", the kids were entertained by a visual display and story telling of an emperor who unwittingly hires two swindlers to create a new suit of clothes for him. The kids were also told story from pictorial story cards and from the English books 'Thomas and the weather', 'Are Chickens Stripey?' and 'Goodnight Gorilla'. The attendants were also informed about 'Book Start' campaign in Atsugi where the library will give young children living in Atsugi 2 free books and a bag to encourage mothers to read to kids.
Library Book Start Campaign

Father's Day Medals

2008-05-29T00:07:00.002+09:00

2008.5.29
A meeting was held last Thursday to discuss on starting up a Let's Play Together - Parent and Child session for foreign mothers with young kids and this is the first time we are holding the session. Will anyone come? We are not expecting much as it is raining but to our joy, 3 groups of Korean mothers came with 4 young children. As Father's day is coming up, we made medals to give to the kid's fathers. We were also taught an interesting Korean action children song about bears.

POTATO ViVi

クリスマス飾り Christmas Decorations

Snowman

新聞で変身してみよう！Newspaper! Newspaper!

秋の落ち葉製作 Autumn Crafts

仮装してみました。Halloween Party

POTATO Schedule

かぼちゃの折り紙とおばけ Halloween Crafts

お散歩 Stroll

マラカス製作 Maracas

小麦粉粘土 Clay from flour

お店やさんごっこ Shopping

敬老の日カード作りCard for grandparents

パラシュート Parachute

Earthquake Emergency Procedures

Learning Japanese and Life in Japan Handbook

ボディペインティング＆パネルシアター Body Painting and Story Telling

野菜スタンプ Vegetable Stamping

リズムとダンス Music! Music!

お化け紙コップ Paper Cup Ghosts

水遊びとはち Water Toys

Pot Luck Party

Hello! Hello!

Japanese Star Festival, Tanabata

リズム遊び Let's Sing

Emergency Medical Care

Stroll

紙でアジサイ作り Hydrangea in Full Bloom

ぱっちんかえる Jumping Frogs

POTATO Schedule

Father's Day

ゲーム Game

フィンガーペイティング Finger Painting

風船遊び Balloons

Carp Streamers

Cherry Blossom Collage

POTATO Schedule

花見 Cherry Blossom Party

Clay

フォトフレーム

Hand and Foot Stamping

ペープサートを作りました Puppet Play

Stroll to Tomuro Kids Community Center

Atsugi International Peace Festival 2009

おひな祭り Girl's Day

韓国の日 Influenza

紙のバック作り Bag making

もうすぐお正月 Christmas and New Year Party

年賀状作り New Year Card

クリスマス模様 Christmas is in the air

厚木北児童館 Christmas Decorations

お姫様 Let's Sing

どんぐりを食べる Newspaper! Newspaper!

どんぐり Autumn Crafts

清水公園でシャボン玉遊び Bubbles at Shimizu Park

ハロウィンパーティ Halloween

中央公園で遊ぶ Chuo Park

デンデンダイコ Hand Drum

厚木北児童館にお散歩 Stroll to Community Center

ないしょ話 Okonomiyaki and Chijimi Party

マラカス製作 Maracas

「おはぎ」パーティと折り紙 Ohagi party and origami

シミ Autumn is here

紙粘土作り Paper clay craft

あやとり Cat's cradle

POTATO Brochure

野菜のスタンプ Vegetable Stamping

保育園ViViの行き方 Directions to ViVi

Birth of POTATO

Voices of Mothers

ホットケーキパーティーPancake party!

風船工作 Balloons! Balloons! Balloons!

粘土遊び Playing with clay

ペーパープリンセス Paper princess and paper hero

日本語クラスパティーに参加しました Japanese Class Party

プール遊び Pool time

児童館は何？ Excursion to the Kids Community Center

七夕の飾り、紙芝居

おりがみ Origami

パネルシアター

クリスマス飾り　Christmas Decorations

秋の落ち葉製作　Autumn Crafts

かぼちゃの折り紙とおばけ　Halloween Crafts

お散歩　Stroll

小麦粉粘土　Clay from flour

パラシュート　Parachute

ボディペインティング＆パネルシアター　Body Painting and Story Telling

野菜スタンプ　Vegetable Stamping

リズムとダンス　Music! Music!

お化け紙コップ　Paper Cup Ghosts

水遊びとはち　Water Toys

リズム遊び　Let's Sing

紙でアジサイ作り　Hydrangea in Full Bloom

ぱっちんかえる　Jumping Frogs

ゲーム　Game

フィンガーペイティング　Finger Painting

風船遊び　Balloons

花見　Cherry Blossom Party

ペープサートを作りました　Puppet Play

紙のバック作り　Bag making

もうすぐお正月　Christmas and New Year Party

年賀状作り　New Year Card

クリスマス模様　Christmas is in the air

厚木北児童館　Christmas Decorations

お姫様　Let's Sing

どんぐりを食べる　Newspaper! Newspaper!

どんぐり　Autumn Crafts

清水公園でシャボン玉遊び　Bubbles at Shimizu Park

ハロウィンパーティ　Halloween

中央公園で遊ぶ　Chuo Park

デンデンダイコ　Hand Drum

厚木北児童館にお散歩　Stroll to Community Center

ないしょ話　Okonomiyaki and Chijimi Party

マラカス製作　Maracas

シミ　Autumn is here

紙粘土作り　Paper clay craft

野菜のスタンプ　Vegetable Stamping

保育園ViViの行き方　Directions to ViVi

風船工作　Balloons! Balloons! Balloons!

粘土遊び　Playing with clay

ペーパープリンセス　Paper princess and paper hero

日本語クラスパティーに参加しました　Japanese Class Party

プール遊び　Pool time