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The opposite day, I attended sankanbi (参観日) at my daughter’s preschool, which is a day for fogeys to watch what goes on at their youngster’s daycare or college.
I discovered that the expertise was fairly totally different when in comparison with the sankanbi I attended at her daycare virtually three years in the past, which is why I assumed I might share what a sankanbi at a Japanese preschool is like.
Kicking the Day Off within the Auditorium
Not like my daughter’s daycare, the place solely two mother and father attended on a scheduled day, the sankanbi on the preschool had all of the mother and father of the first-year college students (年少, nenshou) attend directly. There have been largely mothers there and some households the place each mother and father attended. Some mothers additionally got here with their different youngsters, so when you have one other small youngster, it’s possible you may carry them and don’t have to fret about lacking your older youngster’s sankanbi or arranging childcare.
I had attended a sankanbi at my daughter’s preschool earlier than when she was within the early-entry class and we have been within the auditorium the complete time. The rationale I didn’t write about it was that it lasted about an hour and consisted of the children singing their morning greeting tune, doing a craft with us, after which enjoying just a few video games collectively. It was like pre-yochien yet again.
I might have most popular to see my daughter in her precise classroom and I wished to see her work together with different children, so I wasn’t positive what to anticipate from this one. Would this one be the identical?
We have been informed to reach earlier than 10 AM and head straight to the auditorium after turning into our slippers (I made positive to carry my indoor slippers and a plastic bag to place my out of doors footwear into). Lots of the mother and father had arrived already and have been standing on the again or to the perimeters of the room whereas all three courses of children sat in a row within the center.
When it was time to begin, one of many academics defined to the children that their mother and father have been right here to see what a typical day at their preschool was like after which instructed the children to do some tune and dance collectively. Afterward, the instructor defined that the children would head again to the classroom and as soon as they have been all out of the auditorium, the mother and father may comply with.
My daughter was so excited to see me and was all smiles when she left the room, however naturally, some children began crying and wished to go straight to their father or mother(s). In any case, most of them had solely been attending preschool for lower than two months and maybe hadn’t been separated a lot from their caregiver earlier than that. (My daughter and some others began attending a bit earlier.)
Heading to the Classroom
After I arrived on the classroom, the children have been all sitting on chairs in a half-circle. I wasn’t precisely positive the place to go so I stood behind my daughter and the opposite mother and father did the identical.
As soon as everybody had arrived, the instructor defined that the children would present us a number of the songs they often sang. These consisted of:
- Bun bun bun (ぶんぶんぶん)
- Kotori no Uta
- Morning Greeting tune
In between the primary and second songs, I adopted what one other mother did and moved to a different spot in order that I may most likely take a greater video of my daughter as I used to be solely getting the again of her head whereas standing behind her!
After the morning tune, the instructor took attendance. Many of the children fortunately mentioned “Hai!” when their names have been referred to as, and a few even mentioned it in a humorous voice, which made the opposite children snort. A couple of children have been understandably too shy with all of the mother and father round and turned away from the instructor when it was their flip.
Subsequent, the children moved from their chairs to the center of the classroom. After ensuring that they had sufficient house round them, they sang and danced to the next tune:
My daughter appeared to essentially get pleasure from it and I cherished seeing her sing and execute all of the actions to the tune.
Following this, the instructor requested them to discover a pal and ask, “Issho ni asobou?” (Would you prefer to play with me?). I assumed my daughter would ask somebody near her however as a substitute, she went out of her strategy to one other child who had briefly attended pre-yōchien together with her (earlier than my daughter was accepted into the early yōchien class). The youngsters then sang to the identical tune whereas dealing with their associate and my daughter appeared like she was having loads of enjoyable together with her pal. I seen that once they have been collectively, the 2 women have been most likely probably the most hyper and outgoing out of the bunch, which made me comfortable.
The instructor then requested all the children to take a seat down and so they sang a tune referred to as Hittsuki Mottsuki (ひっつきもっつき):
As soon as once more, they have been requested to discover a associate however this time, somebody new and repeat the tune and actions. It was actually cute to see them getting issues like their butts “caught collectively” (kuttuita). This was really one thing I did together with her at her pre-yochien as effectively!
In between a number of the songs, the children had bathroom time in addition to barley tea time (mugicha). My daughter did an awesome job doing every part on her personal, like washing her arms, realizing the place her towel was to dry her arms, and getting her personal cup in addition to placing it away. It’s onerous to consider she’s solely three generally!
In whole, we spent about an hour watching our children sing, dance, and work together with different children.
Mother or father-Trainer Time (懇談会, Kondankai)
Subsequent was the kondankai, a time for the instructor to speak to the mother and father and for us to get to know one another a bit bit. The youngsters headed again to the auditorium to look at a film whereas the mother and father took over their little chairs.
First, the instructor gave a self-introduction (jikoushoukai) after which requested us to do the identical, ensuring to incorporate our passion and the way we got here up with our child’s title (yurai). The mothers on every finish of the half-circle did rock-paper-scissors and the winner needed to begin, and that occurred to be the mother proper subsequent to me, which meant I might be second.
I had by no means defined how I got here up with my daughter’s title in Japanese earlier than however I did my greatest and I assume it made sense, judging from the response of the opposite mothers. It was fascinating to listen to in regards to the hobbies of the opposite mothers and the thought course of behind their youngster’s title. Afterward, I assumed I ought to have talked about a special passion, like watching Japanese dramas after which ask for options. Subsequent time!
After this, the instructor talked about how issues have been going with our children. I don’t keep in mind each single factor we talked about as a result of there was so much however here’s a tough overview:
- Socializing with different children
Some children have been having bother sharing with others, but it surely’s all a studying course of. - Consuming lunch
The youngsters are studying easy methods to use utensils correctly. They’re attempting to not be choosy and the children particularly like bread and ask for seconds or thirds. The instructor requested us if we now have any issues about our youngster’s consuming habits or if they are saying they have been hungry after preschool but it surely appeared like there have been no issues. One mother introduced up that her youngster has been much less choosy about meals since beginning preschool. (On the whole, my daughter is much less choosy as effectively however she has her days, like all toddlers do.) - Altering garments
The youngsters are typically good at altering from one uniform to a different however the buttons on the shirt are difficult as a result of they’re so small. The youngsters are doing their greatest however the instructor really helpful we apply at residence. - Pool time
The youngsters would have pool time ranging from June, so the instructor went over every part we have to put together, similar to a swim cap, bathing fits, face towels, and easy croc-like sandals. Kids who weren’t absolutely potty-trained by this time wouldn’t have the ability to go into the pool, solely play beside it, so the instructor inspired everybody to attempt their greatest.Because the pool could be chilly, she additionally really helpful that we use cooler water throughout bathtub time so that they get used to the temperature. (I did flip down the temperature of the bathe a bit, however actually, I don’t assume I’m going to offer my daughter a bathe utilizing chilly water. If it’s actually scorching exterior, I don’t assume she’ll thoughts in regards to the temperature of the pool since she has been in a chilly pool earlier than in the summertime however we’ll see!)
The time handed by fairly quick regardless of being an hour lengthy.
After it was over and we have been ready for the children to return again, a mother sitting subsequent to me requested if she may see my weblog (as I had talked about that was my passion). I confirmed it to her and he or she introduced up that her son and my daughter had been within the earlier class collectively. I didn’t notice it, possible as a result of this was the primary time I had seen her with out her masks on. It took me a couple of minutes earlier than her title clicked and I remembered she had been a PTA member! I felt so unhealthy and apologized. (For those who’re studying this, A-san, I’m so sorry!)
It was very nice to speak together with her as a result of this was the primary time I had correctly talked to a different father or mother at my daughter’s preschool. I’m not nice at beginning conversations in any language (I’m much better at writing than talking) and by the point I consider one thing to say, there’s no time to speak. So I’m actually grateful she talked to me! Particularly as my daughter is mates together with her son and mentions often that she performed with him at preschool.
Time to Go Dwelling!
When the children got here again into the room, they packed away their towels and cups (I used to be impressed by how properly my daughter folded her towel!) after which modified out of their sports activities uniform into their formal one, which they’re required to put on when coming to preschool and leaving. My daughter did a very good job buttoning up most of her shirt however she was drained and hungry (it was virtually 12:30 in spite of everything at this level) so I completed the buttoning for her. She additionally folded her sports activities uniform properly earlier than placing it into her bag.
As soon as she was modified and all packed up, it was time to go!
I might have appreciated to see my daughter have lunch like I did at her daycare’s sankanbi. However apart from that, this was a greater expertise than the earlier sankanbi I had attended at this preschool the place we have been within the auditorium the complete time.
This time, I obtained to see my daughter work together with different children, had the prospect to study in regards to the different mother and father (and converse to 1!), and likewise hear from the instructor about how all the children are doing as an entire. As a father or mother, you are worried about your youngster, particularly when you don’t have many probabilities to see them work together with youngsters the identical age, so it was good to really feel reassured.
Did you go to a sankanbi at your youngster’s preschool? What was it like? Please let me know by leaving a remark, I might love to listen to from you!
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