Our Planet

Text : Aya Endo

The year 2019 is reaching to an end. At Yamanoko, we have started to get ready to welcome the new years with children by planning seasonal events and activities together; mochi-pounding (mochi tsuki), creating seasonal decorations such as shimenawa (sacred straw festoon), kadomatsu (traditional bamboo ornament), and making new year greeting cards. We wonder how each family of Yamanoko has been preparing for the new years at home. How has the year 2019 been for you?
When I look back on the year 2019 at Yamanoko -it has been a year filled with happiness, as if I have been hiking in a treasure mountain. While there were lots of happy moments that almost made me jump with joy, and that filled me with appreciation, there were also sad and difficult moments where we learned important lessons from the families fighting anxiety and trying to overcome great difficulties. It was the year I sincerely learned that every family has a story to tell, and children who belong to their families live in that narrative And this resulted in a significant change in my own interpretation towards Yamanoko, from a place that educates and raises children to something like a big ship boarded with each and every story of Yamanoko familiy as passengers. So now I question myself everyday -is Yamanoko worthy at all as a ship that sails?

 

I have recently come to realise that we do not turn into mothers or fathers, or become a family just because the child is born; it must be the will to become one. To talk about myself -this year was the tenth anniversary as a mother (including the year I was pregnant). Day by day, step by step I have been growing into a mother for the last ten years, and yet I still consider myself as a “new mum”. From my point of view with such perspective, Yamanoko parents with children aged 0-6 have just begun their journey to create a family! This is going to be a lifelong journey; please parents, try not to pressure yourself too hard that you will be out of breath. We are slowly, but certainly becoming a mother, a father; from time to time we all should stop and take a moment to appreciate just how far we have come.

 

It was also the year that a number of natural disasters occured. When we know that climate change is happening and is the main cause, it makes it difficult for us to have our hopes up that the next year will be better. I feel as though the children are paying close attention to how we adults perceive this crisis and take actions. We would like to take specific measures to start tackling this issue by doing what we can and not end it as a mere wish for children’s happiness, but something that we can all hope for.

 

 

 

 

 

We are going to review the days of November and December at Yamanoko from the perspective of events and lessons. Generally speaking, with the awareness that happened through the exhibition “Our Ever-Transforming Self”, causing changes within ourselves, we were able to utilize them through our everyday childcare flexibly.

 

◯Conducting PAMA-NOKO Workshops

Second workshop, followed after the first one in September, was held on the 9th and 10th of November. In September, we made a few raised beds and in November, we made our very own compost station. To all the parents who have participated this event, thank you very much!

◯ Conducting an Exchange Program Between Child Educators.  

Our staff, Y-san from Kogomi went to participate in a 2 weeks training in “Kazeasobi”, a childcare center in Karuizawa, Nagano. It was a great opportunity to observe and share the differences of the both worlds by looking at child education from a different perspective; an experience that can not be done from a day’s training.

*Because adults also want to learn and grow, “Kazakoshi School” from Karuizawa, Nagano, “Authorized Children’s Center Sazanami’s Forest” from Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima and Yamanoko have started a trial where staffs of each school spend time at other’s facility. We plan to continue this program next year.

 

◯  Trial Field Trips to the Forest with Akebi Kids

On 22nd of November, some of Akebi children went on a field trip to Mt Hachimori. Because we saw how different children have interacted with the environment, we conducted 3 trial field trips in December.  After this month, the team shall discuss the possibilities of expanding the field of child care/education, and possible structure of curriculum at Yamanoko.

◯ We held a staff training on 14th and 15th of December.  

We held a staff training, which we hold every 3 months. It has been 2 years and 4 months since the opening of Yamanoko, we felt the necessity to question what we held as a premise. (For example, a system children are divided into classes, and the ways 3 – 5 year olds take naps (or don’t)) We wanted to reexamine the meaning of these cases that we might have taken for granted in the light of what we as Yamanoko consider important. From this awareness, many dialogues were held that could reshape the existence of these premises.  I want to introduce you 2 themes that were discussed.

 

①What is the “Vision of 6 Year Old” that We Wish for?

This is the first year that we are going to have graduates. With the developments that a child has gone through since the age 0 in mind, we each shared what we wished to see in a 6 year old. By classifying the wishes and discussing them objectively, we shaped the vision.We will continue to have these dialogues. Also, with the developments till the age 12 in mind, we want to be able to verbalize the foundation of 0 to 6 year old. 

Here are some of the “Wishes For a 6 year old” that was shared at the training. 

A being

– who has the ability to create 

– who somewhat knows what they like

– who can express their feelings

– who can be kind to their neighbors

A person 

–  who can move their bodies as they wish 

– who can create their own fun and play

– who enjoys cooking

– who knows the elements essential to create a fire

 

②Thinking from “what children cannot choose”  

 

We strive to create a childcare system derived from “what children want to do”, however, there are many things that children do not have a choice. For example, children have to put the shoes in the shoe box. They can not leave the clothes on the floor. They have to pee before they take a nap. They have to go inside after dark. Or simply, they cannot go home even if they wanted to.  When we list out “what we can’t choose to do” from the perspective of a child, the list seems to go on. This brought us to think, what is the meaning of us being together?. Is it necessary to find enjoyment in things that we do not always want to do? How can we enjoy ourselves whatever our circumstances may be? Rich discussions were had afterwards and bigger question such as “is it possible to obtain freedom while living in a group?”.