2/28/2015

Kids Design Award

I bought a pencil sharpener at the shop yesterday because my 6-year-old son will enter the elementary school from April and he will use it.



I was surprised that recent pencil sharpeners were very high-function though they were not so expensive.

As for this pencil sharpener which I bought, it won the prize of "Kids Design Award" in Japan.

I could realized this when I tried it.

First, it is very easy to use.

For example, my 4-year-old daughter could use it with no problems.
Next, it is safe.

There is a cutter inside the hole and children can't put their fingers in the hole.

Last, it can shave short pencils ( a minimum of about 5cm).

My children were very glad to it and they shaved a lot of color pencils.

Technology of Japan and the ideas of  improving their product are great!



Thank you(^o^) for reading this article!
If you enjoy it, please click these buttons and vote me!
I will be encouraged by you.

にほんブログ村 英語ブログ 英語の日記(英語のみ)へ
人気ブログランキングへ 
 


2/27/2015

Selfish daughter and tired mom

My 4-year-old daughter is very selfish recently.

I know it is common for little children, but it sometimes makes me tired.


When she woke up yesterday morning, she asked me, "Pick me up like a princess and take me to the living room! "

She rarely goes to the living room by herself.


After we coming back home in the evening, we usually have snack time.

She often wants to eat for her brother's foods.

My husband bought snacks for them last Sunday.

They chose three snacks each.

My daughter ate all of them on the same day, but my 6-year-old son left his favorite chocolate.

He tried to eat it last evening, she came to him and stared at him while he was eating chocolate though she finished eating her snack which I gave her.

She asked him, "Lucky you! I want chocolate, too! Give me one!"

My son got angry with her and told me, "She had already eaten her snacks! I was looking forward to eat it. That's why I didn't eat it last Sunday! I don't want to give it to her!"

Since I understand what he feels because she always does this to him that and he always ends up  giving his snacks to her, I tried to put her in her place and said, "You have already finished your snacks. Leave your brother's snacks alone!"

She got angry with me and started hitting me.

I scolded her, then she started crying and went out of the room.

After a while, my son went to her and gave her one of his chocolate.

She stopped crying.

I asked her "Do you have anything you want to say to him?"

She told him, "Thank you. But you gave me only one!"

I was surprised at her and I realized that she didn't understand that she needed to give up eating snacks that were meant for her brother.

I told them, "If you share what's yours, then both of you will be happy. But, if you fight each other to get what's meant for the others, then you will end up being sad."

I really get tired when I need to settle their fights!



Thank you(^o^) for reading this article!
If you enjoy it, please click these buttons and vote me!
I will be encouraged by you.

にほんブログ村 英語ブログ 英語の日記(英語のみ)へ
人気ブログランキングへ 
 

2/24/2015

Which do you like?

My children and I enjoyed "Which do you like game" while we were taking a bath last night.

It is a very easy game.

I ask them which they like, A or B.

For example, I asked them " Which do you like, a jelly or a pudding?"

They answerd "Jelly!"

( I wrote that they liked a jelly at my past entry → http://a-o-j-m.blogspot.jp/2015/02/every-child-is-different.html )

They sometimes have same answers, but sometimes they answered differently.

For example of the same answers,

"Which do you like, a ham or a sausage?"  " A ham!"

"Which do you like, a chocolate or a cake?" " A chocolate!"

"Which do you like, spring or autumn?" "Spring!"

"Which do you want to go, to the aquarium or to the airport?" "To the aquarium!"

"If you have 1000 yen, which do you want to do, to buy toys or to buy snacks?" "To buy snacks!"

Like that.

For example of the different answers,

"Which do you like, a fish or a meat?" My 6-year-old son answered "A meat!" and my 4-year-old daughter answered "A fish!"

"Which do you like, Udon or Soba?" He prefers "Udon" and she prefers "Soba".

"Which do you like, Doraemon or Youkai Wathch or Tom and Jerry?" He answerd "Youkai Watch!" and she answered "Tom and Jerry!"


I could expect all of their answers correctly.

It was a good opportunity to be able to make sure that I knew about them well so far.




Thank you(^o^) for reading this article!
If you enjoy it, please click these buttons and vote me!
I will be encouraged by you.

にほんブログ村 英語ブログ 英語の日記(英語のみ)へ
人気ブログランキングへ 
 

2/22/2015

It is not easy to display "Hina Dolls"

My family displayed "Hina Dolls" yesterday.

It is getting later and later to display them year by year because my husband and I are getting busier and busier.

When we bought them, we displayed in January.

Since there are a lot of parts, it is not easy to display them.

We can display them only for a week this year.

Because it is said that daughters will let marriage pass them by if their parents leave them displayed after March 3rd(the day of Girl's Festival).

It is said that because the dolls got the bad luck instead of the girls who live in the house.

That's why we need to remove as soon as possible after Girl's Festival.




Thank you(^o^) for reading this article!
If you enjoy it, please click these buttons and vote me!
I will be encouraged by you.

にほんブログ村 英語ブログ 英語の日記(英語のみ)へ
人気ブログランキングへ 

2/21/2015

I envy them!

My 4-year-old daughter woke up early yesterday's morning.

As soon as she woke up, she asked me "I want to play with the iPad!"

I told her "OK. But you may use it for 30 minutes."

I installed some applications for kids like drawing, learning Japanese letters, games that teach children how to read the time, learning English, and so on.

My children like to play with them very much, so I give permission to use my iPad for 30 minutes.

She started playing an English learning app with vocabulary games for kids.

I am always surprised at my children's abilities to adopt to growing technology.

She could remember how to use the iPad soon after I taught her.


Some time ago, I was also surprised to see my 6-year-old son was able to use our laptop.

My husband taught him how to use a mouse, and he was able to do it soon after he was taught.

I envy their ability to adopt well!



 
 
Thank you(^o^) for reading this article!
If you enjoy it, please click these buttons and vote me!
I will be encouraged by you.

にほんブログ村 英語ブログ 英語の日記(英語のみ)へ
人気ブログランキングへ 

2/17/2015

"Bouzu-Mekuri", Japanese traditional card game

My children and I often play "Bouzu-Mekuri" recently.

"Bouzu-Mekuri" is one of the Japanese traditional card game using Karuta of "Hyakunin Isshu".

"Hyakunin Isshu" is one of the most Japanese classical famous anthologies of "waka" written by 100 poets.

"Waka" is a short poem which express a scene, feeling, seasons, and so on with 31 Japanese letters and it sounds very rhythmical.

It is presumed that it has been established in the first half of the 13th century (though it has not been determined).

Hyakunin Isshu is now famous for its Karuta game.

There are 200 cards in Hyakunin Isshu.

100 cards of them are written each poem and the picture of the poet who wrote it.

Another 100 cards are written each of the last part of the poem in Hiragana (one of the Japanese character).


 

 
When we play "Bouzu-Mekuri", we only use the picture cards.
 
We place all of the picture cards face down.
 
Each of us will turn over one card and if we can see man's face in the card, that means  you can take it.
 
On the other hand, if you can see a princess (woman) in the card,  it means you get one more chance to turn another card.
 
If you can see a Buddhist priest in the card that you turn over, that means you have to release all the cards you had.
 
If you can see an Emperor who is seated on a stripe pedestal in the card, that means you can get the cards released by other people.
 
The person who gets the most number of cards will win the game.
 
(The rules are different from each family so it is my family's rules.)
 
 
This game doesn't need any skills, it depends on who is the luckiest!
 
My children enjoyed the game very much.
 
 
~*~*~*  Note ~*~*~*
 
I will not able to enter my entries here every day for a while
b
ecause I need to focus on my review for a certification's exam.
Unfortunately it is not related to English, but it is for the betterment of my career.
I will sometimes post my diary, so please visit here again!
 
 

Thank you(^o^) for reading this article!
If you enjoy it, please click these buttons and vote me!
I will be encouraged by you.

にほんブログ村 英語ブログ 英語の日記(英語のみ)へ
人気ブログランキングへ 

2/14/2015

I am completely unwell

I went to the hair salon yesterday.

When I was on my way home by train, I felt sick.

My husband and children came to the station to pick me up.

Since I still didn't feel well and I felt I needed to take a rest after we reached home, so I told my family that I was going to take a nap.

After a while, I became better so I made dinner.

But after that, I felt sick again.

I needed to take a rest, so I laid my face down.

Since I rarely feel sick, my children were worried about me.

Both of them came to me alternately.

My 6-year-old son told me "This flower is a present for you. I made it by "origami"!"

My 4-year-old daughter told me, "Are you OK? You can play with this (origami's toy she made)! "

I told them " Thank you!".

I was impressed how kind they were.

I  don't feel better at that time, so I wanted  to get some sleep.

I asked my husband to warm and serve our dinner.

I ate dinner and completely feel better after eating.

The main reason why I was sick was that I am lack of sleep, trainsick and hunger.

After all I was so grateful knowing that my family were being with me when I was in a bad condition.

I really realized that it is important to help each other in family.




Thank you(^o^) for reading this article!
If you enjoy it, please click these buttons and vote me!
I will be encouraged by you.

にほんブログ村 英語ブログ 英語の日記(英語のみ)へ
人気ブログランキングへ 

2/13/2015

I discovered my son's growth twice

Yesterday was the performance day of my children's nursery school.

My mother and I went there to see their plays.


My 4-year-old daughter's class played "The Giant Turnip".

All of her classmates were very cute and cheerful.

Some of them were fidgeting, and others were so nervous and they began to cry.

My daughter acted the role of a mouse.

Three or four students acted the same roles and they spoke their part together.
 

My 6-year-old son's class played "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz".

They had their own part, and each of them spoke their parts one by one.

They made their costumes and they choreographed by themselves and teacher helped them.

They set the stage alight with their energetic performance.


I forgot that I was watching the performance of my son's class, and I was so spellbound by the story.

I could find not only my son's growth but also his friend's.


I was really impressed that one of his friend who was crying during the performance 2 years ago played Dorothy lively!

I was deeply moved that everyone didn't hesitate to act their role.




One of his friend came to our house and she gave him chocolates she made yesterday's evening.

It was the first time that he received a chocolate from his friend for Valentine's day.

I realized that they were growing step by step.

Maybe he was shy, since he wouldn't accept it, so my daughter received it saying "Thank you!" instead of him.

But he told her after his friend went home, "It's mine! You can't eat them!"

It goes without saying that she cried bitterly!

(After a while, he gave her a chocolate and she smiled immediately.)



Thank you(^o^) for reading this article!
If you enjoy it, please click these buttons and vote me!
I will be encouraged by you.

にほんブログ村 英語ブログ 英語の日記(英語のみ)へ
人気ブログランキングへ 



2/12/2015

My secrets to prevent catching a cold

Flu is now has been going around in Japan.

I have my own secrets to prevent catching a cold.

First, of course enough nutrition and sleep are essential.

Next, I wear a mask when I sleep, so that my throat won't dry out.

It makes my face warm, and it does not make it difficult for me to breathe.

Lastly, I drink Japanese green tea during the winter season because it has an anti-bacterial effect.

The last two measures are especially effective at preventing me from catching a cold.

Please try them if you would like!



Thank you(^o^) for reading this article!
If you enjoy it, please click these buttons and vote me!
I will be encouraged by you.

にほんブログ村 英語ブログ 英語の日記(英語のみ)へ
人気ブログランキングへ 

2/11/2015

Donjara ~Good Old Game~

Yesterday was the National Foundation Holiday in Japan.

My children and I visited my parent's house.


My 6-year-old son told his grandmother, "I want to play "Donjara"!"

Donjyara is a picture matching game like mah‐jongg and it has been loved by Japanese families for a long time.

It is also called "Ponjan".

The illustrations of "Doraemon" are drawn on our Donjyara.

He had never experienced this game before, and he tried it for the first time yesterday.

I thought the rules were a little difficult for him, but he understood them and enjoyed it.

Furthermore, he was not a sore loser!

He enjoyed it very much and he didn't cry when he lost the game.

I was so surprised at him because I was a sore loser when I was a little girl.

But, my 4-year-old daughter was like me.

Before we played Donjara,  my mother, my son and my daughter played "karuta".

(* karuta from my past entry : http://a-o-j-m.blogspot.jp/2015/01/stormy-karuta-game.html )

I heard my daughter's wails many times (Maybe she cried every time she lost!).


And I was surprised that my mother kept the Donjara for more than 30 years!

My family often used to play it.

She is a person who takes care about her things very much!



Thank you(^o^) for reading this article!
If you enjoy it, please click these buttons and vote me!
I will be encouraged by you.

にほんブログ村 英語ブログ 英語の日記(英語のみ)へ
人気ブログランキングへ 



 
 

2/10/2015

One eye-witness is better than many hearsays

Since the weather forecast said on Monday night that the lowest temperature would be minus one degrees tomorrow, so my children and I prepared two pudding cup and poured water in them and put them outside our house.

It was a experiment whether it would be frozen or not.

In yesterday's morning, I went out of our house and checked them.

These were frozen!


The ice was very thin but transparent and beautiful!

I told my children, " Look! These are frozen!"

"Wow! Ice! Ice!" They were very excited to see them.

It is nothing special scientifically but to experience in practice makes us be impressed.

This is "one eye-witness is better than many hearsays"!


Thank you(^o^) for reading this article!
If you enjoy it, please click these buttons and vote me!
I will be encouraged by you.

にほんブログ村 英語ブログ 英語の日記(英語のみ)へ
人気ブログランキングへ 

 

2/09/2015

Handmade Gyoza (Jiaozi) Party!

My 4-year-old daughter asked me to held  "Gyoza" party at home on Sunday because she heard from her friend that her family held the party last Sunday.

Gyoza is kind of Chinese dumpling and it is popular among Japanese people.

It takes a lot of time for me to make them because I need to chop many vegetables finely and wrap the ingredients in Gyoza skins.

She tried to wrap it but it was difficult for her to make pleats!

But I praised her to try it.


Handmade Gyoza was so yummy!

Gyoza skins were crispy and meats were juicy!

But my 6-year-old son didn't eat them and my daughter ate only one though she suggested this party first.

And yet, she told me "Let's have party again!"

Maybe she doesn't like Gyoza but only likes holding a party because it is fun for her to make dinner with family!


 
 
 
Thank you(^o^) for reading this article!
If you enjoy it, please click these buttons and vote me!
I will be encouraged by you.

にほんブログ村 英語ブログ 英語の日記(英語のみ)へ
人気ブログランキングへ 



2/08/2015

This creative wooden puzzle is the good brain exercise

I bought the wooden puzzle when I was young.

The puzzle is made of wooden pieces of different shapes.

We can create different shapes using the puzzle tiles.

It was often placed the room of the Onsen ryokan (a hotel with hot spring) and I liked playing with it.

There were two levels of the puzzles and I bought the more difficult one.

But it was so difficult for me that I couldn't resolve even a single shape though I tried it looking at the examples written in the explanatory leaflet.


My 6-year-old son tried it yesterday morning.

I was surprised that he could resolve many examples easily!

This is the example of the bottom left.


These are other samples.



I was so impressed with his flexible mind!


Thank you(^o^) for reading this article!
If you enjoy it, please click these buttons and vote me!
I will be encouraged by you.

にほんブログ村 英語ブログ 英語の日記(英語のみ)へ
人気ブログランキングへ 


2/07/2015

It's OK sometimes!

I took my children to the hair salon yesterday evening.

Since my husband went out for dinner with his buiness partner and would spend a night at the "ryokan (a hotel with a hot spring) yesterday, I decided to eat out with my children.

Recently, we tried not to eat out to save money because we spent a lot money for our trip to Guam.

( Past entry of our Guam trip : http://a-o-j-m.blogspot.jp/2014/12/we-couldnt-speak-in-english-in-guam.html )

But I thought it is OK sometimes.

We went to Ramen restaurant near our house.

I ate ramen with a sticky sauce and topped with vegetables.

It was yummy!



Thank you(^o^) for reading this article!
If you enjoy it, please click these buttons and vote me!
I will be encouraged by you.

にほんブログ村 英語ブログ 英語の日記(英語のみ)へ
人気ブログランキングへ 

Furoshiki of March

I wrote about "Furoshiki" which I decorated at the entrance of my house before.

→(2/3 entry : http://a-o-j-m.blogspot.jp/2015/02/furoshiki-of-february.html )

After the day of "Setsubun (2/3)" finished, my 6-year-old son told me, "You should change this furoshiki. The devil is still here though we defeated them!"

I agreed with him and replaced the furoshiki of March.

We can see "hina-ningyou" on it.

March 3 is the day of "Hinamatsuri (the Girl's festival) ".

We pray for the happiness and healthy growth of young girls on that day.

Families with young girls usually display "hina-ningyou (hina-dolls)".

Since our family also has 4-year-old daughter, we will need to display the hina-dolls soon.




Thank you(^o^) for reading this article!
If you enjoy it, please click these buttons and vote me!
I will be encouraged by you.

にほんブログ村 英語ブログ 英語の日記(英語のみ)へ
人気ブログランキングへ 

2/05/2015

Every child is different

My children like jellies very much.

Especially they like a grape jelly.

I often buy a set of three jellies ( grape, orange, strawberry), so they always fight to get the grape jelly.

So I bought two sets of three jellies for each of them yesterday.



I asked them, "Which jelly do you want to eat from now?"

My 4-year-old daughter answered, "Grape!"

My 6-year-old son answered, "Strawberry!"

She always wants to eat her best first and he always wants to save his best for last.

It is very interesting for me that their characters are completely different.


My husband suddenly started to exercise of high knee yesterday morning.

Then my daughter and I joined his exercise soon.

He told his son, "Come on! Let's do it together!"

My son came to us and lay down beside us and started relaxing!

It meant that my daughter was upbeat and my son was sometimes not easily influenced into joining some activities.

Those are their charateristic.

Thank you(^o^) for reading this article!
If you enjoy it, please click these buttons and vote me!
I will be encouraged by you.

にほんブログ村 英語ブログ 英語の日記(英語のみ)へ
人気ブログランキングへ