Komaba International Playgroup: Frogs, senbei & What's your blood type??!!

History and Philosophy of Komaba International Playgroup

My original idea for starting Playgroup came about out of necessity. I think pre-school children (aged between 0 and 4 years) need some sort of social outlet, other than their siblings. I think it is a really good idea for children to socialize with other kids their own age and to roll up their shirt sleeves, get into those fights that we parents so hate. In Komaba International Playgroup, we provide a forum for such antics, a market for the madness of our children, as it were.

I am delighted to say that Komaba International Playgroup has been an enormous success to date. In the first year (September 2008 until May 2009) over 28 parents and their kids participated in the fun. We had a fancy dress Halloween party, a Christmas party, monthly birthday parties, as well as special theme days such as Easter and Saint Patrick's Day.

私がこのプレイグループを開催したのは、もともと自分の子ども達のためでもありました。私は年齢が2歳から4歳の子ども達に自分の兄弟以外の友達との交遊は必要と考えています。子ども同士で集まり、親が避けたいと思うような子ども同士の喧嘩も、私は大切なことだと思っています。駒場インターナショナル・プレイグループは、そうした子ども同士のエネルギーを発散させてあげられるような、良い場を提供してきたと考えています。

駒場インターナショナル・プレイグループは、大きな成果を残したと、胸を張って言えるのではないのでしょうか。この9ヶ月間、28名の親とその子どもたちに交遊の場を提供してきました。みんなで着飾ったハロウィーン・パーティーや、数々の誕生日、色々なテーマに基づいたプレイグループを数多く設けてきました。私はこれら全て会のプレイグループをホストできたことを嬉しく思っています。

Fees 料金

One time membership fee of 5,000 円 per family (payable by the end of the 1st month of class)

・入会金5,000円
　　　　

A．PAY　PER　CLASS

　　1,500 yen per family per class

A. 1回ごとに家族全員で1,500円（お母さんと子供１人で1,500　　円、お父さんとお母さんと子供2人でも1,500円）

Or

B．New Ticket system

　　5,000 yen for 4 tickets
One ticket per class.
Tickets can be used whenever you like - no time limit.

** TOTAL= Membership fee plus　(A　or　B)**

CLASS SCHEDULE 2009 & 2010

(** keep checking for regular updates and changes! **)

SEPTEMBER 2009

Mon 7th
Wed 9th
Mon 14th
Wed 16th
Mon 21st national holiday (Respect for the Aged) - no Playgroup
Wed 23rd holiday holiday (Autumn Equinox) - no playgroup
Mon 28th Birthday Party!
Wed 30th

OCTOBER 2009

Mon 5th "Tea Time"
Wed 7th "Teddy Bears"
Mon 12th national holiday (Sports Day) - no playgroup
Wed 14th "Bonjour!"
Mon 19th "Halloween Craft Day" part 1
Wed 21st "Halloween Craft Day" part 2
Mon 26th Scarecrow!
Wed 28th - HALLOWEEN PARTY:)

NOVEMBER 2009

Mon 2nd ABC's
Wed 4th Numbers
Mon 9th Still Counting!
Wed 11th More ABCs & November Birthday Party! 竜君のお誕生会
Mon 16th Craft day! - Christmas Party Invitations & Save the Date Cards - GUTENTAG KOMABA! (German day!)
Wed 18th Craft day! - Christmas Party Invitations & Save the Date Cards - HOLA KOMABA! (Spanish day!)
Mon 23rd - national holiday (Thanksgiving Day) - no playgroup
Wed 25th - Thanksgiving Day !

DECEMBER 2009

Nov Mon 30 - Recipe Day :)
Wed 2nd
Mon 7th - Christmas Craft Day 1
Wed 9th - Christmas Craft Day 2
Mon 14th - Christmas Story
Wed 16th -
Mon 21st
Wed 23rd - national holiday & CHRISTMAS PARTY!

JANUARY 2010

Mon 11 national holiday (Coming of Age Day) - NO PLAYGROUP!
Wed 13 Happy New Year!
Mon 18 Playground games around the world
Wed 20 Cancelled :(

Mon 25 Billy the Bear O-men craft day

Wed 27 Little Bunny O-men (poem & craft)

FEBRUARY 2010 (provisional schedule only)

Mon 1 - Setsubun :)
Wed 3 - Komaba Yochien Momo gumi kids choir!
Mon 8 - Valentines themed craft day :)
Wed 10 - Valentines themed craft day & Yukako's How to make Miso Demonstration

Mon 15 -

Wed 17 - Billy the Bear & The Tooth Fairy :)

Mon 22 - Recipe Day :)

Wed 24 - NO PLAYGROUP!! (Komaba yochien's otanjoukai for Sophie & Kate)

MARCH 2010

Mon 1 - SIGN LANGUAGE FOR KIDS :) by Lori Ikawa

Wed 3 - NO PLAYGROUP! (Cian's French School hoidays)

Mon 8 - International Women's Day Playgroup:)

Wed 10 - NO PLAYGROUP! (Cian's French School Holidays)

Mon 15- St. Patrick's Day theme (1) - Irish folklore story

Wed 17 - St. Patrick's Day theme (2) - Leprachaun Hunt/craft :)

Mon 22 - NO PLAYGROUP! - (PUBLIC HOLIDAY)

Wed 24 - NO PLAYGROUP! - (HARU YASUMI)

Mon 29 - Birthday Party :) お誕生会 & HANA-MI in KOMABA KOEN

Wed 31 - NO PLAYGROUP - (S & K holidays)

APRIL 2010

Mon 5 - Easter Bunny Playgroup!

Mon 12 -Birthday Party :) お誕生会

Mon 19 - Craft Day - KOINOBORI :)

Mon 26 - Miso Mixing!

MAY 2010

Mon 3 - Golden Week - no Playgroup!
Wed 5 - (Kodomo no hi) Golden Week - no Playgroup!

Mon 10 - Golden Week adventure stories:)

Mon 17 - CANCELLED!!

Wed 19th - Birthday Party :) お誕生会

Mon 24 - surprise

Mon 31st - Billy the Bear is back!

JUNE 2010

Mon 7 - birthday party :)
Mon 14 - End of Year Party! 　さよならパーティ

Monday 24 May 2010

Frogs, senbei & What's your blood type??!!

It seems that every Monday morning brings the rain. It's not even officially rainy season! Well at least the frogs were happy:)

After our usual jumping, leaping, singing about ducks, Anpanman and Doraemon and the much-anticipated senbei feast, we had a really interesting "eikaiwa" topic. It is a topic that is truly unique to Japan. What is your blood type? And do you believe that blood types can influence or indeed dictate characteristics in a person. Here are our "findings".....

Yukako, Kazumi, Riae and Yolande are all blood group B. People with this blood type are meant to be "my pace" kind of people. Thats is to say a little self-centred and they often like to be alone. On the plus side they are also extremely well motivated and will try hard all the time to achieve their goal.

Yumino and Ai and blood group O which supposedly implies "ozappa", details are not important to this group. They are an outgoing and friendly bunch and very adaptable, helpful and passionate people.

Reiko was our only AO type which should also mean that she is "ozappa" but extremely sensitive, details are important to this group.

I though this was a really fun topic until we really delved deeper - it just got better and better! Do our Playgroup Mums ACTUALLY believe in the theory that character types can be predicted by knowing someone's blood type? Some do believe. Some don't.

I'm sure you all know the famous women's magazine "Anna or Hanako". What you probably didn't know is that 1. Yukako used to work here and 2. the workplace is divided up according to Blood types!! In other words, you will not find any bloody typeO on the editting team as they are not attentive to details!

Also, relationships can be "perfect blood matches" or out and out disasters. B & O is a good match (like Yukako & Mr. Satou). A & O is OK, an A woman & O man is an OK match while an A man & O woman is said to be make the perfect couple (like Reiko and Hiroo!).

Anyway, I'll email you all the article that I saw on the BBC website. It really does make for an interesting read:)

I hope Fumiko chan is OK after her tumble this morning..... we missed your cool dancing!

See you all next week and please please please, BRING THE SUNSHINE!

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