Children's Day In Japan? May 5th

[TheEnglishKnitter]

Hi,
I popped into the Japan Centre, London yesterday and discovered that it is the National Children's Day Festival in Japan on May 5th. What ideas (apart from food, because I picked up the leaflet on rice sweets) can you give me?
I am a stay at home Mum, studying Japanese for pleasure and I have a 2-yr old son who loves colouring in and playing games. I think this would be a fun way of learning some more japanese words 97 perhaps kanji) while looking after my son and possibly entertaining some other local toddlers with other stay at home Mums locally.
All suggestions and web links welcome.
The EnglishKnitter

[becki_kanou]

The big thing on Children's day is Koi-nobori or carp streamers. These are beautiful streamers that look like carp; usually in red, green, blue and black, they represent a wish for children to grow up big and strong. It might be fun for your kids to make some streamers themselves either from paper or cloth. Here is a link to some koi-nobori to color.



Also, check out wikipedia for more info. Children's Day

[TheEnglishKnitter]

Thank you for the link. I will print off the pictures and look for some japanese words for fish and Koi and underwater for me to learn and I can teach my son the english words.

I tried to buy the cool looking flags but they were £10. per fish on amazon, so I think we might make some cotton streamers and tie them to the fire escape.

I'm trying to learn Japanese to keep me sane while being a stay at home Mum, activities like this beat CBeebies daily TV entertainment hands down, plus I get something out of it too!

[mariucha77]

Englishknitter,
I like your ideas! I'm a SAHM too and since my oldest seems very interested in Japanese when he sees me studying I think it would be something nice to do something like this together.
Thanks!