[Nagoya] Children Sharing Strawberries with "Here You Go!": Fostering Empathy at an English Nursery School

Alive Inc. (Headquarters: Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture / Representative Director: Hiromi Mitsui), which operates English nursery schools, children's English conversation schools, English after-school care, and STEM schools, held a field trip for its Alive International School (English nursery school) on March 23, 2026, visiting "Joyful Farm Unoike" in Mihama Town, Chita District. This field trip was conducted as a "concluding learning opportunity" for children nearing graduation to deepen their memories with their friends. ## Children's "Sharing" Nurtures Non-Cognitive Skills During this field trip, the children's relationships saw significant positive changes through the strawberry farm experience. Their interactions, such as saying "Here you go!" and "It's sweet!" in English while playing and laughing together, and sharing strawberries with younger children or instructors, were impressive demonstrations of deepening empathy and friendship. Spending time in nature created a more open environment than daily life, allowing children to interact freely without arguments or disputes. These experiences are not just a field trip but crucial educational opportunities for fostering non-cognitive skills like empathy and cooperation. ## Educational Approach that Creates Joy and Surprise The time spent walking through the farm also became an important learning experience for the children. As they observed roadside flowers, insects, and birds with their friends, and sang songs while walking, their hearts were filled with "joy," "fun," and "surprise." These "times that create joy and surprise" are an initiative that Principal Hiromi Mitsui has incorporated into the Japanese educational field, stemming from her research at Stanford University's early childhood education facilities and her subsequent continuous learning. On the day of the excursion, children were seen interacting more gently, helping each other, and discovering many things in nature with enjoyment. Each of these experiences enriches the children's emotional well-being. ## Value as Food Education | Experience Connecting Nature and Food At this farm, strawberries are grown using hydroponic cultivation. Keywords: International, English Conversation, Children's English Conversation, Nagoya, Strawberry Picking, Higashi Ward, Children's English, Non-cognitive Skills, Joyful Farm Unoike, English Nursery School