Nostalgic! Kindergarten Parent-Child Excursion by Tour Bus – Achieving Nature Experience, International Exchange, and Parent-Child Interaction at Tokyo German Village

In recent years, the number of educational facilities conducting parent-child excursions has been declining due to factors such as the declining birthrate and changes in parents' work environments. On the other hand, the importance of experiential activities for children and opportunities for interaction among parents is increasing, and our school continues to hold parent-child excursions for the purpose of community building.

On the day, children, parents, and staff traveled together by tour bus. During the trip, a teacher from Germany conducted a quiz about German culture, providing learning opportunities for cross-cultural understanding and international exchange even before arriving at the destination.

This excursion also provided an opportunity to reaffirm the geographical advantages of Kawasaki City. Kawasaki City not only offers excellent access to central Tokyo and Yokohama City but also allows quick access to large parks and nature experience facilities in Chiba Prefecture via the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line. This location, which allows enjoyment of both urban functions and nature experiences, greatly expands the possibilities for experiential activities in early childhood education.

At Tokyo German Village, activities included free play on the vast lawn and large playground equipment, as well as nature experiences in the water play area. Children enjoyed interacting with nature and exploratory activities while playing wholeheartedly with friends and family.

A parent-child mini sports day was also held. Through parent-child competitions and group games, not only did the children interact with each other, but communication among parents also became active. Interactions that transcended grade and class boundaries were fostered, contributing significantly to the formation of the school-wide community.

During lunch, families enjoyed time with their families and friends while sharing the bento lunches they brought, further deepening interactions among parents.

KINCARN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL emphasizes "learning through experience." It positions nature experiences, cross-cultural understanding, fostering social skills, and collaboration with the parent community as important pillars of its educational activities. This parent-child excursion was a valuable opportunity to nurture children's rich sensibilities and cooperativeness, while also connecting families with the school and parents with each other.

Going forward, KINCARN INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL will continue to leverage the advantageous location of "Kawasaki" to promote experiential education where children's "fun" leads to "learning," and strive to develop human resources who can thrive in a global society.