令和８年が始まりましたね！
いつもより少し長い休みとなった年末年始。
あけましておめでとう！の登園時の声掛けに、ちょっぴり恥ずかしそうにもしつつも
小さな声で返してくれた「あけましておめでとう！」を先生たちは聞き逃しませんでしたよ♡
年度の後半ということもあり、長い休み明けでもあっという間にいつものリズムを
取り戻した子どもたち。
新年のお楽しみの一つ目は…
クリスマス会に参加してくれた志田町保育室に、今度は私たちがお邪魔しにいって、
「もちつき会」に参加させてもらいました！
The winter holidays came to an end, and the children returned to preschool ready to start the new year.
Teachers welcomed them in the morning, and New Year greetings could be heard as the children arrived.
Even after the long break, the children quickly found their usual pace,
and our first New Year activity was a visit to Shidamachi Nursery Room
to join their mochi pounding event.
１歳児はつくところや、もちが少しづつまとまっていく様子を見せてもらい、
そのあとにツンツンと実際に触ることが出来ました。
「もち」が何かまだわかっていない子が多くて当たり前なのですが
「一体これはなんだろう？」の気持ちが表情にでており、可愛らしいこと！
何回か経験したりもう少し大きくなって食べる時が来て、繋がっていくのが楽しみですね。
The one-year-old children watched as the mochi was gradually pounded
and started to come together, and afterward they were able to gently touch it themselves.
2-4歳児は実際につかせてもらい、大満足！
The 2-4-year-old children got to try pounding the mochi themselves and loved it!
「よいしょー！！」の掛け声に力をもらっていましたよ。
The children were energized by everyone shouting “Yoisho!” while pounding the mochi.
出来上がったもちに色を付け「もちばな」を作るのが毎年恒例だそうで、木に飾っていきました☆
柔らかいもちを丸めるのはなんだか気持ちいいね。
Afterward, they added color to the mochi and made mochibana, decorating the branches.
Rolling the soft mochi felt fun and satisfying.
お土産としていただき
早速園の玄関に飾ると…なんと華やか♥
We received some mochibana to take home,
and when we decorated the preschool entrance, it looked bright and festive.
素敵な経験をさせていただきありがとうございました！！
We are grateful for this wonderful experience!
次の日は、お楽しみの二つ目☆
園内で「新年おめでとう会」を開催。
昨日の「もちつき会」を振り返りながら、正月の伝承や由来を知りました。
そこに登場したのがこっそり様子をみていた神様♡
いつも見守っていただきありがとうございます。
The next day, we held a “Happy New Year” celebration at the preschool,
where the children learned about traditional New Year customs.
A god appeared during the celebration, quietly watching over the children as they participated in the activities.
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ぜひ、お椅子に座られて楽しんでいってくださいね！
そして実際に羽子板・こま・けん玉を先生が披露♫
園長先生はこの日の為に練習を重ねたこともあり、１回で成功★お見事！！
The teachers demonstrated traditional New Year games like battledore, spinning tops, and kendama.
The principal had practiced especially for the day and succeeded on the first try!
What a great performance!
お手玉は子どもたちも一緒にやってみましたよ。
The children also had a chance to try playing with beanbags together.
さてお次は少し緊張感のある書初め。
「その年の縁起のいい方角に向かって書く」というならわしを守り
南の方角にむかって筆を入れます…
Next, the teachers tried their first calligraphy of the year.
Following the custom, they faced south, the lucky direction, as they started writing.
書き終わり、どんな気持ちを込めたかを発表していると、
こんどは獅子舞が登場、そして神様との共演★も果たしました。なんともめでたい！
獅子舞にあたまを噛んでもらうと厄が取れ、一年をより良く過ごせます。
そこでみんなも噛んでもらうことに♩
Then a lion dancer appeared, joining the god in a lively performance.
According to tradition, having the lion gently bite your head removes bad luck and brings a good year,
so the children took turns receiving the lion’s playful “bite.”
可愛らしい大きさのししまいなので怖さはなかったよう？！
何はともあれ、この一年も健康でhappyに過ごせますように！！
The lion was small and friendly, so the children didn’t seem scared at all.
We hope everyone has a healthy and happy year ahead!
～おまけ～
やりたい！と声のあった書初めは、会の後にちゃーんと楽しんでいます。
とっても真剣に自分と向き合って、そのタイミングがきたら書き始めている姿に
見守っているこちらの姿勢がピンとなりました。
As a little bonus, the children who wanted to try calligraphy were able to enjoy it after the celebration.
みんなが込めた願いが叶いますように♡♡
We hope that all the wishes the children put into their calligraphy come true.
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Starting the New Year Together at Our Preschool
The new year has begun, and the children returned to preschool after a slightly longer winter break. During morning drop off, teachers greeted them with New Year wishes. Some children answered quietly and a little shyly, but it was nice to hear their small voices and see familiar faces again.
Even after the long break, the children quickly returned to their usual routines. Being in the second half of the school year, it was clear how comfortable they felt in their environment.
One of the first New Year activities was a visit to Shidamachi Nursery Room, that had joined our Christmas event. This time, we were invited to take part in their mochi making event.
The older children took turns pounding mochi using a mortar and mallet, watching as steamed rice slowly changed into soft mochi. They could see how much strength and teamwork were needed. The baby class touched the mochi dough, shaped it into small pieces, and decorated branches to make mochibana.
Later, we held our own New Year celebration at the preschool. The children learned about the meaning behind New Year decorations and tried traditional activities such as kendama, spinning tops, beanbag play, and battledore. There was also time for the first calligraphy of the year, where the children focused quietly on their writing. During the celebration, the New Year deity appeared, followed by a lion dance. The children watched with interest and took part calmly, continuing to enjoy the games alongside their teachers.
These experiences gave the children time to learn, play, and share the start of the New Year together.
We hope this year will be a healthy and positive one for everyone.
