Back to the reality of the big, grimey city. I must have been dreaming when I thought 'I could do this'. Tokyo is almost impossible! Where is there green space??
Yes, we know Yoyogi is right there, and it is huge! And, conveniently, very near my work HOWEVER, luck will have it that it is currently being fumigated for Dengue Fever! We don't need a Risk Assessment form to say that taking a 15 three year olds there at present is not a good idea!
I will bear it in mind for another time.
So, I have accepted that with the other little patch of green as my nearest park (and by park I mean, not playground...there are many of those in Tokyo and they are rather depressing.)
Perhaps we will start there. We call it the 'Hanami Park'. It is where my school hosts picnics and there is a small area of nature for children to have their interests piqued and a good introductory park for my class.
However, despite having the solid backing of my bosses and potential access to sites, I have a new class of 15 children, who I am still getting to know and the impossible task of finding decent locations. Normally, the perfect woodland can be found in Yamanashi or Chiba which are both about 90 mins (by car) from the centre of Tokyo.
Yes, the impossible task.
((I am allowed to have 3 different sites, so long as they are risk assessed, analysed and activities planned accordingly.
1 - Would be Yoyogi Park if and when we get the all clear!
2) Hanami Park as it is close to my school also
3) Komazawa Park, a few rides on the subway
4) Hino forest
I hope that this list can grow in terms of possible locations. Personally, I do not mind how much work is involved if it means the kids can be outside as much as possible!))
I have located some national Morinoyouchien (forest kindergatens) and read about them. The best one is in Tottori - you can watch it on YouTube . I would love to visit there, but it might be logistically impossible.
However, the lady running the kindergarten is inspirational as she keeps to the true meaning of the forest kindergarten style and defies the bureaucratic elements (at least initially, let's hope she managed to continue!)
My Japanese teacher was also super helpful and found some email addresses for me to contact. In addition to this, I have found the magic network of Japan:
There are many links and sources of information on the site (all in Japanese, of course!) and therein is included 5 forest-style kindergartens within the Tokyo region.
Of course, my next task is to make contact, observe and see what I can learn from them!
I have discovered a lecture.... in the woods....!!!! It's next week...let's see if I can get anything from it!!!
Back to those emails.....
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