Let Kids be Kids

Credit: Upworthy, ideas.ted.com

Do you remember how life was like as a kindergartener? I do, vaguely. It was the most fancy-free time of my life to be honest, not having a care about the world, homework was minimal and in the form of colouring sheets if any; Friday was invariably play day so we were allowed to get up and down on slides and run around until tea time. I don’t think kids these days would believe what I say though, for they seem to be robbed of their childhood what with the pressure on their parents’ shoulders, which is passed on to these little humans who have only just managed to walk in a balanced manner.

I do not have kids. One of the gazillion reasons being the expectations schools and society have on children these days: from kindergarten onwards they are pushed beyond their limits to fare well academically, so much so that they are deprived of the right to be children – roll in the sand, chase after each other for no apparent reasons, and play according to their own schedule. Educators and parents alike seem to have lost sight on what is best for children.

Fortunately enough, there are educators behind the Fuji Kindergarten outside Tokyo, whose desire for children to be children materialised by the design executed by Tokyo-based firm Tezuka Architects. Put simply, the Fuji Kindergarten is an endless playground, with trees growing right through classrooms. The school is especially designed as a circle and the roof as a giant ring of playground to let kids run around literally forever, until they have had enough of it. With the light structure that is the kindergarten built around a big tree, kids are encouraged to climb up to the classroom if they wish. Oh, and there is a water sink in each classroom to foster the children version of water-cooler talk.

To quote the principal: “I don’t train them (children). We leave them on top of the roof, like sheep, and they will keep running.” And that is precisely the kind of school life a kindergartener deserves.

Bon-chan the Tortoise

Credit: Barcroft TV

You can practically walk any kind of pets these days, and people putting a leash on cats or walking their tortoise on the Sheung Wan end of the Victoria Harbour don’t faze me anymore. But an old man walking his tortoise, while carrying along a bag that is made out of the same fabric used to make the tortoise’s clothing, surely is a duo that garners attention.

Sixty-two-year-old director of a Japanese funeral business Mitani Hisao first spotted the tortoise when it was still its five-centimetre self at a pet shop in Tokyo. Childless, Mitani and his wife fell in love with the tortoise, and soon made it their new family member – they decided to call the tortoise ‘Bon-chan’. Never did the couple think Bon-chan would grow into a creature whose shell measures two foot five inches, but that didn’t stop the couple from loving Bon-chan. In fact, Mitani considers Bon-chan his son and calls him exactly so. The duo can be seen taking a two-hour walk two to three times a week, attracting attention with their matching outfit: Bon-chan’s clothes and the bag in which Mitani carries some carrots, bok choi, and a bottle of water to wash off Bon-chan’s pee.

According to Mitani, Bon-chan is a good listener and his confidant, who would come over at the call of his name. “Bon-chan knows the route and is very head-strong, so all I do is to follow. If a cute girl comes along, Bon-chan would start following her though,” said Mitani. Apparently, Bon-chan is very helpful at Mitani’s workplace too. “I run a funeral business and people who come to me are usually sad, but they would always smile whenever they see Bon-chan. I’m very proud of the positive influence my son has on people.”