Offering a "Lesson for Learning About Babies" to Junior High School Students Across Japan
Loose, friendly ties facilitating easy cooperation around raising children
Offering a "Lesson for Learning About Babies" to Junior High School Students Across Japan
Japan
Pigeon has been offering an educational program called “Lesson for Learning About Babies: For a Baby-Friendly Future” to junior high school students across Japan.
In Japan today, the circumstances surrounding childbirth and parenting are relatively harsh, and many mothers and fathers report distress and difficulty due to the lack of understanding those around them show toward children. One factor in this is thought to be reduced opportunities for people to encounter and interact with babies at a young age, due to the nuclearization of the family and the aging of Japanese society.
Recognizing these issues, Pigeon decided to offer an educational program for junior high school students that would spark an interest in babies, encourage students to think about what they can do as members of society, and urge them to put those ideas into action. “Lesson for Learning About Babies: For a Baby-Friendly Future” is the result.
As well as providing the lesson plan and teaching materials to teachers free of charge, Pigeon also sends employees to some schools to deliver the lesson directly. At these lessons, as part of learning more deeply about babies and families, students put on a pregnancy jacket to simulate the experience of being pregnant and try pushing a baby stroller.
The lesson is provided to over 10,000 students at around 140 schools each year.
The Lesson Plan in Detail
Everyone Was a Baby Once
Students recall events and anecdotes that made an impression on them about what kind of baby they were, renewing their awareness that they, too, were babies once.
A Baby Is Born
Students learn that, while babies are born into a range of circumstances and environments, all of them are irreplaceably precious individuals supported by many other people as they grow.
Why Do Babies Do That?
Why do babies cry? Why do they need so much sleep? Students learn about characteristic infant behavior and the reasons behind it, giving them knowledge that is essential for communicating with babies.
Thinking About What You Can Do—Right Now
To make sure that the lesson makes a lasting impression, students are given the opportunity to think independently about what they can do as a member of society and encouraged to take action accordingly.
Comments from Participating Students
“I learned that I received help from lots of people when I was a baby, and how important it is to offer help to mothers who need it.”
“The lesson showed me what a precious and amazing thing a baby’s birth is.”
“I thought that only parents and families cooperated to care for babies, but I learned that there are things we junior high school students can do as well.”
2023.11
Related Links
Loose, friendly ties
facilitating easy cooperation
around raising children
Vision of a Baby-Friendly Future:
Six Faces of Society
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Babies are part of
everyone’s everyday life -
Loose, friendly ties
facilitating easy cooperation
around raising children -
Creativity from babies
brings excitement to society -
No barriers to
raising children -
All babies are helped to develop and grow,
regardless of the conditions of their birth -
A comfortable world where
babies are not troubled by
environmental risks
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