Comments on: It’s All About the Bento http://regex.info/blog/2006-05-31/198 Not a photo blog, but sometimes I play one on TV Tue, 02 Dec 2008 02:06:27 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0.12-alpha by: Sam http://regex.info/blog/2006-05-31/198#comment-2037 Fri, 02 Jun 2006 10:38:31 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2006-05-31/198#comment-2037 I had to make the bento for about a week after my third son was born recently. Needless to say, I wasn't nearly as good as my wife -- one or two days they got tupperware instead of the bento bako because I couldn't find all the accoutrements (you know, you can't have the Thomas bento bako with the Majiranger chopsticks!), and there was no special chopping or cutting into shapes. It's hard work! I also find my kids tend to eat far healthier meals than most American kids. My six year-old eats foods specifically because they are good for him and avoid excess sweets. I don't think we've ever had a problem getting our kids to eat vegetables, which is something I hear a lot of parents complain of, so I suspect giving them these kinds of meals (lots of variety, and including some vegetables) at an early age is an excellent practice. I had to make the bento for about a week after my third son was born recently. Needless to say, I wasn’t nearly as good as my wife — one or two days they got tupperware instead of the bento bako because I couldn’t find all the accoutrements (you know, you can’t have the Thomas bento bako with the Majiranger chopsticks!), and there was no special chopping or cutting into shapes. It’s hard work!

I also find my kids tend to eat far healthier meals than most American kids. My six year-old eats foods specifically because they are good for him and avoid excess sweets. I don’t think we’ve ever had a problem getting our kids to eat vegetables, which is something I hear a lot of parents complain of, so I suspect giving them these kinds of meals (lots of variety, and including some vegetables) at an early age is an excellent practice.

]]> by: Jeffrey Friedl http://regex.info/blog/2006-05-31/198#comment-2029 Thu, 01 Jun 2006 11:14:52 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2006-05-31/198#comment-2029 At 3.5 yrs, I think Anthony is much to young to know or care about "eating healthy" -- he'll generally eat whatever we give him, so we make sure to give good stuff. He gets ice cream or things like that occasionally, but never at preschool and very rarely at home. Anyway, I wanted to keep the bento the focus of the post so, didn't really explain well about how we're trying to raise him and why we like this particular preschool. The point is not really to get him to accept responsibility and do things for himself -- at this age, the point is to encourage him to want to try things. As Fumie says, "at this age, the balance of wanting and being able to do is a fine line." If he can't do something, it might instill a feeling of not wanting to try, and a lack of confidence. If he tries but can't do it, we certainly don't scold -- we praise the effort. At this age, just wanting to give it a try is sufficient for success. The school and its teachers are very much on the same page with us. At 3.5 yrs, I think Anthony is much to young to know or care about “eating healthy” — he’ll generally eat whatever we give him, so we make sure to give good stuff. He gets ice cream or things like that occasionally, but never at preschool and very rarely at home.

Anyway, I wanted to keep the bento the focus of the post so, didn’t really explain well about how we’re trying to raise him and why we like this particular preschool. The point is not really to get him to accept responsibility and do things for himself — at this age, the point is to encourage him to want to try things. As Fumie says, “at this age, the balance of wanting and being able to do is a fine line.” If he can’t do something, it might instill a feeling of not wanting to try, and a lack of confidence. If he tries but can’t do it, we certainly don’t scold — we praise the effort. At this age, just wanting to give it a try is sufficient for success. The school and its teachers are very much on the same page with us.

]]> by: Tony http://regex.info/blog/2006-05-31/198#comment-2019 Thu, 01 Jun 2006 00:50:18 +0000 http://regex.info/blog/2006-05-31/198#comment-2019 Do you think that the Japanese teachers reinforces what you are trying to instill in Anthony? And this somehow helps convey a consistent message about responsibility, eating healthy.. Etc? Do you think that the Japanese teachers reinforces what you are trying to instill in Anthony? And this somehow helps convey a consistent message about responsibility, eating healthy.. Etc?

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