For young children, love is often felt through the closest connections: a warm hug when they feel unsure, singing, dancing, and playing with their parents, or sharing joyful moments with their first friends. These simple interactions help children feel safe and loved while gradually developing a sense of connection with the people around them. 

That is why connecting with children is about more than simply being there for them. It means experiencing, sharing joy, and exploring the world together. Through moments of interaction and play, children gradually learn to express their feelings, care for others, and build their first relationships. 

With this spirit, and in line with the 2026–2027 school-year theme, “Connecting Through Love,” Sakura Kindergarten organized the “A Journey of Love” festival for our Toddler children and their parents. The festival created a space for families to play, experience, and explore together, building meaningful connections and creating precious early memories along the way. 

On September 19, 2026, Sakura Kindergarten held the “A Journey of Love” festival for Toddler students and their parents. 

CONNECTING WITH FAMILY THROUGH EARLY PLAY EXPERIENCES 

The journey of connection began with shared family experiences. Parents and children sang, danced, and moved to music together before taking part in joyful games: crawling across an “obstacle course,” carrying their children to collect balls, and pretending to be different animals. 

For young children, joy does not have to come from anything grand. Sometimes, it is simply about playing, laughing, and being close to their parents. Through every smile, hug, and shared moment, children experience the love and support of their families more deeply. Each game becomes an opportunity for parents and children to understand each other better, grow closer, and create loving memories together. 

The smiles and hugs from their parents were the greatest rewards for the Ume and Kiku children after completing the “Baby Crawls Across the Obstacle Course” game. 

The “Connecting Through Love” and “What Can Parents Become?” games gave children plenty of opportunities to feel loved and cared for through their parents’ warm hugs. 

CONNECTING WITH FRIENDS THROUGH PLAY AND EXPLORATION 

From the warmth of family, the children continued to build their first connections with friends through a variety of activity corners. Each activity gave them opportunities to explore, try new things, and interact in a colorful and engaging play environment. 

At the movement and creative activity corners, as well as through fine-motor activities such as dropping pompoms and feeding the caterpillars, children were free to use their hands, observe, and explore in their own ways. Along the way, they also began to notice their friends, experience playing together, and share the space around them. 

For toddlers, these small experiences are important first steps in learning to connect with a group. As they explore, try new things, and laugh together, they gradually discover the joy of playing together and creating happy moments with others. 

Through movement and creative activities, children interacted with their friends and expressed their creativity. 

CONNECTING WITH THE WORLD AROUND THEM 

From connections with family and friends, A Journey of Love continued to broaden the children’s world through meaningful experiences with nature. During the festival, children joined their parents in observing, exploring, and directly caring for plants, taking their first steps toward caring for the environment around them. 

By touching, observing, and caring for familiar things themselves, children not only discover more about the world but also begin to understand that nature needs to be loved and protected. These experiences lay the foundation for children to become more caring, appreciative, and responsible toward the world around them. 

Children connected with nature and the world around them while taking part in activities with their parents. 

FROM SMALL CONNECTIONS TO A JOURNEY OF GROWING UP 

In the early years, children learn and grow through the relationships, interactions, and experiences closest to them. A hug helps them feel safe; playing with parents gives them a sense of support; playing with friends opens the door to their first social connections; and experiences with nature help them gradually learn to observe and care about the world around them. Each experience contributes to a child’s sense of being loved, connected, and surrounded by people who share in their earliest memories. 

At Sakura, “A Journey of Love” begins with the connections closest to children—from family and friends to the world around them—and grows through every experience as we accompany them on their journey of growing up.