Ideas for Childcare Quizzes to Enjoy in January
This time, we’re bringing you a fun quiz themed around January.
When you think of January, the big event is New Year’s, right?
From kagami mochi and omikuji to osechi cuisine, there are probably lots of things you’ve heard of but don’t fully know.
Why not learn while having fun by trying a quiz on them?
We’ve also included plenty of quizzes related to January beyond New Year’s, so be sure to give them a try!
By the time you’ve finished all the questions, you’ll surely know more about January than anyone else!
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- [Childcare] Quiz collection to enjoy in December!
I want to enjoy January! A collection of childcare quiz ideas (1–10)
Where do shijimi clams, which are in season in January, live?
- sea
- Between the sea and the river
- river
See the answer
Between the sea and the river
Shijimi clams are tiny and cute, and it’s fascinating that they live between the sea and rivers, isn’t it? They can’t live where there’s no salt, but apparently the ocean is actually too salty for them. That’s why the brackish water between the sea and rivers has just the right, lower salinity for them to live comfortably!
Mikan are delicious when eaten in January, but which method will make them sweeter?
- massage by hand
- Talk to it, saying “Be sweeter.”
- wash with salt water
See the answer
massage by hand
Did you know that simply kneading a mandarin orange with your hands can make it sweeter? By kneading it, you damage the cells of the fruit, and to repair those injuries it uses citric acid, the sour component. As the citric acid is used up, the tartness decreases and the mandarin tastes sweeter!
What do you call the rice cakes displayed at New Year?
- kinako mochi
- ozoni (Japanese New Year mochi soup)
- kagami mochi
See the answer
kagami mochi
Kagami mochi serves as a place to welcome and house Toshigami-sama, the New Year deity. With the deity residing in the kagami mochi, it becomes imbued with the divine spirit, and by making ozoni with that mochi and eating it, we too can receive Toshigami-sama’s power. By the way, the fruit placed on top of the kagami mochi looks like a mandarin orange, but it’s actually a fruit called “daidai.”
I want to enjoy January! A collection of childcare quiz ideas (11–20)
On which side of its body are the eyes of the flatfish hirame, which is in season in January?
- both sides
- right side
- Left side
See the answer
Left side
Flounder, a fish that tastes especially good in January, is thin and diamond-shaped. And unlike us humans, whose eyes are on both sides, its eyes are on the left side. In fact, a newborn flounder’s eyes are on both sides, but they are said to move as it grows so it can catch prey from within the sand!
What white vegetable is delicious to eat in January?
- turnip
- cauliflower
- rice cake (mochi)
See the answer
cauliflower
Compared to broccoli, which we often eat at home and in school lunches, don’t we have fewer chances to eat cauliflower? Broccoli has a leafy-vegetable-like flavor, while cauliflower is said to have a gentle sweetness. Apparently, you can even eat it raw without boiling it!
What kind of beans are included in osechi?
- black soybeans
- adzuki beans
- edamame
See the answer
black soybeans
What you see in the osechi is black soybeans. Black soybeans carry the wish to work diligently and live diligently. Their black color is also believed to ward off evil and prevent misfortune. Plus, black soybeans are rich in vitamins and minerals, so eat up and enjoy!
What is the fun game played at New Year where you roll dice?
- with wings
- Sugoroku
- Fukuwarai (a traditional Japanese “lucky laugh” face-making game)
See the answer
Sugoroku
Sugoroku, a game that can be enjoyed by people of all ages—from small children to the elderly—is said to have begun being played during the Edo period as a New Year’s test of luck. Since many different types of sugoroku are sold, be sure to give it a try when relatives or friends gather for the New Year!