[Childcare] Fun quiz collection to enjoy in November!

fruit

Have you ever seen a fruit sold in stores that is round and very small, resembling a mandarin orange? Kumquats are shaped like tiny mandarins, but the difference isn’t just their size—the way you eat them is different too. With mandarins, you peel the skin and eat the flesh, but with kumquats, people often eat the peel. The peel is notably fragrant and sweeter, while the flesh is tart, though it’s perfectly edible as well!

turn red and yellow

The leaves that were lively and green throughout the summer turn red and yellow around November. This change is called kōyō (autumn foliage), and enjoying the sight of these colorful trees is known as momijigari (autumn leaf viewing). You can see many of them when you go outdoors, so be sure to enjoy momijigari and collecting fallen leaves with the children!

Eat with the skin on

In many picture books and kamishibai, there are stories where eating sweet potatoes makes you fart, but apparently if you eat them with the skin on, it’s less likely to happen. The skin contains a component called yarapin that helps digest sweet potatoes, so eating them with the skin is said to be good for digestion!

chocolate cosmos

As its name suggests, it’s called the chocolate cosmos because it has a chocolate-like fragrance. Its deep red flowers are very beautiful! You can grow it at home or in a garden, so why not try cultivating it as autumn approaches?

A day to say thank you to people who are working

Labor Thanksgiving Day is a day to feel grateful and say thank you to those who work. It’s a public holiday, so we have the day off, but it’s recommended to focus on the idea of working by reading stories or picture books that spark interest in the jobs of people around you, and by deepening understanding of Labor Thanksgiving Day through pretend play like doctor, hairstylist, or other shop-themed activities.

kiwifruit

The peak season for domestically grown kiwifruit is said to be around October to December, and it’s said to be especially sweet and delicious when eaten in November. The name “kiwifruit” is said to have been given because it resembles the “kiwi” bird, which is also New Zealand’s national bird!

matsutake (mushroom)

Matsutake mushrooms are said to have a wonderful aroma, a pleasant firm texture, and great flavor, but they’re quite expensive, so it’s not easy to have many chances to eat them. As for that lovely aroma, it seems to be unpopular overseas and is sometimes described as smelling like “musty socks.”