Round and round

On Friday, my son's kindergarten teacher asked me if I was planning to stay after school today.  She excitedly explained that we would be making Christmas wreaths.  With raised eyebrows, I told her I would be there.

Christmas wreaths?  It is not even Halloween! 

I didn't even pretend to understand, but I agreed to show up.  When I told my son that I would be staying after school with him today to do a project, he was very excited.

When I arrived at the end of the school day, there were blue tarps in the play yard.  Each tarp had a pile of sweet potato vines.  We took the vines and removed all the leaves.  Then we twisted the vines into a wreath.  After making sure it would hold together, we twisted name tags on each one and hung them to dry.

It was a simple task.  I asked for more information and was told they weren't exactly sure what the wreaths would be used for.  All they knew was that they would use them for a project for the kids sometime before the end of the year. 

The schools in Japan are really amazing about using "waste" to create art.  My son is always bringing home projects constructed with toilet paper tubes and empty tissue boxes.  For a country that wastes so much (everything is wrapped in plastic and double bagging is the norm), it is nice to see a little bit of reusing and repurposing.

I've noticed a huge increase in my son's creativity.  For my birthday, he drew up plans and then worked with my husband to build me a robot out of all found materials.  It was the best gift.  She was made with love.  We named her Kinako.  She watches my son's imaginary children when we go out, she makes us smile all the time, and (I like to pretend) that she cleans my house when I sleep. 

The wreaths were another repurposing project.  Instead of just composting or throwing away the vines, we reused them.  And it was really fun.  I can't wait to see what he comes home with.