In recent years, with the spread of online shopping, it has become possible to purchase children's school supplies and stationery without seeing the actual items, allowing for a wider range of choices.
On the other hand, have you ever experienced purchasing school supplies or stationery that did not suit your child because you did not see the actual items, and struggled to use them in daily life?
An exhibition titled "I Did It! Creative Ideas Exhibition" featuring over 100 items that are tools that support challenges such as "difficulty in writing" and "difficulty in organizing" was held in Kurashiki City on June 28, 2026, where all items could be physically handled and compared.
What is the "I Did It! Creative Ideas Exhibition"?
The "I Did It! Creative Ideas Exhibition" is an experiential exhibition where you can actually try out tools and stationery that support challenges in nursery schools, kindergartens, and schools. It was held on June 28, 2026, at Kurashiki Health and Welfare Plaza from 10 AM to 4 PM.
The initiator is Oobu Tomoe, who has held exhibitions in Okayama City and Kasaoka City seven times in the past. This is the first time it has been held in Kurashiki City, making it the eighth overall.
For details, please check the image below.
The Day's Events
On the way to the Kurashiki Health and Welfare Plaza, I saw many families walking and thought, "Are there many children's events being held in the same building today?" As I approached the venue, many people were entering the "I Did It! Creative Ideas Exhibition" just like me.
Some tools had people waiting in line to try them out, showing how popular the event was.
According to the organizer, Oobu, it recorded the highest number of attendees ever.
Please check the image below for the venue map and the school supplies and stationery placed at each venue.
An exhibition where children can enjoy tools while playing
When I think of an exhibition, I usually imagine only adults participating and receiving explanations from manufacturers' representatives.
However, upon entering the "I Did It! Creative Ideas Exhibition," I found that most of the attendees were families with children. Therefore, I could see my child using the tools in the venue.
Not only could stationery be tried out, but there were also workshops using creations made by drawing pictures and cutting with scissors, creating a system where the actual usage scenarios could be realistically imagined.
Multiple staff and volunteers were stationed at each venue, providing careful instructions on how to use the tools, ensuring a sense of security.
For parents of children actually using the tools, as well as for adults visiting alone, such as pregnant women, it likely provided a concrete image of how to use them.
An exhibition filled with surprised expressions from both adults and children
In the past, being left-handed was sometimes seen as a "characteristic," but now most manufacturers sell scissors that can be used with either dominant hand. Personally, I also had no motor disabilities, but I remember using various jump ropes in elementary school to find the one that was easiest for me to jump with.
In other words, even without a diagnosis of developmental disorders, it is becoming more common to choose tools that feel "comfortable to use".
It wasn't just the children who were enjoying using the tools. Parents watching their children use the tools were seen with expressions of surprise, saying things like, "There are such smooth stationery available!" and "This will make maintenance at home easier!" as they carefully enjoyed the exhibits throughout the venue.
Many adults sitting on cushions that make it easier to sit up straight were seen scanning QR codes that connected to product sales sites with their smartphones, saying, "This feels good to sit on, so I want to put it on my chair, not just for my child!" as they considered making a purchase.
Of course, I also tried out various tools myself.
Among them, what particularly caught my attention was the board game "Hiragajon," which creates words in hiragana.
In today's world, where games and educational materials are increasingly digitized, board games that can be genuinely enjoyed with family and friends have become rare. Furthermore, this game focuses on "how many words can be created," making it easy for children who tend to be fixated on winning and losing to play.
In competitions and contests, winning and losing may be necessary depending on the situation. However, in recreational activities like board games, enjoying the process of play can create a relaxed atmosphere.
There were many board games that both adults and children could get serious about, and it was common to see people enjoying playing.
Additionally, there were products from companies that offer services specifically for children with characteristics, such as junior-sized diapers and earmuffs for auditory sensitivity, but most of them were items that anyone has likely used at least once from stores or sites like 100-yen shops or Amazon.
It was an opportunity to realize that all the tools are not just for children with characteristics, but can also be used by children with characteristics.
Conclusion
The "I Did It! Creative Ideas Exhibition," which was finally realized after requests from several community centers in Kurashiki City, was a great success, with participants not only from Kurashiki City but also from neighboring Soja City and Asakuchi City.
Most of the visitors were accompanied by children, but there were also adults participating, such as pregnant women, and it seems that people of various generations are showing great interest in the tools filled with ideas that lead to children's "I did it!" moments.
In the future, there are requests for events to be held in various locations throughout Okayama Prefecture, including Kurashiki City, so if you would like to attend next time, please check the official Instagram.
Data for the "I Did It! Increasing Ideas Exhibition"
| Name | I Did It! Increasing Ideas Exhibition |
|---|---|
| Date | June 28, 2026 (Sunday) 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Location | 180 Sasao, Kurashiki City, Okayama Prefecture |
| Participation Fee (including tax) | Free admission |
| Homepage | Official Instagram |
