IR News｜News

 Okayama, February 14, 2002 - Benesse Corporation announced the introduction of "KODOMO CHALLENGE BABY," a new correspondence course for babies aged six months to one year and their parents. The course consists of four home deliveries, scheduled every other month, of infant enrichment materials, including toys, a CD, a video and picture books that are tailored to the baby's developmental stage, as well as parenting magazines with articles on sound child development, infant health and nutritional issues. Registration for the course begins from March 1, with distribution of the learning materials to start in June.

The KODOMO CHALLENGE BABY course includes four installments:
1) Six-month-old babies: A parenting magazine, a stuffed toy, a picture book, and a CD with popular children's songs
2) Eight-month-old babies: A parenting magazine, a toy, and a picture book
3) Ten-month-old babies: A parenting magazine, an entertaining educational video, and a picture book
4) One-year-old babies: A parenting magazine and a special gift kit for baby's first birthday

Each package will be delivered around the 25th of the month, every other month. The annual enrollment fee for four packages is 6,720 yen, including tax, while the package can be paid each time for 1,680 yen, including tax.

The KODOMO CHALLENGE BABY program is an expansion of Benesse's "KODOMO CHALLENGE" preschool correspondence courses, for children aged one to six and their parents. The company believes the playful activities of the new product offering will stimulate curiosity and help children acquire learning skills at an earlier developmental stage, while nurturing parent-child communication during baby's critical first year.

To register for the KODOMO CHALLENGE BABY course, call Benesse's toll-free number in Japan, 0070-800-426-330, between 10 a.m. and 8 p.m., Monday through Saturday, except on national holidays, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day.

NOTE: "KODOMO CHALLENGE" products are available only in Japan.