In Japan people celebrate the healthy growth of children by visiting a shrine when a girl reaches 3 and 7 years old (3 and 5 years old for boys). This mother and child (presumably a 3 year old girl) have dressed for the occasion, but the combination of large obi belt and the high wooden geta (clogs) are perhaps making it difficult for such a small child to walk!

The mother seems to be showing her daughter how to feed beans to the birds.