Lovely childcare

Ideas for Performances Recommended for 0-Year-Olds at Recitals and Play Events

9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

For infants, it’s their very first performance day.

You may want parents and guardians to see the children’s everyday routines and growth, but many teachers might be wondering, “What kind of performance should we do?”

So this time, we’re sharing ideas for performance pieces that are perfect for 0-year-olds.

We’ve gathered lots of songs and fingerplays, exercises, and simple dances that match their developmental stage.

Try incorporating them into daily childcare and enjoy them together with the children.

It’s also recommended to customize based on the children’s reactions—call their names, add simple choreography, or even create parody lyrics.

Be sure to check out cute costumes and props for inspiration, too.

[Age 0] Ideas for Performances Recommended for Recitals and Play Events (1–10)

[Hand Play] Donguri Korokoro

My First Recital

[Hand Play] Donguri Korokoro

Let’s try doing the fingerplay song “Donguri Korokoro” with 0-year-olds.

The gestures are simple, so even babies can easily imitate them, and practice can be fun.

Many children especially enjoy the part where you whirl your arms around.

Watching them move their bodies to the bouncy melody is absolutely adorable! You could even make costumes that match the song.

On the day of the performance, some children may freeze up in the unfamiliar setting.

That, too, will become a wonderful memory.

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[Play] Bento Bus

The 0- and 1-year-old class play at Takio Dandelion Nursery, Feb 18, 2017

[Play] Bento Bus

How about putting on a little play to the song “Obentō Bus”? Have the children pretend to be different bento ingredients and clap along with the lyrics.

If you’re doing it with only the 0-year-old class, it will go more smoothly if everyone starts from a seated position.

Seeing the children become all sorts of bento fillings is sure to bring smiles to teachers’ and parents’ faces.

Performing in front of adults can make them nervous or unsure—that, too, is something we should warmly watch over and cherish.

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[Gymnastics] Animal Exercises

Tried dancing the Animal Exercise! [Dance] [1-year-olds] [Infants] [Daycare]

[Gymnastics] Animal Exercises

“Animal Exercises” is a routine where you act out various movements to match the animals mentioned in the lyrics.

For one-year-olds and younger, simply clapping along with the music or gently swaying their bodies is more than enough to express it adorably.

The key for teachers is to demonstrate with big, easy-to-see motions.

Watching the children imitate in their own way will bring a smile to anyone’s face.

To help everyone get used to the song and flow, it could be a good idea to make it part of the daily routine as practice.

The sight of little ones doing these cute exercises is a must-see!

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Ideas for Performances Recommended for 0-Year-Olds at Recitals and Play Events (11–20)

[Song] Baby Egg

[Songs for Plays] Baby Eggs — For Nursery/Kindergarten Recitals, School Plays, and Everyday Childcare — [Full Version]

[Song] Baby Egg

Singing songs is a classic activity, isn’t it? But you do need to consider the length of the song and whether it can be sung properly.

Choose songs that are easy for children to sing and enjoy, so everyone can join in.

Even if it’s difficult to sing the whole song, the caregiver can lead, and selecting songs with lots of choruses or animal sounds makes it easier for little ones—who can’t say many words yet—to participate.

Try choosing onomatopoeic, easy-to-vocalize songs.

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[Hand play] Ton ton ton ton Anpanman

Dress Rehearsal for the “Recital” … 0-Year-Old Class (1)

[Hand play] Ton ton ton ton Anpanman

Hand play activities to enjoy with 0-year-olds are truly wonderful.

“Ton ton ton ton Anpanman,” featuring popular Anpanman characters, is one of children’s favorite games.

Moving the palms to the music helps develop a sense of rhythm and reflexes.

Make eye contact with your baby and sing expressively to match the lyrics.

It’s lovely to personalize it by adding the children’s names or making little variations, and to enjoy communicating with your baby through hand play.

The simple movements are easy to learn, so it’s also recommended as a performance that caregivers can join in together.

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[Game] The Very Hungry Caterpillar

FY2022 Minami Nursery School Life Presentation, 0-Year-Old Class, Life Play “The Very Hungry Caterpillar”

[Game] The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The Very Hungry Caterpillar is not only a great story—the colors and motifs are adorable, too.

Let’s transform the children in the infant class into hungry caterpillars! With hats, vests, and other accessories to set the mood, each child can become a caterpillar with their own unique expression.

You can keep just the costumes as Very Hungry Caterpillar-inspired, or have the children use gestures to perform along with a Very Hungry Caterpillar operetta—both are lovely options.

Enjoy the presentation by these brightly colored, adorable little caterpillars.

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[Dance] Momo Hula Dance

Yume – School/Life Presentation – Moo-Moo Hula Dance

[Dance] Momo Hula Dance

Let’s dress the infants in cute cow costumes and enjoy the “Moo-Moo Hula Dance.” In addition to the outfit and hat, adding small pom-poms to their hands will give it even more of a hula vibe.

Just waving their arms to a relaxed tune will transform the little ones into tiny hula dancers! You’ll love watching their earnest expressions.

The song itself isn’t long, so it’s not burdensome for the children, and they can practice without getting bored.

On the day of the performance, we hope each child can present with lots of energy!

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