Lovely childcare

[For 1-year-olds] Performance for the school recital

Nursery Teacher Mom Writertsukada moe
After working for five years at an after-school childcare club and three years at a nursery school, I began working as a freelance writer. I’m a mother of two children. Inspired by playing the flute in the school wind ensemble in elementary school, I joined a jazz club at university. I’ve also incorporated ukulele and piano performance into childcare. Playing, laughing, feeling sad, feeling frustrated—through all kinds of experiences, I want children to grow.

Many nursery teachers may be struggling to decide what to present at a performance for one-year-olds.

Even within the one-year-old age group, a small difference in months can greatly change what children can do, so choosing an act is tricky.

A performance is an important event where parents can see their children’s growth.

It’s best if the children can enjoy practicing from the start.

Here are some selections of acts for one-year-olds that let them have fun singing and dancing.

They might get a bit nervous on the day of the performance—but that’s adorable too, and it would be wonderful if teachers and parents could all watch over them together.

[For 1-year-olds] Performances for the end-of-term presentation (21–30)

[Play Acting] Baby Eggs

FY2021 Minami Nursery School Life Presentation • Tsukushi Class (1-year-old class) • Play Acting (Who’s the Baby in the Egg?)

[Play Acting] Baby Eggs

Let me introduce an ideal play-acting activity for a 1-year-old class performance: “Baby Eggs.” At the teacher’s cue—“Knock, knock, knock, come on out!”—children wearing adorable costumes hatch from eggs as crabs, dinosaurs, dragonflies, fish, and elephants.

They appear in small groups for each animal.

After coming on stage, each child has their name called, answers cheerfully, and then performs a simple dance that matches their animal to music.

Performing on stage can be nerve-wracking, so don’t push too hard.

Create a setup where the teacher can support the children, and make it a warm, encouraging performance.

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[Play] What’s for dinner? Let’s eat!

FY2020 Minami Nursery School Life Presentation: Tsukushi Class (Dramatic Play: What's for Dinner? Let's Eat)

[Play] What's for dinner? Let's eat!

We would like to introduce a dramatic play called “What’s for Dinner? Let’s Eat!” in which children transform into animals and come out to look for food.

Children become pandas, monkeys, rabbits, bears, and lions, forming groups for each animal.

Let’s find the favorite foods of each animal they’ve transformed into.

In response to the teacher’s prompt, “What’s for dinner?”, the children hold the animal’s favorite food, say its name together, and pretend to eat it.

The children’s appearance and movements as transformed animals are also key points of this dramatic play.

Please enjoy engaging in it with the children.

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[Gymnastics] Working Vehicles

Working Vehicles / Keropons

[Gymnastics] Working Vehicles

Here’s an exercise routine featuring working vehicles that’s super popular with one-year-olds.

Incorporate movements like a bulldozer, excavator, and dump truck, and have fun moving your body.

There are many repeated motions, so it’s easy for one-year-olds to remember.

To finish, we recommend striking a pose of your favorite vehicle.

For the performance, put on a mask of your favorite vehicle or attach sparkly pompoms to your arms to really get into character, boost the excitement, and enjoy!

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[Dramatic Play] The Bento Bus

FY2022 Minami Nursery School, Life Performance Presentation, 1-year-old Class, Play-acting: “Obentō Bus (Lunchbox Bus)”

[Dramatic Play] The Bento Bus

Let’s ride the Bento Bus! For performances at the end-of-term showcase, many preschools choose material based on familiar fingerplays and picture books.

This time, we’re introducing “The Bento Bus.” The children transform into the side dishes inside a bento and board the bus.

The costumes inspired by the different foods are adorable, too! Calling each child’s name during the performance and having them answer “Here!” gives everyone a special moment on stage, so it’s highly recommended.

Give it a try in your program!

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[Game] Mr./Ms. Kinoko’s Birthday

FY2019 Minami Nursery School – Life Presentation – 0-year-old Class – Daily Play

[Game] Mr./Ms. Kinoko's Birthday

Let’s hold a birthday party by imagining the zero-year-old children as mushrooms.

These infants in the class are growing from 0 to 1 year old.

Each child and their parents must have welcomed the birthday with a variety of feelings.

Many preschools hold monthly birthday parties, but it’s also nice to have everyone celebrate during a performance or presentation.

Dress the children in colorful mushroom costumes and prepare easy-to-play instruments like jingle bells.

It’s a program that lets you truly feel the children’s growth.

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[Dance] Piyo-Piyo March

[Dance] Piyo-Piyo March [A Must-See for Childcare Workers!] [Supervised by Hiromichi & Tanizou]

[Dance] Piyo-Piyo March

With baby chicks lining up behind the parent bird for an irresistibly cute look, the “Piyo-Piyo March” is a perfect dance for a performance by one-year-olds.

A key point is for the parent bird to look back and check whether the baby chicks are following, while varying the song’s tempo and dynamics.

The baby chicks stop moving when the parent bird turns around, and start walking again when the parent bird begins to walk.

It’s fun to move in sync with the song—alternating between stopping and going as you progress forward.

The movements are simple, so even one-year-old children can enjoy moving their bodies with this dance.

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[Rhythm Play] Drive! Tambourine

Drive! Tambourine (Instrument Rhythm Play)

[Rhythm Play] Drive! Tambourine

Introducing Drive! Tambourine, with a lively tempo and bright rhythm that are perfect for one-year-olds.

Pretend the tambourine is a steering wheel and let’s drive the car.

Tap the tambourine to honk the horn.

When the ghost appears, hide behind the tambourine and peek out, then hide again—adding humor to the movements makes this rhythm play irresistibly fun for one-year-olds.

For recitals, it’s also recommended that everyone line up and transform into drivers together.

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