Lovely childcare

For 3-Year-Olds! Indoor & Outdoor Physical Play and Game Ideas

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
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.

At age three, children grow significantly in both body and mind, and their physical abilities and vocabulary increase.

During this stage, they can understand simple rules, which broadens the kinds of play they can enjoy.

Here, we’ve gathered fun movement activities and games that three-year-olds can do indoors and outdoors.

By moving their bodies together with friends and enjoying social interaction, they also learn the importance of following rules.

We’ve selected enjoyable activities that will make children think, “I want to try that!” So get creative and have fun playing together with everyone!

For 3-year-olds! Ideas for physical activities and games to enjoy indoors and outdoors (1–10)

big-game hunting

[You can also see childcare in action] Ms. Rio’s active play [Big Game Hunting]

big-game hunting

Get the fun going! Here are some ideas for the game “Mōjūgari” (Wild Beast Hunt).

It’s a great way to explore number concepts while playing, so we highly recommend it! The call-and-response is done by having children repeat the teacher’s or caregiver’s lines, so keeping it simple and easy to understand is key.

Rules: The teacher or caregiver tells the children the name of an animal.

The children then form groups and sit down in numbers that match the number of letters in the animal’s name specified by the teacher or caregiver.

Start with animals that have fewer letters, and once they get used to it, switch to animals with more letters so they won’t get bored.

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Rock-Paper-Scissors Train

Eurhythmics (Class for 3-year-olds) July 9, 2015 (5)

Rock-Paper-Scissors Train

A great game to recommend for preschools and kindergartens is “Rock-Paper-Scissors Train.” While singing, the children in the class play rock-paper-scissors.

The child who loses lines up behind the winner like a train, and in the end, the one who keeps winning becomes the leader of a single long train.

The key point is that everyone can enjoy a sense of unity by singing together and forming the train.

It’s a game where children can have fun while learning rock-paper-scissors.

Let’s all get excited together!

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Rolling dodgeball

Even More Fun with Different Rules! 3 Dodgeball Variations

Rolling dodgeball

Rolling dodgeball: a safe game everyone can enjoy together! With the usual rules of throwing the ball, it’s hard to play indoors, but with rolling dodgeball—where you roll the ball and aim below the knees—the ball won’t fly too far, so you can play safely in a room.

It also won’t hit anyone’s face, making it easier for kids who are afraid of balls to join in.

It’s perfect for getting some exercise during times when it’s hard to go outside.

Give it a try with everyone!

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For 3-Year-Olds! Indoor & Outdoor Physical Play and Game Ideas (11–20)

Mimic Rhythm Game

Let's try it with the teacher! Copycat Game♪

Mimic Rhythm Game

A “Copycat Rhythm Game” that gets more and more fun as you play.

Here’s how to play: First, a caregiver or teacher stands in front of the children and, while saying “Can you do this? Can you do this?”, claps their hands or pats their knees.

The children imitate the actions and respond, “We can do this! We can do this!” The call-and-response makes it extra fun, so encourage everyone to say it loudly and cheerfully.

You can have them mimic anything, but be careful—if the movements are too complex, the children won’t be able to follow.

Start with simple actions and gradually increase the difficulty.

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Animal pretend play

Animal Imitation

Animal pretend play

Kids love animals, so pretend play where they become animals is always a big hit.

Teachers or parents can call out an animal, and the children simply imitate it—making for a very fun indoor activity.

Imitating the teacher or parent is, of course, fun too, but it’s also great to give prompts and play an animal gesture game.

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Touch & In-Game

@soramame.sensei
The hot days just keep coming, don’t they? 😵‍💫☀️ We want to move our bodies and play! But it’s way too hot to play outside… Staying indoors can get monotonous when it’s always the same activities… Sora-mame Sensei has an easy solution for those worries 🌟 Get a balloon, a ball, and a basket ready, and let’s all have fun together 🥰 This activity is expected to boost: • Tracking with the eyes • Control of force/strength • Dual-task (doing two things at once) skills ✨ Dual-task training means practicing two tasks simultaneously 💡 In this game, it’s “predicting the balloon’s movement” + “moving to put the ball into the basket” ☺️ Level up your skills while enjoying the game ✊🏻✨♡♡Kotoba no Kyoushitsu Soramame Kids #SoramameKids # developmental support (ryōiku)#KagoshimaRehabilitation Child Development Support Child Development Support Office After-school day service #Indoor Play #StayHomeTime #IndoorPlay Let's play at home child BalloonBoboru play/Boboru...? Boboru Nursery School indoor activity re-Recreation
♬ bright! pleasant! Heart acoustic – 3KTrack

Let’s play while learning power control! Here are some touch-and-in-game ideas.

These play ideas are recommended for kids who are good at tidying up and for those who struggle with it.

In this game, you keep tapping a balloon so it doesn’t fall while putting color balls scattered on the floor into a basket—it’s a unique combo.

Be careful: if you focus only on putting the balls in the basket, the balloon will drop! Try incorporating this into your activities.

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Ball Battle

@koutokugiht
Let’s build all kinds of skills while having fun with a ball battle! Staff of the same age gave it a try 😆#Takatoku #Gifted Torera Child Development Support Developmental Support After-school day service #After-school day service Koutoku TikTok Squad Company Company #IWantToGoViral Company Company IntroductionDaily life #AtWork #Shikoku #TokushimaStaffDailyLife #CorporateAccountMid-career recruitmentNow Hiring #Service Manager for Child Development Support #Manager Responsible for Child Development Support #Nursery Teacher #Child Guidance Staff #Physical Therapist #Occupational Therapist #Speech-Language-Hearing Therapist#PT #OT #ST Recruitment Recruitment Interview New staff member Newcomer
♬ Original song – Koutoku TikTok Corps – Gifted Trailer

Build decision-making skills through play! Here’s a ball battle game idea.

For children, decision-making is an essential skill in everyday life and learning.

By developing the ability to think things through and choose, and to act appropriately based on the situation, they grow more independent and learn to think and make decisions on their own.

This time, let’s nurture decision-making skills while playing a ball battle game.

Pair up in twos and face each other; place some colored balls between you and you’re ready to go! If you lose rock-paper-scissors, run away quickly; if you win, watch your opponent’s movements and throw a ball.

Give it a try!

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