Lovely childcare

For 4-year-olds! A collection of indoor home play ideas that make time inside fun

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.

On days when the weather is bad or you can’t go outside, it can be hard to decide what to play at home with your four-year-old, right?

At this age, children’s imaginations blossom, and they become more skilled with language and with their hands.

So here, we’ve put together a list of at-home play ideas that kids will enjoy.

There are plenty of activities you can do with things you already have at home—sensory play, crafts, games, and more.

If any ideas here catch your eye, feel free to use them as a reference and enjoy a fun time together with your child!

For 4-Year-Olds! A Collection of Fun Indoor At-Home Play Ideas (1–10)

Scratch play

[You can do this at home too!] Scratch play!

Scratch play

Here’s a fun scratch-art activity you can enjoy indoors.

Prepare construction paper, bamboo skewers, pastel crayons, disposable chopsticks, and glue thinned with water.

First, use bright colors of pastel crayon to color the construction paper thoroughly so there are no gaps.

Then, cover the entire surface with black crayon, again making sure there are no gaps.

Use a bamboo skewer to scratch the surface and draw your picture by revealing the colors underneath.

Brush on a coat of glue thinned with water to seal the finished picture.

This makes the colors less likely to rub off on your hands.

Let it dry, and you’re done.

Give it a try!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Play with tissue paper flowers

[At-Home Play] Indoor activities using tissue paper that you can enjoy with your child

Play with tissue paper flowers

Here’s a rainy-day activity using tissue paper that kids can enjoy.

Prepare light-colored construction paper, tissue paper, and a spray mister.

Tear the tissue paper by hand.

Let the children choose their favorite colors.

Tearing the tissue into thinner pieces helps the colors bleed more easily and makes the tissue fluffy—highly recommended.

Gather the torn tissue pieces on the construction paper, then mist them with water.

As the tissue becomes damp, the colors blend together so kids can enjoy the color changes, as well as the tactile sensation of the paper transforming.

Once it’s completely dry, the tissue pieces stick together, creating a single, very colorful sheet.

It’s an activity with tissue paper that’s fun right to the end.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

playing camp

[Indoor Play] Pretend Camping with 2- and 4-Year-Olds: Seria Stove and Kids’ Tent

playing camp

When it’s rainy and you can’t go play outside, why not enjoy a camping vibe at home? Pitch a tent indoors, try some camp-style meals, or switch off the room lights and spend time by lantern light—there are lots of ways to have fun right at home.

There are also play sets designed for pretend camping, like toy kits that include essentials such as a lantern, cooking gear, and a campfire, so using those is a great idea too.

Just spending your time a little differently than usual can make your at-home hours much more fulfilling.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Ball shower

https://www.tiktok.com/@tomonite_official/video/7408751719787646224

Let’s make and play with a ball shower! Prepare some colored balls, a pool noodle, a laundry mesh bag, and pipe cleaners.

Cut the pool noodle in half lengthwise, form it into a ring, and attach the laundry bag to the inside using the pipe cleaners.

Thread the pipe cleaners through the holes of the net and fix it all the way around.

Cut the net where the balls will go in, and the goal is complete.

After you toss the balls in, open the zipper and the balls will pour out from inside like a shower.

Kids will love this ball shower—give it a try!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Handmade microphone

[4-year-olds] Looks just like the real thing?! Handmade microphone!

Handmade microphone

Let me introduce a cute original microphone craft.

Prepare a plastic wrap tube, a capsule toy container, origami paper, and yarn, and let’s make it.

Wrap the origami paper around the plastic wrap tube so that a bit of the paper sticks out on either the left or right side.

On the side where the paper sticks out, tape on the yarn, crumple the extra paper to make it small, and tuck it into the center of the wrap tube—this completes the microphone handle.

Next, place the capsule toy container on top of the wrap tube and tape it so it won’t fall off, and your microphone is complete! Draw a switch on the handle, and add illustrations or stickers as you like to create your very own original microphone.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem