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 at-home play ideas to make indoor time fun (21–30)

Swirling Balloon

@mamatastv
Is there an at-home activity this fun? Spinning with a hair dryer!? Trying the Whirling Balloon. Reference: Yonemura Denjiro Science Production, “Whirling Balloon Experiment.”Mamatase #MoreFreedomForMoms #ReiwaMom #ReiwaParenting #ReiwaHousework #Indoor Play
♪ Original Song – mamatas (MAMATAS) – mamatas (MAMATAS)

A unique game using a hair dryer! Here’s a fun idea for a spinning balloon ring.

Balloons are exciting and enjoyable for kids, right? Their colorful, lightweight movement makes them irresistible, and part of the charm is how play expands as children touch, toss, and chase them.

This time, let’s connect balloons to make a spinning balloon ring.

You’ll need balloons, tape, and a hair dryer.

Inflate the balloons, connect them with tape to form a loop, and you’re ready! Blow air with the hair dryer, and the balloon loop will spin round and round—it’s super fun!

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playing store

We played pretend at an ice cream shop with lots of toppings♪

playing store

How about playing “store” at a shop the kids like? They can draw pictures and make props for an ice cream shop, a hamburger place, a sushi restaurant, and more, then act as the clerk or the customer! You’ll need to make some play money, too!

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Agar play

[Nursery/Kindergarten] Agar Play That Even Infants Can Enjoy! Sensory Play to Relieve Stress ✨ [Aims and Effects]

Agar play

Let’s try playing with kanten (gelatin) for a fun jiggly, wobbly feel when you touch it! To make it, just pour hot water and gelatin into any container you like and let it set.

If you add food coloring after the gelatin, you can make colored gelatin—so be sure to try adding your favorite colors.

If you want it cold, put it in the refrigerator after it has set.

Once it’s firm, take it out of the container and squish it up, mix different colors together, or put it into other containers and play pretend as a jelly shop or juice stand.

It’s easy to do, so give it a try!

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drawing

[Yuu-Hinata’s Morning Routine 🐔] Friendly Sisters’ Drawing Time [Morning Life]

drawing

It’s the most basic of basic games, but drawing is one of children’s favorite activities.

You can give them a theme and have them draw, or let them sketch while asking, “What’s this?” and have others guess what it is.

Children’s drawings have a power that goes beyond adults’ imagination; just looking at what they draw is fascinating, and it’s a game that adults can enjoy too.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Funny Slinky

[At-home play] Kids get hooked with almost zero prep!! Fun slinky #AtHomePlay #IndoorPlay #DIYToy

Funny Slinky

Let’s make a toy with sticky notes that will captivate kids! Here’s a fun slinky idea.

A slinky is typically a springy toy made of metal or plastic with a distinctive spiral shape.

When you hold and tilt it, it’s mesmerizing to watch it descend steps or a slope as it rolls.

This time, we’ll make a slinky using sticky notes.

Preparation is simple: just stick together a set of three-color sticky notes you can find at a 100-yen shop, and you’re ready to go! Give it a try.

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