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)

At-home games you can play with a towel

[At-home Play: Physical Activities] Easy towel-based games you can do at home! Get through the summer with indoor play for kids. Introduced by a nursery school principal and a childcare worker.

At-home games you can play with a towel

Let’s play with everyday materials! Here are some at-home play ideas using towels.

Towels are familiar items for both adults and children in daily life.

This time, let’s try playing with towels you have at your preschool or at home.

If you put a bag inside an open towel and roll it up tightly, it transforms into a ball that makes a crinkly sound.

If you tie the ends of a bath towel, it turns into a sled for dolls.

It’s fun how the shapes change, isn’t it? It’s a wonderful idea that lets children use their creativity while they play.

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Handmade toy made from masking tape (yojo tape)

[At-home play] A handmade toy you can make in 10 seconds! A toy made only with masking tape has revolutionized the daycare. Introduced by a director and a daycare-teacher mom.

Handmade toy made from masking tape (yojo tape)

What can we make? Here are some ideas for DIY toys using masking tape.

Masking tape is probably something you have on hand both at preschool and at home.

Let’s try making toys with it.

You could even set a time limit and improvise—how exciting! What would you make? What kinds of ideas would children come up with? Just thinking about it is exciting, isn’t it? In the video, it’s used like tunnels and pockets.

Give it a try and incorporate it into your playtime.

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Gesture Game

[For 5-year-olds] Can you really get into character?! Gesture game!

Gesture Game

Move your body to match the theme! Here are some gesture game ideas.

Gesture games are a great way to have fun while staying active indoors.

Imitate gestures based on a theme to act out animals, vehicles, everyday actions, and more! Through play, kids can develop communication skills and creativity.

Once they’re comfortable with simple gestures, try making the themes a bit more complex.

You can just picture children laughing and playing together with friends, teachers, and parents.

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Mukkuri Kuma-san

[Group Game] “Mukkuri Kuma-san” | How to Play “Mukkuri Kuma-san”

Mukkuri Kuma-san

Here’s a game called “Mukkuri Kuma-san” that both kids and teachers can enjoy together.

The rules are very simple: the teacher plays the bear and pretends to sleep.

The children sing as they quietly approach the sleeping bear.

When the song ends, the bear wakes up and jumps to their feet, and the children run away.

The teacher playing the bear chases the children.

The child who gets caught becomes the next bear.

For children who don’t understand the rules, it may help to teach them slowly and carefully while demonstrating each step.

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Touch & In-Game

https://www.tiktok.com/@soramame.sensei/video/7267485382428740865

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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