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 for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: 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 (31–40)

Unbreakable soap bubble

@kmama_steam
Unbreakable Soap BubblesI tried making it!Play at home #Steam play #steamforkids Experimental Play At-home play #EducationalPlay Life with children Play with children #Cocoa Experiment #homeSteam
Adventure – YOASOBI

Let’s have fun experimenting! Here’s an idea for unbreakable soap bubbles.

Many kids may feel sad when bubbles pop right away while playing.

In such cases, we recommend trying unbreakable bubbles.

The ingredients are 80 milliliters of boiled water, 10 milliliters of neutral dish soap, 10 milliliters of liquid laundry starch (or school glue-type starch), and sugar.

Finding the best ratio of ingredients to make the bubbles harder to pop can be a learning experience, just like an experiment.

Give it a try!

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Pull hoop play

https://www.tiktok.com/@soramame.sensei/video/7230741022383312146

Compassion is the key to winning! Here’s a fun idea for a Pull-the-Hoop game.

Prepare a hula hoop or a ring made from newspaper, some plastic ribbon (suzuran tape), and start and goal lines.

The person moving inside the hoop should walk in step with the moving hula hoop.

Be careful to keep your feet inside the hoop and maintain your balance! The person pulling the hoop should control the speed and the amount of force to guide their teammate to the goal.

Give it a try!

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Secret Base Dome

@mami_asobi
Today’s post is the Newspaper Dome. This activity got my child the most excited ever 🤭 It’s spacious—about 5 or 6 kids could fit inside 😁 Kids love secret-base-type spots, right? With the breeze coming in, it felt cool and comfy inside! For a dome this big, one fan might not inflate it enough; using two made it pop up nice and full! If you only have one fan, I recommend making a smaller one 😊 How to play: Go in and out, jump around inside Bring toys into the dome and play Toss in a blanket for a cozy nap Bring in snacks and drinks Stick stickers all over the walls Scribble on the floor or walls with pens Let them go all out, and finish the day by tearing it up—that alone can keep you busy all day 🤭 Materials: About 30 sheets of newspaper (use more or fewer—try any size you like) Packing tape Plastic sheeting (for the ceiling) I made each wall panel with 6 sheets of newspaper this time! The entrance side used 5 sheets! For the ceiling, I opened up two plastic garbage bags and used those! I used plastic for the ceiling to let in light this time, but you can make the ceiling out of newspaper too! Thanks always for watching 😊 Let’s keep adding to our at-home play ideas and enjoy parenting together ☺️✨ At-home play Indoor play Educational play Parent–child time Newspaper play Newspaper dome Secret base Secret-base dome
Original Song – mami_asobi – mami_asobi

Let’s secretly play in your very own room! Here are some ideas for a secret-base dome.

For children, a secret base is a special place that sparks their sense of adventure and imagination.

It’s an appealing space they can use freely—as their personal hideout or a place to invite trusted friends to play together.

This time, let’s make a secret-base dome using materials you already have at home.

You’ll need newspaper, plastic bags, and duct tape.

After making the walls and roof with the newspaper and plastic bags, blow air in through the entrance using a fan.

It will puff up softly and it’s really fun!

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Ring-Collecting Game

@toiro_efilagroup
Stimulation for the brain starts with making things 💡Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Childcare Worker Kanagawa After-school day service #toiro # developmental support (ryōiku)#Indoor Play work
♪ Original song – toiro After-school Day – toiro After-school Day

Fun to make! Fun to play! Here’s an idea for a game where you collect rings.

You’ll need origami paper in your favorite colors, scissors, and glue.

First, cut the origami paper into long, thin strips and glue the ends to make rings! Using colorful paper in the making process can stimulate a sense of color and help develop fine motor skills.

Once the rings are ready, give each person a pair of chopsticks or a straw, and enjoy a game of collecting the rings! It’s a great way to build concentration.

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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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For 4-year-olds! A collection of indoor home play ideas to make time inside more fun (41–50)

Red Light, Green Light

[Age 3] Daruma-san ga koronda♪

Red Light, Green Light

Let’s play by adding new rules! Here are some ideas for Daruma-san ga Koronda.

Daruma-san ga Koronda is a traditional Japanese game played with one child as “it” (the oni) and the other children as players.

The oni turns around while saying, “Daruma-san ga koronda.” The participants can move forward until the oni finishes saying “Daruma-san ga koronda,” but the moment the oni turns around, the participants must freeze.

By customizing this rule with elements like balance beams, hula hoops, or balls, you can keep the game fresh and fun.

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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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