Lovely childcare

For 4-year-olds (middle preschool)! Performances such as plays and songs for recitals and school shows

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 four, children’s imaginations blossom, their vocabulary grows, and they become able to express their feelings and thoughts in words.

This time, we’re introducing performance ideas perfect for the development of four-year-olds, ideal for recitals and school plays.

We’ve gathered many ideas that let four-year-olds enjoy expressing themselves while expanding their imaginative world: plays based on stories with a clear narrative, songs and dances that let them share feelings with friends, and ensemble performances that make use of each instrument’s unique qualities.

Find options that match your children’s mood and interests, and be sure to give them a try.

For 4-year-olds (preschool)! Performance ideas for plays, songs, and other acts for recitals and school events (1–10)

[Dance] Iro-Iro Exploration Team!

Color Color Explorers! Bonbon Academy “Easy Dance” – A simple arrangement dance you can perform at recitals and sports days!

[Dance] Iro-Iro Exploration Team!

Let’s try dancing to “Iro Iro Tankentai”! Choreography can be tricky, right? You have to think a lot—how many times each move fits the tempo, whether a certain move is too hard to follow after another, and so on.

Once it’s finished, it’s best to avoid changing it after teaching it to the kids, since that can confuse them.

This song has lots of choreography videos available, so it’s also a great idea to watch them together and decide with the kids as you go.

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[Song] Your Voice

Your Voice (With Mother) - Vocals: NEUTRINO (with lyrics)

[Song] Your Voice

How about trying the choral piece “Kimi no Koe” (“Your Voice”)? The lyrics are really lovely, and the melody is bright and easy to sing, so I think it’s perfect for 4-year-olds.

As the title suggests, the cute lyrics say “I love your voice,” and toward the end you can do call-and-response parts, so splitting into groups for a back-and-forth would be wonderful.

It’s an energetic song with a comfortable melody, so please consider singing it at your recital! Adding some choreography would make it even more fun to perform.

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[Play-acting] Frog Singing Contest

[Sora] Frog Singing Contest (2021 4th Online Life Presentation)

[Play-acting] Frog Singing Contest

“Frogs’ Singing Contest” is based on a picture book known for its eye-catching, humorous illustrations.

The many different kinds of frogs are fighting every day, so they decide to hold a singing contest with songs everyone loves.

Four-year-olds are at a stage where their interactions with friends increase a lot—and sometimes they fight.

You’ll likely see the frogs overlapping with children’s everyday behavior.

Each frog has its own personality, so casting the roles should be fun.

The children will surely jump right into practice with great enthusiasm.

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For 4-year-olds (middle preschool)! Performance ideas for plays, songs, and other items for recitals and school shows (11–20)

[Operetta] Kureyon no Kurokun

Recital [Operetta: Kuro-kun of Kuyoren] Choreography Video with Key Point Explanations

[Operetta] Kureyon no Kurokun

“Kureyon no Kuro-kun” is a popular picture book series among children.

This time, I’d like to introduce an operetta based on the book.

It’s a story where Kuro-kun, the black crayon that’s not used very often, feels sad, but then shines thanks to a wonderful idea from an older mechanical pencil “big brother.” Since it’s an operetta, the lines are set to music, making them easier for even four-year-olds to memorize as songs, so it should be easy to work on.

Have the children choose their favorite colors, and make costumes and props together with their friends—this will likely boost their motivation as they prepare for the performance!

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Theatrical Play: Mekkira Mokkira Doon Doon

FY2021 Tomari-no-Mori Nursery School Living Presentation Program 4: “Mekkira Mokkira Doondon” – Bara Class

Theatrical Play: Mekkira Mokkira Doon Doon

“Mekkira Mokkira Doon Doon” is a picture book that delights in the rhythm of words.

On a day with no friends to play with, the child sings a wild, nonsensical song and is led by the wind, losing their way into the mountains at night.

There, they meet three yokai (spirits/monsters).

The protagonist gradually warms up to the yokai and plays with them.

Four-year-olds, who are often drawn to the unknown and to things that spark the imagination, will be intrigued.

They’ll likely enjoy expanding their own ideas about the three yokai as well.

It might be nice to decide on costumes and props together with the children.

Let’s explore this mysterious world alongside them.

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[Ensemble] Message in Rouge

Ensemble performance: “Message in Rouge” … 4-year-olds (Elephant Group)

[Ensemble] Message in Rouge

If you’re looking for a piece for ensemble, how about performing “Rouge no Dengon”? Known as the opening theme of Studio Ghibli’s film Kiki’s Delivery Service, it’s a song many children may have heard.

When you play it with a variety of instruments like metallophone, xylophone, and bass drum, it becomes very powerful.

In ensembles, I think it’s common for a single melodic instrument—such as the piano or xylophone—to lead the whole group, but it’s also interesting when the main melody changes within the piece, shifting from the melodica to the metallophone like in the video.

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[Song] Parade

Song: 'Parade'

[Song] Parade

Parade, bursting with energy and hope for tomorrow, is a song we especially want 4-year-olds—who are growing rapidly in mind and body—to sing.

In the chorus, the melody bounces rhythmically and the pitch moves back and forth.

It might feel complex at first, but once you start singing, you’ll definitely get into the groove! Be sure to let your lively voices ring out.

The tempo tends to speed up, so it’s also good practice for staying steady at the same tempo.

Let’s enjoy working on it together with the children.

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