Lovely childcare

[Age 5] Exciting and fun! A special feature on ideas for at-home play

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

By the age of five, more children can enjoy games with rules and have fun competing in games with friends and adults.

In this article, we’ll introduce at-home activities that are perfect for five-year-olds.

We’ve gathered a variety of ideas—from games with easy-to-understand rules, to activities that get kids moving indoors, to crafts that are fun to make—so feel free to use them as a reference and give them a try.

Not only for times when you can’t play outside, but also for those moments when you just feel like staying in, we hope you’ll enjoy these with your family and siblings.

[Age 5] Exciting and Fun! A Special Collection of At-Home Play Ideas (61–70)

Spinning tops

[Revised Edition] How to Spin a Top (How to Wrap the String) [How to Spin the Top]

Spinning tops

Spinning tops are a classic indoor game for children.

It’s fun not only to spin them, but also to compete with others to see whose top spins the longest or to try out various tricks.

You can also get excited by drawing designs on a store-bought top to create your very own original top.

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craft; handiwork; fabrication; maneuvering (scheming)

I tried making a dress out of newspaper.

craft; handiwork; fabrication; maneuvering (scheming)

Crafts that everyone loves, from little kids to big kids.

Open-ended crafts where you can make anything are so much fun, aren’t they? Let’s make use of materials you have at home—things you can reuse before throwing away, like newspaper, milk cartons, and empty containers from pudding and more.

Just thinking about what to make is really fun too.

By creating freely, children’s imaginations will expand.

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Puzzle

[For Kids] Recommended Puzzle “Katamino”: Focused Learning at Home!

Puzzle

A puzzle where you combine pieces to create a single work.

It’s a play activity that nurtures children’s rich imagination while training their concentration and thinking skills.

There’s a wide variety to enjoy, from anime characters and animals to themes like maps of Japan and landscapes.

If you want a 5-year-old to complete one on their own, puzzle games like Katamino—born in France—where you fill designated grids with parts, are also recommended.

Try incorporating toys that are enjoyable both as play and as educational tools into your at-home play ideas.

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Word Search Game

“Word-Finding Game (For 5-Year-Olds): A Nursery Teacher Explains Letter Play!”

Word Search Game

A word-search activity that helps children learn the Japanese syllabary while also supporting their development.

It’s a game you can learn through play and that also builds the basics of reading and writing.

First, write characters on colored construction paper with circles drawn on it, then cut them out.

Once all the characters are cut, scatter them randomly.

Divide into a few teams, then find and assemble characters from the syllabary to form words.

You can set various victory conditions, such as making as many words as possible or making the longest word.

It’s a game that can help five-year-olds become familiar with characters and also foster cooperation with friends and family—why not give it a try?

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In conclusion

How did you like the at-home play ideas? Age five can be a challenging time, often called the “midway defiance phase.” Kids may cry and get angry when they lose a game, or sulk when things don’t go well.

But losing and feeling frustrated are important experiences.

Use play to spark their interests and let them try many different things.