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 Collection of At-Home Play Ideas (21–30)

Hide-and-seek

[At-Home Hide-and-Seek] When we played seriously with our 5-year-old, it turned into a big deal at the end?! Surprisingly fun for parents and kids even in a small home ♪ Hide and Seek

Hide-and-seek

Hide-and-seek is a game where you look for family and friends hiding inside the house.

You can hide in spots where no one will find you, and searching for the hidden players helps develop thinking skills.

Decide on rules such as “Hide while I count from 1 to 10,” and split into a seeker and hiders.

After counting, the seeker looks for those hiding around the house.

You can also add rules like setting a time limit or giving hints when it’s difficult.

Both the seeker and the hiders can enjoy the thrill!

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karuta (traditional Japanese card game)

[Starting Elementary School Next Year] Can they read their own name? A five-year-old who can’t read any hiragana studies with karuta [Parenting Diary]

karuta (traditional Japanese card game)

A card game where you grab the card that matches the reader’s prompt and compete for the most cards.

Like Hyakunin Isshu or playing cards, it’s a card game enjoyed by people of all ages.

Once you lay out the cards—each with one kana from the Japanese syllabary and an illustration—you’re ready to play.

By listening to, looking at, and taking the cards with hiragana on them, players naturally learn words as they play.

You can also give hints using the illustrations to help reach the answer, not just the letters.

Try this traditional game—it’s a great foundation for teaching reading and writing to five-year-olds.

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Spot the differences

Anpanman Anime Spot the Difference [Quiz] [Educational] #7

Spot the differences

A spot-the-difference game where you compare two pictures and look for what’s different.

It’s easy to play and perfect for filling time at home! Spot-the-difference puzzles are available on many platforms, such as video sites and across the internet, and there are plenty of books, too.

If the puzzles feature characters popular with children, they’ll likely be even more motivated.

Spot-the-difference helps build concentration because kids need to look closely at the images to find the differences.

It also develops the ability to explain what’s different in words—making it a game full of benefits for children!

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Paper cup rocket making

[For 4-year-olds] Easy rocket craft using paper cups!

Paper cup rocket making

Here’s a paper-cup rocket that’s perfect for indoor play.

Prepare paper cups, rubber bands, construction paper, pens, scissors, and glue.

Cut four slits into one of the paper cups.

Leave the other paper cup as is.

Take two rubber bands, stretch them, and attach them to each other in a crisscross shape.

Hook the connected rubber bands onto the slitted parts of the paper cup.

With the cup that has the rubber bands on top and the other cup as a base underneath, press down; the rubber band’s force will launch the cup upward like a rocket.

You can decorate the paper cups with colored pens, origami paper, or stickers to make them even cuter.

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Signaling Game

A quick pastime for spare moments: the ‘Traffic Light Game’ for older preschoolers/also great for recreation

Signaling Game

It’s also great for a quick play during small breaks! Here’s an idea for a traffic light game.

Traffic lights are important indicators for learning traffic rules.

When crossing roads where cars and bicycles are moving, they play a crucial role in keeping yourself safe.

This time, let’s use the colors of the traffic light to play a game.

Move forward on “green,” step back on “yellow,” and stop on “red.” Through these simple rules, children can get a feel for the basic rules of “waiting” and “moving.”

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