Churippu sharippu

tulip sheriff

Hold hands with your friends and play while calling each other’s names! Let me share the idea for “Churippu Sharippu.” There’s nothing to prepare, so just hum the song together and play.

There are moments in the song where you call out names, which makes it great for learning your friends’ names.

It’s especially recommended for classes with new or transferring children! You can adapt the way you play, so it’s an idea that children from infants to preschoolers can enjoy.

Be sure to try it in your activities.

Egg Hunt

Let's enjoy an egg hunt for Easter!

In recent years, Easter has become more widely known in Japan and there are more events, too.

It falls on a designated day in April, and the date changes every year, but how about enjoying an April activity like an egg hunt? You can make eggs from recycled materials such as paper towel tubes and design them to open with a pop.

Put small candies or other treats inside and seal them with washi tape.

This game, also called an “egg hunt,” involves searching for hidden eggs and is a recommended recreational activity that can be enjoyed not only in kindergartens and nursery schools but also at home.

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Cat and Mouse

[You can see the childcare in action] Teacher Rio’s active play [Cat and Mouse]

Which team will win? Here’s a game idea called Cats and Mice.

What you need are designated areas for each team.

Make the most of the room so the children can move around freely and play in a spacious environment.

Split into a Cat team and a Mouse team, and play a game where you try to return to your territory without getting caught by the teacher.

It’s a fun activity that makes kids burst into laughter, with the tension of listening carefully so they don’t mishear, and the exhilarating feeling of running away! In the end, which team will have more members? Give it a try!

Tissue Paper Flower Crafts

Play expands with your ideas! Let me share some fun ways to play with tissue paper flowers.

All you need to prepare is tissue paper in your favorite colors.

Tissue paper is light, soft, and comes in attractive, vibrant colors.

Some preschools and families may use it for crafts, but this time let’s try using it for activities.

You can throw it, tear it, crumple it, and play dynamically, or put it in a container, add water, and make a sensory bottle for a calm, soothing time.

It could also be fun to decide on the activities together with the children.

Monster Hunter Game

[You can also see childcare in action] Ms. Rio’s active play [Big Game Hunting]

Whether indoors or outdoors, and even with a large group, everyone can play “Let’s Go Hunt Wild Beasts.” It’s a very fun game that involves moving your body and also has a sing-along, round-like element.

It starts with “Let’s go hunt wild beasts,” and as you sing about carrying spears or guns, you look for a wild animal.

When an animal is called, you quickly form a group based on the number of syllables/characters in its name—so for example, with “raion” (lion in Japanese, 4 characters), you form groups of four to avoid getting caught by the beast.

For “tora” (tiger, 2 characters), you pair up, and for “gorira” (gorilla, 3 characters), you form groups of three, and so on.

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sensory toy play

[Indoor Play] Sensory Toys from the Tummy Time Stage #TexturePlay #0YearOlds

Fun for all ages! Here are some sensory toy play ideas.

You’ll need: food storage bags, colored water, oil, adzuki beans, erasers, toy goldfish, beads, bells, hair gel, and tape.

Put the materials you prepared into the bag along with the hair gel! Changing up the colors and textures makes the feel different and more interesting.

Sensory toys are recommended not only for infants but also for preschoolers—they’re engaging to look at and touch, and kids will be totally absorbed.

Tail-tag game

Physical activity play to improve children's motor skills: 1-2. Tail Tag

This is a tag game called “Tail Grab,” where everyone wears a tail and tries to snatch each other’s tails.

Prepare paper tape, ribbons, or strings to use as tails and attach them to players’ waists.

Within a designated area, players chase one another, grabbing and collecting tails.

Anyone who loses their tail leaves the court.

The player with the most tails wins, but you can also play in teams or add small rule variations to enjoy the game in different ways.

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Alien Repatriation Game

Let’s work together with friends to help the aliens! Here’s an idea for an Alien Return game.

You’ll need balloons, markers, and something to mark the start and finish lines.

In this simple game, you carry balloon “aliens” to the goal—but cooperating with friends is absolutely required.

That’s because you play in teams of four, holding hands, and the rule is that you can’t let go! Coordinate your moves using your linked hands, heads, shoulders, or hips, and call out to sync your timing.

Work together and save the aliens!

Pull hoop play

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!

Ring Relay

Here are two ideas for ring relay games.

What you need to prepare are markers for the start and finish lines.

In the first game, each person crawls under the feet of the person in front, then quickly stands up and spreads their legs to form a tunnel, connecting all the way to the finish.

In the second game, players form pairs to make a ring, and the next person in line crawls through as they all move toward the finish.

The key point is that neither game can be completed by a single person.

It’s also fun to compete by team!