Lovely childcare

[Childcare] Recommended indoor activities and recreation games for April

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.
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.

April marks the start of a new chapter.

Children who are entering or moving up a grade may feel excited about their new environment, or a little anxious—there are many different reactions.

Many teachers are probably wondering, “What should we do?” as they look for ideas that everyone can enjoy and that naturally help children make friends through play.

So this time, we’re introducing recommended games and activities for April.

We’ve focused on games you can start right away indoors, so please give them a try.

You’ll find yourself with more wonderful moments filled with smiles!

[Childcare] Recommended Indoor Activities and Recreation Games for April (61–70)

Plastic Bottle Bowling

[Tried it] Plastic Bottle Bowling

Plastic Bottle Bowling

A heavy bowling ball is a bit difficult for preschoolers…

But with plastic-bottle bowling, everyone can have fun.

It’s already enjoyable to start by bringing plastic bottles and making the pins together.

Fill each bottle about halfway with sand and seal it.

Then just decorate them freely with colored paper and markers.

A volleyball works well as the ball.

You can also adjust the throwing distance by age to create a handicap.

Counting how many pins are knocked down can help with learning numbers, too.

It’s a great indoor activity that isn’t affected by the weather.

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Who am I? game

[Game Trending at School] Who am I? #SuzuKokokosuke

Who am I? game

It’s a game where you stick a prompt on your own head and try to guess what it is—who or what you are.

You ask the people around you questions like, “Am I food?” or “Am I a living thing?” The others answer only “yes” or “no.” Using those hints, you figure out what you are.

It’s also fun to prepare a penalty for when someone doesn’t guess correctly.

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Party-gathering game

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It's fun to play as usual, and you can also connect it to the next activity! 😆😆Childcare #FreelanceNurseryTeacher Temporary custody Temporary childcare Childcare
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No talking to friends allowed! Here’s an idea for a game where you gather teammates.

It’s a fun activity using cards with animal pictures on them.

However, you’re not allowed to talk to your friends during the game! Rely only on the animal sounds depicted on the cards handed out by the teacher or guardian to find others with matching cards.

The tricky part is calling out to your teammates while carefully distinguishing their calls.

Once everyone gets used to the rules, adding a time limit could make it even more exciting!

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Spring Sensory Play

When you go for a walk during cherry blossom season, you’ll often find petals scattered by the wind or blossoms pecked off by little birds.

How about gathering those flowers and petals to float them on water and play, or simply touching and playing with the blossoms? Petals bobbing gently on the water are so beautiful, and just watching them stirs all kinds of feelings.

You can add food coloring to enjoy the changes in color, or mix in agar to let it set and then touch it.

Water set with agar becomes jiggly and has an indescribably unique texture.

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circuit play

Circuit Play [Ages 0–1] | Torikai Yuiku-en [Nursery School/Kindergarten]

circuit play

Circuit play is a popular activity among children where various tools and equipment are arranged to resemble a circuit or course, and kids go around it as they play.

It lets them move their bodies fully indoors.

With mats, tunnels, and obstacles set up, they can walk, run, and crawl—engaging in a variety of movements that provide a full-body workout.

Children who may feel a bit tense in April might find that moving their bodies helps them feel refreshed.

Another great point is that it can be enjoyed even on rainy days, so kids can exercise without worrying about the weather.

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