Lovely childcare

[Childcare] Recommended for April activities! A collection of helpful ideas for events and festivities

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.
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 the new school year!

Preschools and kindergartens are full of exciting events.

There are opportunities to meet new friends, as well as entrance ceremonies and nature walks to help children get used to school life.

It’s cherry blossom season, so going on a “hanami” walk to observe spring nature is also lots of fun.

As Golden Week approaches, try incorporating carp streamers and spring crafts to spark the children’s creativity.

Enjoy those moments when the children’s hearts come together through fun activities!

[Childcare] Recommended for April Activities! A Collection of Helpful Ideas for Events and Occasions (1–10)

Kids vs. Teacher Dance Showdown!

Dance showdown between the teacher and the kids!! The dance we performed at the recital turned into a fun and fantastic play activity ☺️ #dancevideo #dance #childcareDance #dancebattle #performance #recital #recitaldance

Kids vs. Teacher Dance Showdown!

In 1982, the Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute—the performing arts branch of UNESCO—designated April 29 as International Dance Day to promote the joy and value of dance.

Let’s enjoy ourselves by dancing in new environments, moving our bodies, and communicating with others.

If you’re not sure how to move, it’s also recommended to play some music and simply move your hands and feet.

It could also be exciting to hold events on April 29, such as a dance showdown between students and teachers.

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Spring Traffic Safety

"Let's follow rules and manners": kindergarteners make a traffic safety declaration

Spring Traffic Safety

Let’s Follow Traffic Rules! Here are ideas for spring traffic safety.

These fun activities help children learn about traffic rules and carry out awareness campaigns in towns and shopping centers.

They’ll learn the importance of obeying traffic signals and pedestrian rules, and actually encourage people by saying, “Please use the crosswalk!” Through these activities, children can heighten their awareness of traffic safety and make a positive impact on the community.

As a variation, you can also assign rotating roles within the school to lead the awareness calls.

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Easter

[1-year-olds] Exploring the nursery! Let’s hunt for Easter eggs!

Easter

Easter, celebrated in Christian regions as the festival of Christ’s resurrection, has recently become a major event in Japan as well.

Many kindergartens and preschools make Easter crafts or decorate their walls with Easter themes.

We also recommend enjoying Easter’s traditional game, the egg hunt—also known as the egg-search game.

You hide eggs around the facility or stick them on windows, and the children explore and search for them.

It lets them experience the exciting thrill of a treasure hunt!

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[Childcare] Recommended for April activities! A collection of useful ideas for events and occasions (11–20)

Making curry and rice

In April, making curry rice with spring vegetables is highly recommended.

Use new-season onions and potatoes to enjoy the flavors of the season.

Let’s cook together with the kids using vegetables unique to spring, full of natural sweetness.

Since knives and other tools are involved, it’s best to have the children take the lead in the cooking process.

For 1–2-year-olds, it’s a great idea to have them help by tearing spring cabbage or red leaf lettuce for a salad.

Be sure to try cooking with spring vegetables!

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Flower bed making

Creating a flowerbed is a great opportunity to get your hands in the soil and discover insects and other creatures.

In spring, try replanting the flowers in the bed together with the children! Choose a sunny spot with good air circulation and start planting.

Flowers like marigolds and sunflowers are especially hardy, making them easy and recommended for kids to grow.

When the children are planting, be sure to carefully check that there are no glass shards in the soil.

Assigning roles such as a watering duty might help nurture a sense of responsibility through caring for the plants.

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Experience the natural cycle through rapeseed blossoms

In spring, the yellow rapeseed flowers (nanohana) bloom beautifully, don’t they? In April, we recommend a hands-on experience with the natural cycle using rapeseed flowers.

First, dry the plants thoroughly until their color changes, then collect the seeds—you’ll find lots of small black seeds inside.

In the end, they’re transformed into rapeseed oil! It could become an event that inspires people to think about global environmental issues and the SDGs.

Using picture books to share stories about environmental topics is also recommended.

Be sure to try it with the children!

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[Craft Play] Where the Dinosaurs Are

[Practical Guide] Where the Dinosaurs Are (Younger Class, May – Classroom Environment)

[Craft Play] Where the Dinosaurs Are

April 17 is known as Dinosaur Day, commemorating the date when American zoologist Roy Chapman Andrews, who helped spark dinosaur research, set out for the Gobi Desert.

To celebrate Dinosaur Day, here’s a craft project that lets you enjoy dinosaur motifs using cardboard, paper, and paint.

Imagine creating a space where dinosaurs live: make the dinosaurs three-dimensional out of cardboard, and paint their backgrounds on paper.

Use picture books and other references to imagine and build a place where your cardboard dinosaurs can live happily.

It’s also fun to have each person think about how to create the background and which dinosaurs to arrange.

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