[Childcare] Recommended games to play in the warm month of April
When the cold winter ends and spring arrives with warm sunshine, plants and insects come to life—and our hearts feel brighter too.
Many teachers at daycare centers and kindergartens may be looking to include activities that let children enjoy the spring season.
In this pleasantly warm and comfortable time of year, let’s enjoy lots of spring-specific play with the children.
Here, we’ll introduce recommended activities for April.
From games tied to spring events to activities featuring insects kids love and playful ways to connect with nature, there are plenty of ideas to help you enjoy spring to the fullest!
We’ve included activities you can do both indoors and outdoors, so please use them as a reference!
- [Childcare] Recommended indoor activities and recreation games for April
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- [Childcare] May Activities: Spring Outdoor & Indoor Play
- [For 4-year-olds] A collection of April craft ideas that capture spring, such as Easter and cherry blossoms
- [Childcare] Enjoy March! A collection of ideas for event-related activities and nature play
- [Childcare] Recommended for April activities! A collection of helpful ideas for events and festivities
- [For 2-year-olds] Feel the warm spring! Fun April craft ideas collection
- [For 5-year-olds] Let's make it in April! A collection of craft ideas using recycled and natural materials
- Play activities recommended for childcare in February: ideas to enjoy seasonal events
- [For 4-Year-Olds] Feel the Spring Up Close! Fun and Easy Craft Ideas You’ll Love
- [Childcare] Let’s make things with various materials! A collection of recommended craft ideas for April
[Childcare] Recommended activities to enjoy in the warm month of April (1–10)
Observe spring birds
One activity that lets you connect with nature while enjoying the warm, gentle weather of spring is birdwatching.
As you listen to the birds that have made it through the cold winter and welcomed spring, observe them closely.
Many species appear, including Japanese white-eyes, brown-eared bulbuls, and bush warblers.
Stroll through springtime parks and along walking paths while answering children’s questions like, “What’s that bird called?” Taking in animals and natural scenery helps children enjoy a calm, unhurried time.
Try incorporating this spring-perfect theme into your childcare activities.
Playing with colored water made from flower petals
Why not try making colored water that showcases the vivid hues of flowers? By using a variety of blossoms, you can create a rainbow of colors.
Simply place flowers and water in a plastic bag, knead well, then pour into a cup to finish.
To adjust the intensity of the color, add more water.
Using iconic April flowers like cherry blossoms, plum blossoms, and rapeseed flowers will help you fully appreciate their natural beauty.
It’s a springtime activity that lets children participate safely while enjoying the season’s atmosphere.
Try making it while basking in the warm, gentle spring weather.
Making a caterpillar by linking paper loops
Here’s a craft idea for a caterpillar, which many people also associate with picture books.
First, prepare green and yellow construction paper.
Cut it into strips about 20 cm long, then make loops and connect them together.
This will form the body.
Next, create a face from construction paper and attach it—then you’re done.
Feel free to choose any face design or expression you like.
Also, don’t forget to have some pipe cleaners ready to make the antennae.
Using silver or white will give it a natural look.
[Childcare] Recommended games to play in the warm April weather (11–20)
Making egg-shaped maracas for Easter
Why not try making handmade Easter eggs for Easter on April 17? We especially recommend making Easter egg–shaped maracas.
Like traditional Easter eggs, you can hide them and play, and since they make sounds, they’re fun to shake too.
Try shaking them while singing and dancing along to springtime songs.
Another great point is that you can add your own personal touch by decorating these Easter egg maracas.
You’ll be thrilled with a one-of-a-kind Easter egg that exists nowhere else in the world.
Making a crown with white clover
White clover starts blooming around April.
It’s a flower that makes you feel the arrival of spring, isn’t it? Why not try making a flower crown with it? First, pick some white clover on the grounds of a nursery school or kindergarten, for example.
Then bundle them together and braid them.
Wearing a white clover flower crown will make you feel springtime and lift your spirits.
It can also be fun to make them and exchange with friends.
By the way, the braiding is a bit tricky, but once you learn it, you can make crowns with other flowers too.
Sound play with shepherd’s purse, Nazuna (“penpen grass”)
One activity I’d like to introduce for connecting with nature is making sounds with “penpen-gusa.” Penpen-gusa is another name for shepherd’s purse, which is also known as one of the seven spring herbs in Japan.
If you peel off the outer skin and shake it, the seed pods bump against each other and make a sound.
The sound itself is faint, but it has a certain charm.
When you try it, choose plants with well-matured seed pods—they make sounds more easily.
Since each plant’s shape is a little different, paying attention to those differences is part of the fun.
Insect observation
Spring is the season when it gets warmer and living creatures start becoming active, isn’t it? How about enjoying some insect observation then? It’s a great chance to learn about the insects around you that you don’t usually notice.
With a children’s insect field guide in hand, you can look up what you’ve found, or even try catching and keeping some to raise.
Recommended observation spots include your yard or a nearby park.
In addition, visiting waterside areas like riverbanks is a good idea.
Many insects unique to waterside habitats live there, so you may find different kinds.