Lovely childcare

[Childcare] Play and games for 0-year-old babies: Fun developmental and educational activities

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.
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!

Just looking at tiny, adorable babies makes you feel happy, doesn’t it?

We tend to think that newborns spend most of their time sleeping, but it’s also a period of remarkable growth.

Interacting closely and playing together with familiar people provides babies with plenty of stimulation and has very positive effects on their physical and mental development, as well as on attachment formation.

Let’s actively incorporate lots of play not only at daycare but at home, too.

In this article, we’ll introduce plenty of activities you can enjoy together with your baby.

From bonding games and sensory play to activities using educational toys, a wide variety of play ideas are gathered here!

Find the perfect activities that match your baby’s age in months and developmental stage.

[Childcare] Play and games for 0-year-old babies: Fun developmental and educational activities (21–30)

Sparkle-pop

[Koganei Nursery School] FY2024 Parent-Child Sports Day: 0-Year-Old Class Parent-Child Play 'Kirakira Pon'

Sparkle-pop

Bursting into smiles! Here are some sparkling ideas from Kirakira-pon.

Many teachers may be unsure about parent–child events for infants under one year old.

How about making “parent–child bonding” the theme this time? Swaying gently to music and rhythms, and spending time in close contact can create a sense of comfort for both caregivers and children.

Since this will be the first sports day for these zero-year-old children, set the goal to encourage cheerful participation in a bright, enjoyable atmosphere.

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Finger play: From Inside the Cabbage

[With vocals] From Inside the Cabbage – Children’s Song / Hand Play Song

Finger play: From Inside the Cabbage

“From inside the cabbage” is a fingerplay song you can enjoy while teaching the names of the fingers.

With the hand in a fist, you pop one finger up and learn names like Daddy finger and Mommy finger.

However, for infants around 0 years old, distinguishing finger names is difficult, so there’s no need to try to teach them yet.

Instead, think of ways to show it so the baby finds it amusing to see a finger sprout out from the fist.

First and foremost, focus on capturing their interest.

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Interactive play: “Pop the Egg”

Hand-play and touch interaction song “Tamago o Pon” [Shufunotomo Co., Ltd.]

Interactive play: “Pop the Egg”

Hold the baby’s hands and bring them together as if cracking an egg.

From there, to the rhythm of the song, gently touch their face, neck, and body—this interactive play is called “Tamagowo Pon.” Raw egg, fried egg, boiled egg… the cute lyrics are delightful, aren’t they? And of course, zero-year-olds are as adorable as little jewels.

If you see a smile during this touch-time, it will make you happy too.

Talking to the baby while touching their body supports their emotional development and helps with stress care.

It’s also known as “touch care.”

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[Children’s Song] From Above, From Below

A nursery rhyme kids will love: “From Above and Below”

[Children's Song] From Above, From Below

Perfect for infants, “Ue kara Shita kara” is sung at a gentle tempo while you sway a scarf.

Moving the scarf in time with the song will draw the children’s attention as they watch it sway.

At the end, softly drape the scarf over the child’s face, call the child’s name, and say “Peekaboo!” as you lift the scarf away.

Reactions vary depending on the child’s age in months and personality.

It’s also an activity teachers can enjoy, as they may see new responses that didn’t appear before.

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Paku-Paku Bear

Pakupaku Kuma-san: a bear face sewn onto a large piece of felt with a zipper for its mouth.

Next to the bear, items like rice balls, bread, eggs, and vegetables are attached with snap buttons.

You can unfasten them and feed them to the bear—it’s a toy, right? The actions of unbuttoning and buttoning seem helpful for developing fine motor skills, and seeing the bear eagerly eat everything might spark children’s interest in food, making them think, “I want to try the same thing,” or “I wonder what it tastes like?”

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