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 activities for development and early learning (31–40)

Newspaper play

[Ages 0–2] Newspaper Play in the Infant Class

Newspaper play

Endless ways to play! Try all kinds of activities using newspaper.

Enjoy the crinkly texture and sound, tear it up with a satisfying rip, or crumple it into a ball and toss it—newspaper is perfect for indoor play with countless possibilities.

Because kids use their hands a lot, it’s also great for developing fine motor skills.

Flexibly follow children’s free ideas and interests, and keep expanding the play together.

When you’re done, gather the torn pieces into a big bag to make a ball, or try crafting teru-teru bozu (little weather charms) or fish—it’s lots of fun, too.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

material play

“First Play with Materials” [0-Year-Olds] | Minami Senri Oka Yūiku-en [Nursery/Kindergarten Event]

material play

How about some material play using a variety of items? Things that are familiar to adults are all new and intriguing to babies.

Since you can use easily prepared items like raffia tape, aluminum foil, and bubble wrap, it’s great for daycares and easy to try at home too.

Babies explore in many ways—touching the materials to enjoy their textures, gripping them tightly, crumpling them to make sounds—and each child plays differently.

They might even discover a favorite material! Be sure to choose safe materials and play together, as small pieces or easily torn items can pose a choking hazard.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Interactive Play: “Totoko Stroll”

A hand-play song that delights babies: “Tottoko Stroll”

Interactive Play: “Totoko Stroll”

Tap-tap on your lap and enjoy a pretend walk with “Tottoko Sanpo.” It’s a perfect bonding activity for times when you’re mostly indoors.

Once you’ve got your baby on your lap or held in your arms and are ready to share the rhythm with their body, you’re all set! Move your baby gently to match the lyrics—like falling into a hole or being blown by the wind during the walk.

Adding sound effects such as “ston” (thud) or “hyuun” (whoosh) will make it even more fun by combining movement and sound.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Interactive play “Donguri Korokoro”

[Brain-Boosting Baby-mo] Baby Massage: “Donguri Korokoro”

Interactive play “Donguri Korokoro”

Gently give your baby a massage while singing “Donguri Korokoro”! Baby massage is commonly done by applying oil and touching the bare skin directly, but you can still convey warmth and give your baby a sense of security by touching over their clothes.

While softly singing as if speaking to your baby, enjoy bonding through touch by placing your hands on their tummy or cheeks, or holding their hands and moving them to the rhythm.

There’s no need to sing perfectly! Hum with love and gently touch their whole body evenly.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Fingerplay “The Itomaki (Spool Winding)”

[Fingerplay Song] The Thread-Spooling Song – A Nursery Rhyme Babies Love

Fingerplay “The Itomaki (Spool Winding)”

A classic hand-play song that it’s no exaggeration to say everyone hears in early childhood! Just hearing “Itomaki-maki” makes you want to whirl your hands around.

When playing with a baby, gently hold their hands as if wrapping them, and rotate them in circles.

At first, the baby may curiously watch their own hands spinning, but before long they’ll feel the fun of moving and break into a smile.

It’s also recommended to change what’s made by winding the thread to something like “○○-chan’s shoes,” and call their name lots of times!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem