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 (41–50)

Fingerplay “If You’re Happy and You Know It”

[Hand Play Song] If You're Happy and You Know It — A nursery rhyme that makes babies smile and rejoice

Fingerplay “If You’re Happy and You Know It”

The children’s song “If You’re Happy and You Know It,” which is often sung at kindergartens and daycare centers, is perfect for bonding play with babies too! Gently hold their hands and clap together, or while seated, hold their feet and tap-tap to bring both feet together—enjoy your time with your baby while touching their whole body.

As you keep moving along to the song and let them hear it repeatedly, they may start flailing their hands and feet on their own.

When they begin to move spontaneously, be sure to praise them enthusiastically!

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Blowing on the soles of the feet

Three and a half months old and having so much fun we can’t stop laughing! How to make your baby laugh with joy!

Blowing on the soles of the feet

A secret trick you can use when your baby is fussy: gently blowing on the soles of their feet! If you softly blow on their soft little soles, they’ll wiggle and then break into a smile in an instant.

Blowing rhythmically or making eye contact right after you blow can make them even happier.

However, if you try it and it doesn’t improve their mood, there may be reasons beyond simple boredom, such as being sleepy or needing a diaper change.

Don’t force it—stop and respond according to your baby’s condition as you observe them.

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[Children’s song] Nigiri Pacchiri

[Cloth Play] Nursery Rhymes [From Up and Down / Nigiri Pacchiri / 3 Other Picks]

[Children’s song] Nigiri Pacchiri

“Nigiri Pacchiri” is a game where you roll a cloth into a ball in your hands to the rhythm of a song, then let it fluff open at the end, imagining it as a living creature.

The basic version is a chick, but there’s also a sparrow variation.

Because the cloth stays hidden in your hands until the very end, children get excited, wondering, “What’s going to happen?” and “What will come out?” You can also ask the kids, “What should come out next?” and then reveal the creature they choose.

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Balloon play

Various Balloon Play! [0-Year-Olds] | Minami Senrioka Yuiku-en [Nursery/Kindergarten Event]

Balloon play

Here are some play ideas using round, fluffy balloons.

They’re light and soft, so even if they bump into you it doesn’t hurt, making them safe and enjoyable even for infants.

Fill the room with colorful balloons and enjoy watching them float and bounce, or wrap and stick vinyl tape around a balloon to make it like a ball—also lots of fun! You can also attach a plastic string and hang balloons from the ceiling for kids to touch, pack lots of balloons into a vacuum storage bag to make a balloon mat, and more—the possibilities are endless depending on your ideas.

Be sure to explore different ways to play together with the children and have fun!

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Interactive play: “This is Dad’s tickle spot.”

Here Is Daddy’s Place [With Song] – Baby Hand-Play Song

Interactive play: “This is Dad’s tickle spot.”

The nursery rhyme “Koko wa Tōchan nindokoro” is sung as if speaking gently while softly touching the baby’s cheeks and forehead.

The tender sound of the word “nindokoro,” which means “a part that resembles someone,” along with the warmth and feel of a hand on the baby’s face, is very comforting for babies.

If you say, “Your right cheek looks just like Dad’s, and your left cheek looks just like Mom’s,” the baby will naturally smile.

You can also replace the words “Dad” and “Mom” in the lyrics with whatever names you actually want to use.

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