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

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

Last updated:2025/7/23

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 (1–10)

Interactive Play “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”

Baby-mo April 2011 issue Hand-play song “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” [Shufunotomo Co., Ltd.]

Interactive Play “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”

This is a play activity where you interact while singing the well-known nursery song “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” Hold the baby’s hands and feet, gently shake them, and touch them.

It’s fun to bring the baby’s palms and soles together.

Incorporating movements that babies don’t usually do on their own provides enjoyable stimulation.

This kind of educational method that combines music and play is called eurhythmics, and there are many eurhythmics songs out there, so be sure to look around and find ones that suit you.

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sensory play

Sensory Play and Balloon Fun with Plastic Bags [Infants] — Torikaihigashi Yuiku-en [Nursery/Kindergarten Event]

sensory play

For a baby, touching things with their fingers can be the spark that helps them grow.

So how about some fun sensory play they can touch and enjoy? In the video, we introduce flour dough made with flour and baby oil, but with a little creativity you can come up with many variations.

For example, the squishy feel of agar jelly or the smooth texture of raffia tape—touching materials like these is educational for children.

Please do join in and play by touching together.

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Interactive play: ‘Ipponbashi kocho-kocho’ (Tickle game)

Ipponbashi Tickle Tickle [With Singing] Hand Play Song for Babies

Interactive play: 'Ipponbashi kocho-kocho' (Tickle game)

A playful bonding activity for babies, tickling and gentle pinching—‘Ipponbashi Kochokochō.’ Many parents probably feel nostalgic when they hear the song itself.

It’s a classic traditional children’s song that’s been sung for generations.

In the featured video, they demonstrate by touching the child’s arm, but you can also have the baby lie on their back and gently touch their whole body.

The arm-touch version might be nice because you can do it while standing.

Give it a try and enjoy it together as a parent and child.

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Dropping-in game

Handmade and Easy: Animal Pot-Through Drop

Dropping-in game

“Animal Drop-in Feeding” lets you feed cute animals.

Prepare a lidded box and draw animals on it.

Give each animal a big open mouth, and cut a hole exactly where the mouth is.

You’ll play by putting food into the mouth hole.

Make the food by stacking two plastic bottle caps, taping them together, and drawing pictures of food on them.

Drop in lots of food—plop, plop—through the open mouths to feed the animals! There are no tricky movements, so you can keep feeding them over and over until the animals are full.

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circuit play

Circuit Play [Ages 0–1] | Torikai Yuiku-en [Nursery School/Kindergarten]

circuit play

“Circuit play” is like an obstacle course at a sports day, where you set up various attractions and let kids have fun.

Unlike a typical obstacle course, though, the stations are designed so even 0-year-old babies can enjoy them with ease.

For example: mats that wobble when you walk on them, tunnels, and balance beams or mats with gentle slopes.

They’re all fun regardless of height or whether a child can walk yet.

You can start wherever you like—there’s no need to race for rankings! It also helps develop motor skills, so it’s highly recommended.

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