A collection of ideas for infant/toddler play, recreation, and games

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.
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.

Play and games help keep children’s minds and bodies healthy and lively.

They nurture physical activity, thinking skills, imagination, and the ability to get along with friends.

Here, we’ve gathered activities and games that preschoolers can enjoy.

There are many kinds: group games, traditional play, pretend and make-believe activities, and sensory play.

You’ll find lots of favorites from nurseries and kindergartens, as well as easy games you can do at home.

Choose fun activities that match your child’s age and development, and enjoy them together!

Ideas for Toddler Play, Recreation, and Games (71–80)

A hoop you can make and play with using newspaper

@soramame.sensei
Educational toy # developmental support (ryōiku)newspaper (newsprint)Form / Shape #CapCut
♬ Kids, cute, pets, energetic background music(1101939) – nyansuke

Fun for kids and adults alike! Here are ideas for a hoop game you can make and play with newspaper.

All you need are newspapers and cards with different motifs drawn on them.

Hand a sheet of newspaper to each person, then reshape the paper according to the motif card that’s revealed—this unique game is all about transforming the newspaper.

For a round motif, link the newspaper into a circle; for a square motif, try folding it into a square.

You can crumple it, fold it, or even tear it, so the game offers a high degree of freedom.

It really sparks creativity!

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Abdominal Muscle Chain Game

@machan.kidsbodyspecialty
Fun ways to train your abs#Motor skills Core Parent-child gymnastics #ParentingConcerns Exercise Therapy
♬ Kids & Toys – FASSounds

A unique game to build core strength! Here’s an idea for an Ab Chain Game.

Your core plays an important role when standing, sitting, walking, and running.

Developing a strong core is essential for balance and good posture.

This time, let’s try the Ab Chain Game to train your core while having fun.

Get ready by lying on your back in a circle with your friends! Starting with the child holding the ball, use your abs to lift your upper body and pass the ball to the next friend.

The key is to hold the ball firmly with both hands!

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Say the same thing, do the opposite game

@soramame.sensei
Hello! This is Kotoba no Kyoushitsu Soramame Kids 🎵 Today we’re introducing a game with endless ways to play: “Say the Same, Do the Opposite”! 😆💛 The rules are simple! Just like the name says: say the same thing, but do the opposite! 🤣🤣 If you change the rules, the ways to play are infinite∞‼ Try switching it to “Say the Opposite, Do the Same 🎵,” do team battles, individual matches… and more! If you have other ideas like “We tried it this way!”, please share in the comments 😍 Watch till the end of the video to see the goals of the activity 🎵 If you think, “I want to try this♡,” please like, comment, and save! Thanks so much 🥰 Check out our other posts here ↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓↓ @soramame.senseiKotoba no Kyoushitsu Soramame KidsSoramame Kids Child Development Support Service, After-school Day Service, Kagoshima Therapy, Kagoshima Child Development/After-school Day, Recreation, Indoor Play, Childcare, Education, Nursery Teacher/Early Childhood EducatorTeacher
♪ Original Song – Kotoba no Kyōshitsu Sora Mame Kids – Teacher Sora Mame

It’s simple but tricky—that’s what makes it fun! Here’s an idea for a game where what you say and what you do are opposites.

A teacher or guardian plays the role of the caller, giving directions like forward, backward, left, and right.

The children imitate what the caller says, but perform the opposite movement.

It’s a unique game! At first, it’s best to go slowly and carefully.

Once everyone gets used to it, try speeding up the tempo or adapting it into a three-person team match to make it more exciting.

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Ideas for toddler play, recreation, and games (81–90)

Ring-Collecting Game

https://www.tiktok.com/@toiro_efilagroup/video/7369387611279887624

Fun to make! Fun to play! Here’s an idea for a game where you collect rings.

You’ll need origami paper in your favorite colors, scissors, and glue.

First, cut the origami paper into long, thin strips and glue the ends to make rings! Using colorful paper in the making process can stimulate a sense of color and help develop fine motor skills.

Once the rings are ready, give each person a pair of chopsticks or a straw, and enjoy a game of collecting the rings! It’s a great way to build concentration.

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Ring Relay

@kidschallengeclub
⭐️Exciting⭐️ 🌈Ring Relay🌈 We’ll split into two teams and do a relay‼️ I think you’ll understand the rules once you watch the video☝️✨ Let’s do it while thinking with your friends about how to get to the finish faster❣️ After explaining the rules, we’ll give you practice time again, and then it’s the real run‼️ It’s more fun than just training 😀 And because it’s done as a team, everyone takes it more seriously than usual 🎵 We’re sharing fun games like this 🗽 Please follow us 🙇‍♀️relay team Recreation Cooperation Friendship Kids Challenge Club Exercise Play Class Fukuoka City #Momochi Gymnasium <h id=”10″>弥生幼稚園</h>︎
Battle Theme / Dragon Quest III – Me Gāne

Here are two ideas for ring relay games.

What you need to prepare are markers for the start and finish lines.

In the first game, each person crawls under the feet of the person in front, then quickly stands up and spreads their legs to form a tunnel, connecting all the way to the finish.

In the second game, players form pairs to make a ring, and the next person in line crawls through as they all move toward the finish.

The key point is that neither game can be completed by a single person.

It’s also fun to compete by team!

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Evolution Rock-Paper-Scissors

@kidschallengeclub
Introducing Evolution Rock-Paper-Scissors! It’s a game where you keep playing rock-paper-scissors with lots of different people and evolve step by step! If you become a god within the time limit, you win! The kids suddenly start imitating grandpas and grandmas, and it’s so authentic I couldn’t stop laughing. It’s that kind of fun game!evolution Evolution Rock-Paper-Scissors Rock-paper-scissors Rock-Paper-Scissors Game baby #Grandma God Interesting
Invincibly Cute – Naoki Endo

An amusing game where you evolve by winning rock-paper-scissors: “Evolution Janken.” Aim to become a god within the time limit! Everyone starts as a baby.

Since you’re a baby, you crawl to move and play rock-paper-scissors with people you meet.

If you win, you evolve and can move by hands-and-knees crawling.

If you lose, keep belly-crawling and look for your next opponent.

It goes like this: belly-crawl, hands-and-knees crawl, bear walk, adult, elderly person, and finally, you become a god and the game ends.

Evolve within the time limit!

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balloon volleyball

https://www.tiktok.com/@bear_kids_official/video/7453046550651079954

Tap the pom-poms and balloons to build motor skills and balance! Here’s a balloon volleyball idea.

All you need is a net and some balloons.

It’s a fun way to get moving! With this simple game using a net and balloons, kids will try not to let the balloon fall, reacting quickly and working to send it into the opponent’s court.

It not only boosts physical ability, but also serves as a great activity for learning cooperation and teamwork.

Give it a try!

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