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 as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is 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 (81–90)

cushion hula hoop

You’re only allowed to walk on the cushion strips or inside the hula hoops! Here’s a unique game.

You’ll need two hula hoops, pool noodles, scissors or a utility knife, and masking tape.

Cut the pool noodles or any cushioned material and tape them to the floor—prep done.

Use two hula hoops to make your way to the goal! When you reach the cushioned course, set down a hula hoop and walk on the cushion.

Keeping your balance is trickier than it looks, so give it a try!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Quick Towel Grab Game

https://www.tiktok.com/@cocorurueniwa/video/7477760412616772872

Sharpen your judgment and reflexes! Here’s an idea for a quick-draw towel game.

Prepare white towels and colored flags.

Pair up and sit facing each other across a table.

When the teacher raises a flag, quickly grab a towel.

Once you get used to the rules, it’s even more fun if you increase the towel colors to two or three.

While determining the color of the flag the teacher raised, search among the towels on the table for the specified color and pull it toward you.

Give it a try!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Island of Hula Hoops

Work together with your teammates to reach the goal! Here’s an idea for a “Hula Hoop Islands” game.

Prepare five small hula hoops or flat markers.

Form teams of four, line up, and have the person at the front hold the hula hoops.

On the path from the start line to the goal, you may only step inside the hula hoops! When the front person runs out of hula hoops, they should call out to the person at the back.

Once they receive a hula hoop hand-to-hand from a teammate, they continue toward the goal.

It’s also fun to compete head-to-head as teams!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Hoop Helium Ring

@omiyamichinoko
Perfect timing 😂 If you don’t know what the helium ring is, check the previous post!#Omiya Michinoko Nursery School Nursery teacher / Childcare worker #HulaHoop Happening coincidence Recommendation Helium ring
Nanikore Chin Hyakkei Theme (Pictures at an Exhibition) – Soundworks

Let’s play with a hula hoop! Here’s an idea called the Helium Ring.

All you need is a hula hoop.

Form a circle with 4 to 10 people and hold the hula hoop using only your index fingers.

If your team can work together to lower the hula hoop from chest height to the floor without anyone losing contact, you succeed! It’s a great game for building teamwork as you communicate and match your pace.

Adding a time limit makes it thrilling—the pressure contrasts with the slow, careful lowering of the hoop—so give it a try!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Hoop ball throwing

@omiyamichinoko ♪ Classical Medley 2019 (Cover) – Pianica Magician

Hula hoops become the targets! Here’s an idea for a game where you throw balls at hula hoops.

You’ll need two hula hoops, masking tape, and small colored balls.

First, stick masking tape onto the hula hoops to create targets.

Next, throw the colored balls at the hula hoop targets.

When the balls fly just right, they’ll stick to the masking tape with a satisfying plop—it’s really fun! Competing to see how many colored balls stick should make it even more exciting.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem