Lovely Play & Recreation

Liven up your children’s club event! A collection of ideas everyone can enjoy

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.
Keyboard playerSAKI
I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”

Children’s club events tend to end up feeling the same every time, which can be a real headache.

Even when you try to get creative, there are limits like budget and venue, plus the kids’ ages are all over the map.

So here, we’re sharing ideas for children’s club events that have actually been well received—from bingo tournaments to handmade festivals to seasonal parties.

They’re fun for both kids and adults, and relatively easy to prepare.

You’re sure to find tips for creating wonderful memories filled with smiles!

Get the Crowd Going at Kids’ Club Events! Fun Ideas for Everyone to Enjoy (21–30)

Balloon Art Show

[Introduction Video] Balloon Artist Haru (Performance)

Balloon Art Show

A fun, attention-grabbing event! Let us introduce a balloon art show.

Balloon art is an art form that uses balloons to create a variety of shapes.

By twisting long, thin balloons, you can make all kinds of figures—dogs, bears, swords, flowers, and more! During a balloon art show, you’ll be on the edge of your seat, excited to see what takes shape next.

It’s also a great idea to give the finished creations to children as souvenirs.

Be sure to consider adding this to your PTA event.

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Tanabata Festival

Tanabata Summer Festival

Tanabata Festival

Recommended event in July! Let me introduce the Tanabata Festival.

When you think of Tanabata, you might think of Orihime and Hikoboshi, and maybe “heavy stock prices” comes to mind—but surprisingly, many children might not actually know the origins of the day.

At the start of the Tanabata festivities, if you explain the meaning and background of the event, it could deepen learning and understanding.

Then, set up game areas with motifs related to Tanabata, such as stars and the Milky Way, and consider booths that both children and adults can enjoy! I hope it becomes a wonderful event where you can see the children’s smiling faces.

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Get the excitement going at your kids’ club event! A collection of fun ideas for everyone (31–40)

Puzzle Escape Game

[Puzzle Solving] Taking on the escape game made by the Quiz Research Club! [QuizKnock Lending Project]

Puzzle Escape Game

Let’s team up as a parent and child and join in! Here’s an introduction to a puzzle-solving escape game.

How about trying a puzzle escape game that combines an escape game with riddles? It’s a good idea to adjust the difficulty according to the participating child’s age.

Adding a time limit or a reward for reaching the goal can make it even more thrilling and exciting! Since the key is collaborating with a guardian, we recommend puzzles that you can think through together and overcome as a team.

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Mochi Pounding Festival

School Activities in Tanegashima: Kunigami Elementary School PTA Parent-Child Mochitsuki (Rice-Cake Pounding) Event, Reiwa 2 (2020)

Mochi Pounding Festival

Perfect for a January event! Let us introduce a mochi-pounding festival.

Many people may know about the culture of mochitsuki (mochi pounding), but have never actually tried it.

This time, let’s host a mochi-pounding event that everyone from children to adults can join! Watching authentic mochi pounding up close is quite powerful, so please be careful to ensure children don’t get overexcited and hurt themselves.

Also, since the mochi can be hot, take care to prevent burns while running the event.

It’s a great chance to learn about Japanese culture!

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Paper Airplane Contest

Making children's wishes come true: Paper airplane contest held in Maebashi, Gunma

Paper Airplane Contest

Perfect for events in gyms or halls! Let’s introduce a paper airplane contest.

Many children are probably good at making paper airplanes.

Try hosting a contest where participants compete for distance with their own original folding styles and carefully crafted planes.

Prepare several types of paper, and let participants decorate their creations with pens or stickers to make it even more exciting.

You could also award medals based on rankings to add an extra thrill.

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Karaoke Contest

Keisuke Yamauchi “Koisuru Machikado (Loving Street Corner)” Children’s Karaoke Contest

Karaoke Contest

Karaoke is loved by both adults and kids—how about enjoying it at your children’s group event? Let them sing their favorites freely: theme songs from beloved anime, opening songs from the dramas they’re watching, nursery rhymes, and popular tunes from kids’ shows.

You don’t need a full karaoke setup; try a karaoke microphone that works on its own or a karaoke app on a smartphone.

Some kids love singing in front of others, while some feel too shy—that’s part of their individuality and it’s fun, too.

Wrap up the event with a song everyone can sing together!

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online event

[Want to have fun remotely] Introducing Zoom games that will definitely get everyone hyped!! [How to make the most of Zoom]

online event

If you’re looking for something fun to do online due to staying home, why not try an online game with the kids’ club? How about enjoying games you can play through the screen, like picture shiritori? One person draws a picture and shows it to everyone; the next person looks at it and draws a new picture that links to the previous one through a word connection, without saying the word out loud.

Continue this chain and check the answers at the end.

Since it’s online, another lively idea is to play shiritori using objects you have on hand and bringing them on screen.

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