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[Children's Association] A Collection of Fun Entertainment and Activity Ideas

Introducing fun activities and performances that will liven up your kids’ club! Kids’ clubs bring together children from the neighborhood or school to have a great time.

Getting together to play games, enjoy performances, and put on skits—children really look forward to those precious moments.

In this article, we’re introducing entertainment and performance ideas perfect for kids’ clubs.

We’ve gathered lots of ideas, from activities led by the children themselves to performances where adults entertain the kids.

Use these as inspiration and make your kids’ club as exciting as possible!

[Children's Club] A Collection of Entertaining Skits and Performance Ideas (41–50)

A tube-ken like a kendama!

How to hold the Tsutsuken, basic tricks, and other ways to enjoy it
A tube-ken like a kendama!

When it comes to traditional Japanese toys, there’s kendama, but it requires equipment and you have to carry it around with you.

I’m not sure how it came to be, but there’s a game called “tsutsuken” that you can play like kendama using just a simple tube and a ball that’s a bit too big to fit entirely inside the tube.

For the tube, you could even use something like the container from tube-shaped potato chips.

It’s easy to get started, so practice regularly and be sure to show it off in front of everyone!

My First Diabolo

[No Experience] First Time Trying a Diabolo: The Very First Practice for Absolute Beginners [Juggling Lesson]
My First Diabolo

Why not try diabolo, a form of juggling? From a beginner’s perspective, it’s amazing how the string doesn’t get tangled, but the instructions explain the practice method clearly, so use them as a guide and give it a try.

We’ll start with the basic steps—how to spin the diabolo.

To perform diabolo tricks, you need to spin the spool steadily and keep it going.

This basic step is very important, so be sure to master it.

Once you do, it will become a hidden talent that’s useful in any situation.

Recommended for koma lovers! Tightrope-walking tricks

[Two-Panel] Explanation! Tightrope Walking – Spintop Lectures
Recommended for koma lovers! Tightrope-walking tricks

If you’re good at spinning tops, how about showing off a slightly more advanced trick called “tightrope walking”? In this trick, the top travels along a string that you hold taut with both hands.

Before attempting it, you first need to learn a move called “Swallow Return.” Swallow Return is a trick where you throw a top with its string wound and catch it spinning on your palm.

Once the top is on your palm, hook both ends of the string around your index fingers.

Raise the hand without the top slightly; when the top’s spindle touches the string, lower the raised hand and guide the top along—if it keeps moving, you’ve nailed the trick! Practice well and give it a try.

Challenge the bamboo dance

Why not try your hand at a bamboo dance that uses long bamboo poles? It originated as a traditional dance in places like the Philippines, but in Japan it’s also well known as a children’s activity.

The operators open and close four bamboo poles to a waltz-like three-beat rhythm, while the dancers step nimbly to avoid getting caught by the poles.

Because coordination between the operators and dancers is crucial, it’s a great recommendation for those looking for a party trick to perform with close friends or classmates.

Start by practicing with two poles, then increase the number once you’ve got the rhythm down.

Having multiple dancers raises the difficulty, but it also adds to the performance’s color and impact.

Ensemble of plastic bottle shakers

[Plastic Bottles] Ensemble with Homemade Instruments: “Little Brown Jug.” Let’s all have fun together using plastic-bottle shakers! Flower Beat Akiko Yamamoto Toshiya Gomi Sho Hatsukano Yuki Hasegawa Masato Kobayashi
Ensemble of plastic bottle shakers

Let’s try performing with handmade instruments made from plastic bottles! The sound changes depending on the thickness and shape of the bottle and what you put inside, so experiment with different ideas as you make them.

Once your instrument is ready, start tapping out rhythms along with a song right away! The pitch will likely vary depending on the instrument, so try arranging the order in which you play them.

I think choosing a simple melody works well, but if you boldly pick a popular song everyone loves, it might get the crowd even more excited.

Double Dutch with two ropes

Double Dutch, which uses two ropes, has a different kind of dynamism from regular jump rope and really gets everyone excited! The turners swing each rope from the left and right, and the jumper goes in between, jumps, exits, and can even add tricks.

When entering, keep the rhythm as if you’re reaching to catch the rope, and step into the center between the ropes.

Jump lightly, just like with regular long-rope jumping.

When exiting, if you’ve jumped an odd number of times, exit diagonally opposite from where you entered; if you’ve jumped an even number of times, exit on the same side you entered.

Practice well while being careful not to get injured, and show off your skills!

Unicycle master!

Aim to become a unicycle master (Kawane Elementary School)
Unicycle master!

A unicycle is more challenging than a bicycle because it doesn’t have handlebars.

That’s exactly why people who can ride one look so impressive! It’s also a perfect idea to show off as a hidden talent.

The key to riding a unicycle is to focus on moving forward from your navel.

Start by simply pedaling straight, then gradually try turning and taking curves.

Performing solo is great, but forming a team with a few people and presenting a dance-like routine to music is also highly recommended! Give it a try!