Ideas for games and crafts to enjoy on Children’s Day: a roundup of fun activities
As Children’s Day approaches, many of you may be thinking about doing something special to make it exciting for the kids.
Carp streamers, samurai helmets, and kashiwa-mochi—things that evoke Children’s Day—actually make perfect tools for games and crafts, too.
In this article, we’ll introduce a wide range of game and craft ideas that are perfect for Children’s Day and will have parents and kids, as well as friends, completely absorbed.
They’re all easy to incorporate at home, in daycare, or in kindergarten, so use them as tips to make Children’s Day even more fun and colorful!
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Ideas for games and crafts to enjoy on Children's Day: a roundup of exciting activities (11–20)
Playing samurai sword-fighting while wearing a helmet
Let’s make samurai helmets and tube-shaped swords out of newspaper or wrapping paper and try playing mock sword fights.
If you roll the paper too tightly, it will become hard and hurt when it hits, so be sure to make soft swords.
You can also inflate an umbrella bag with air and use it as a sword.
Boys love to battle, so they’ll get really into it!
Carp streamers made with torn-paper collage
Koinobori, the iconic carp streamers of Children’s Day, are definitely a must-have on May 5th.
That said, hanging them up or tying them to a pole can be pretty tough.
If you still want to enjoy koinobori on Children’s Day, we recommend this torn-paper collage (chigiri-e).
It’s great fun to make with kids using origami paper, and adults can go for a more authentic look with washi paper.
Enjoy Children’s Day in your own way to the fullest!
Let’s sing ‘Koinobori’!
This is the children’s song “Koinobori.” Many songs share the same title, but isn’t this one the most famous Koinobori song? It’s a relaxed, open-hearted tune.
After putting up the carp streamers, try singing it together as a family.
People of all ages can sing it, so it’s nice that you can enjoy it with grandparents as well.
Spinning Koinobori
It’s adorable as a garland, too! Here’s a fun idea for twirly koinobori.
All you need are scissors, construction paper in your favorite colors, ribbon, and glue or tape.
When it comes to koinobori-themed crafts, everything is so cute that it’s hard to choose, right? The charm of this idea is that you simply cut and paste construction paper to make the koinobori, so the materials are minimal.
The colorful papers peeking through the scale-shaped windows create a poppy, cheerful feel.
Give it a try!
Korokoro KoinoboriNEW!
@rii_asobi Playtime that doubles as clean-up and makes memories too ✨️ ✼✼ Rolling Koinobori ✼✼ ▼What we used • Tissue paper (flower paper) • Lint roller • Construction paper • Double-sided tape ⚠️ Notes ⚠️ • Play under adult supervision to prevent accidental swallowing • Tissue paper sticks easily to feet, so wearing socks is recommended! Even my son who goes “I don’t want to clean up 😫” happily helped when I said, “Let’s use the lint roller!” 👏 ---------------------------------------- Not bored at home, are you? ▫️ Simple yet totally engaging 🎈 ▫️ Great value using dollar-store items + things you already have A nursery-teacher mom’s play ideas to bring more smiles to parents and kids 🌼 Moms who want to enjoy at-home childcare, follow @rii_asobi and stay tuned 🫶#AtHomePlay#Indoor PlayAt-home childcare1 year old#BoyMom#HandmadeToys#KoinoboriKoinobori Craftingtissue paper flowersFinger play
♬ cute kawaii – nanaacom
These are rolling carp streamers you can make together with one-year-olds.
First, let’s play a lot with tissue paper! Tissue paper is soft, so even very young children around one year old can easily tear it—that’s the key.
After lots of play, let’s tidy up by rolling it into balls.
Peel the paper off, attach the head and tail with double-sided tape, and it’s done.
Even small children can join in naturally with simple, gentle actions, and they can experience decorating, too.
It’s an activity that parents and children can enjoy safely together, making it perfect for a first playtime.
Tsum Tsum KoinoboriNEW!
@roi_mama.asobi Playable Koinobori made from that thing you were going to throw away! 🎏Children's DayKoinobori (carp streamers)workProduction#AtHomePlayHow to spend time at home#StayHomeTime#HandmadeToysToilet paper roll core
♬ Cartoon-style piano solo jazz(853970) – motofuji
This is a fun craft for making cute koi streamers like Tsum Tsum.
You can start easily with familiar materials, and it helps develop fine motor skills.
Working on it together as a parent and child will spark conversation and make perfect memories for Children’s Day.
First, cut a toilet paper roll and wrap it with origami paper.
Gently flatten it a little, stick on the eyes, and it’s done! Try challenging each other to see how many you can stack.
Press from the top and—surprise—they combine! It’s easy to make, great for dexterity, and highly recommended.
It also seems convenient to carry around.
Flat/Stick-on Koinobori (carp streamer)NEW!
@maruhana_asobi Carp streamers that stick with magnets and are fun to play with#AtHomePlayIdeas for at-home play#ParentChildTime#StayHomeTime#HandmadeToysChildren's DayKoinobori (carp streamers)Koinobori Crafting[Materials✍️]- 3 sheets of drawing paper Large: 12.5 cm × 17.5 cm (Daiso) Medium: 10.5 cm × 17.5 cm Small: 8.5 cm × 17.5 cm → You can make this in any size, but be careful: if it’s too big, the magnets may not stick.- Strong magnets- Double-sided tape- Clear tape- Cloth gaffer tape (white) → Regular packing tape works too!- Googly-eye stickers- Sparkly round stickers[How to make it + Tips]1) Put double-sided tape along the edge of each of the three sheets and roll to secure.2) Place a magnet on top of a strip of clear tape, then cover it with another piece of clear tape (or cellophane tape) to sandwich the magnet.3) Place it on top of the tube and attach it. → If you make small slits with scissors, you can attach it neatly!4) Wrap with cloth gaffer tape to reinforce.5) Cut slits to make a tail.6) Add stickers for the eyes and body.
♬ A cute pop and bouncy song(1526882) – sanusagi
Here’s a craft you can stick onto all sorts of surfaces and play with.
Roll a sheet of construction paper in your favorite color into a tube, and attach a magnet with clear tape to one end.
Wrap another layer of tape around the magneted end.
Cut the other end of the tube into a tail shape like a carp streamer.
Then, draw eyes and scales or decorate with stickers as you like, and you’re done! You can stick it anywhere a magnet will hold, so try exploring and see where it attaches.
Pon Koi-noboriNEW!
@mii_asobi03 @mii_asobi03 👈 There are other posts too—save this and give it a try ✂️ ============================== Before you know it, Children’s Day (5/5) will be here 🎏 I’m Mii, and I still haven’t put out the kabuto helmet 🤫 (Anyone else?) It’s a game where you put balls into the carp streamer’s mouth, but… my 5-year-old daughter was delighted, saying, “I’m feeding the fish~ 🐟” and had so much fun 🤣🩷 lol Adjusting the strength is a bit tricky, but she kept trying, and when one went in, she was over the moon 🤭✨ Please give it a try~ 🩷 =========================== What you need: • An empty box • Wooden sticks (DAISO) • Wooden clothespins (DAISO) • Pom-poms (DAISO) • Plastic bottle caps • Rubber bands • Toilet paper rolls (3) • Origami paper • Scissors • Double-sided tape • Clear tape =========================== I’m Mii! Thank you for coming to check this out 😊🌈 I post creations hoping they help you make even one more fun parent–child memory 🩷 Follows and likes make me so happy 🥹✨ ==============================Play#AtHomePlay#Indoor PlayPlay ideasSeasonal PlayflyKoinobori (carp streamers)Children's Day
♬ Heartwarming Weakness System “Carp Streamer” (944030) – Lufty Production
Here’s an idea that lets you enjoy play and crafts together.
It’s easy to make and great for getting everyone excited, so you can enjoy seasonal events even more.
First, take a toilet paper roll cut in half and make slits in it.
Make five of the same pieces.
After reinforcing an empty box with wooden sticks, next create the launcher.
Wrap a rubber band around a wooden stick, attach a bottle cap (like from a plastic bottle), and stick it onto the empty box.
Finally, attach the carp streamer (koinobori) and you’re done.
Umbrella Bag Koinobori FlyingNEW!
@arapi_mama1212 @arapi_mama1212 ⇨ Other ways to arrange it are…👇 Thanks for the likes, follows, and saves! Please check out my past posts too 💕 ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ❁ ❁ ❁ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ Let me know what kind of koinobori you made 💛 [What you’ll need] • Umbrella bags (purchased on Amazon) • Round stickers (from the 100-yen shop) • Vinyl tape [How to arrange 💡] • Just drawing with oil-based color pens makes it colorful ✨ • You can also cut construction paper or origami into your favorite shapes and stick them on for fun ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ ❁ ❁ ❁ ┈┈┈┈┈┈┈┈ \Let’s make everyday parenting more fun/ Thanks for visiting from among so many accounts 🫶 No matter how much you try to let them burn off energy outside, kids’ stamina is on a monster level…🌀 But moms have a lot to do at home too. I hope to share ideas for keeping those little energy monsters happily occupied at home without worrying about the downstairs neighbors 💕 I’d be thrilled if this helps moms and dads with the same struggles ♡ Please use it as a reference when you’re stuck 🌟 [Check other posts too] @arapi_mama1212Rainy Day#AtHomePlayIndoor play#StayHomeTimeStamina monsterKoinobori (carp streamers)#Umbrella bagChildren's Day
♬ Koinobori (children’s song) – Etra Records
This is a carp streamer craft you can throw and enjoy once it’s finished.
It’s light and flies well, so kids can have fun moving their bodies by tossing and throwing it.
Preparation is simple, making it perfect for gatherings with children where it’s sure to be a hit.
Inflate an umbrella bag, twist the opening, and tie it.
Secure the opening with about 15 cm of tape, wrap it all the way around once, and seal it with looped tape to finish! Decorate the eyes with round stickers, etc.
It gets even more exciting if you make a target and try flying it at the target, so be sure to make one and have fun playing!
Koinobori Card GameNEW!
@kty_kids Koinobori Card GameNaha#Nursery school#Company-led childcare centerSmall-Scale Nursery SchoolNaha Hoshi Nursery SchoolOkinawa Nursery SchoolOkinawaHigakawa#IWantToGoViral#KotsuyoshiKidsKoinobori (carp streamers)Children's Day
♬ Athletic Meet “Heaven and Hell” (No Introduction) – Shinonome
This is a game where you choose the matching cards from a set and arrange them to match the picture prompt.
First, prepare cards featuring various illustrations, starting with carp streamers and more.
At the same time, get the prompt cards ready too.
Before starting the game, spread out the illustrated cards in random order.
Once the prompt is presented, the game begins! Observe the prompt picture carefully and arrange the cards accordingly.
The person who arranges the cards the fastest and most accurately wins.
Be sure to try playing with your family and friends.