Ideas for games and crafts to enjoy on Children’s Day: a roundup of fun activities

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!

Carp streamers in wet-on-wet painting

@atsumichan774

Let's make a Koinobori (carp streamer)! We made carp streamers using a coffee filter bleeding art technique—no paints needed♪ All materials are from the 100-yen shop! Color a coffee filter with water-based pens any way you like… then just spray it generously with water! Just using a spray bottle is surprisingly fun for kids on its own, haha. It's also nice to watch and enjoy how the colors bleed! ● Materials: - White coffee filters - Water-based pens - Spray bottle - Double-sided tape - Straws (thicker ones recommended) - Round stickers ● How to make: 1) Color the coffee filter with your favorite colors. Tip: If you draw detailed pictures, they’ll bleed. It’s fine to simply color and fill areas! 2) Spray with water. 3) Shape it into a carp streamer. You can cut with scissors if you like. Double-sided tape works great for attaching parts. Use round stickers to make and attach the eyes. 4) Attach it to a straw, and you’re done! Use double-sided tape here, too! Try all kinds of crafts! Great for play at home and for daycare or kindergarten projects! Atsumi-sensei’s Childcare Journal @atsumichan774 Sound effects: MaouDamashii Children’s Day, 100-yen shop, Koinobori craft, Koinobori making, May, daycare, Koinobori, Daiso, bleeding art, kindergarten

‘Sorry for Being Cute (feat. Kopi)’ – HoneyWorks

Let’s create without using paint! Here’s a “bleeding art” koinobori (carp streamer) activity.

You’ll need white coffee filters, water-based color markers, straws, a spray bottle, round stickers, and tape.

It’s a fun project that uses markers and water instead of paints—highly recommended! The materials are easy to gather, too.

Color the coffee filter with the markers, then mist it with water to let the colors bleed into beautiful patterns.

Children will enjoy watching the colors change, saying things like, “It’s turning [color]!” and “It looks like [something]!” as the hues blend together.

It’s also fun to cut out and display the finished koinobori!

Let’s make kashiwa-mochi.

[Children’s Day] Let’s quickly make Kashiwa mochi

Traditional Japanese wagashi kashiwa mochi is a treat you can enjoy making with family and friends.

Roll the sweet red bean paste into five equal portions and set aside.

Steam a dough made by mixing rice flour with boiling water until fluffy.

Add sugar and potato starch, then mix well to create a smooth dough.

Flatten the dough by hand, wrap it around the bean paste, shape it, and steam again for about 5 minutes.

Finally, gently wrap each piece in an oak leaf to finish.

With the aroma of the oak leaf and a delightfully chewy texture, kashiwa mochi is even more fun to make with children.

Celebrate Children’s Day by adding homemade kashiwa mochi to your table.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

mutō

Report a problem

Let’s make koinobori (carp streamers)

Let's try making carp streamers by hand using finger stamps!

This is an activity where you stamp paint with your fingertips onto colored construction paper to make a carp streamer (koinobori).

In this video the paper isn’t pre-cut, but if you trim the tip of the paper into a shallow triangle to create the tail fin shape and hand it to the child, it will feel even more like they’re making a koinobori.

Painting with fingers also lets kids enjoy the tactile feel of the paint, so it’s highly recommended.

Fluttering carp streamer

[Easily Flyable! Koinobori Carp Streamer] #koinobori #paper_cup #umbrella_bag #at_home_play #physical_play

Here’s a toy you can play with on Children’s Day, fluttering through the air like a koinobori (carp streamer).

Cut out the bottom of a paper cup, insert an umbrella sleeve with its bottom also cut off, and tape it in place.

Then decorate as you like—draw eyes and scales or add stickers—and you’re done! Hold the paper cup part and throw it like you would a ball, and it will flutter as it flies.

It’s also fun to make a target on the wall or set up a ring for it to fly through and compete with each other.

It’s easy to make, so be sure to try making one and have fun flying it!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

SAKI

Report a problem

transparent koi-nobori

The level of transparency changes with each child’s personality! Here’s an idea for making transparent carp streamers (koinobori).

You’ll need a clear plastic file folder, clear round stickers, permanent markers, scissors, a disposable wooden chopstick, and gold origami paper.

Cut the clear file into a carp shape, then decorate the scales with the clear round stickers and permanent markers.

You’ll start to see each child’s unique preferences—some will want to fill every gap carefully, while others will layer lots of colorful hues! It’s a great idea that sparks creativity and lets kids make freely with their own imagination.

Give it a try and create fresh, beautiful koinobori!

Eat kashiwa-mochi

2020 Children's Day Surprise Kashiwa Mochi

Let’s celebrate Children’s Day by eating the classic treat, kashiwa mochi! Kashiwa mochi is a rice cake filled with sweet red bean paste and wrapped in an oak leaf, a confection that expresses wishes for children’s health and growth.

Depending on the region, the shape varies, and the filling can be tsubuan (chunky bean paste), koshian (smooth bean paste), or even miso bean paste.

Of course, buying them at a shop is great, but since it’s also a long holiday, making them together with your kids is highly recommended! Enjoy homemade kashiwa mochi as you celebrate your children’s growth so far and in the years to come.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

SAKI

Report a problem