Fun for Children’s Day! A Collection of Performance and Play Ideas Recommended for Early Childhood Education
As Children’s Day approaches, many preschool teachers may find themselves wondering what performances or activities to prepare.
You want to make it a memorable day filled with fun events that bring out the children’s brightest smiles.
Here are plenty of engaging ideas perfect for preschools, such as making carp streamers (koinobori), active group games, and seasonal quizzes.
They’re all easy to incorporate with minimal prep and can be adjusted for different ages, so feel free to use this as a reference!
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Fun for Children's Day! A Collection of Recommended Performances and Play Ideas for Childcare (61–70)
paper cutting
Many of you probably played with paper-cutting (kirie) when you were children, right? I only ever made simple ones myself, but I remember making them for things like Tanabata decorations.
You could show off an intricate, delicate paper-cutting in front of everyone, or you could all have fun making simple ones together—like kabuto (samurai helmets) for Children’s Day.
Play: Kintaro
On Children’s Day, let’s enjoy the story of Kintaro, who also inspired the May doll displays! You might usually share it through picture books or kamishibai, but since it’s a special day, it’s the perfect chance for teachers to show their skills.
Put on a fun play to bring the story to life.
Gather roles for Kintaro, the bear, and various other animals, and stage lively scenes with real tug-of-war and sumo bouts for a vivid experience.
If the teachers put on an entertaining performance, the children are sure to be captivated!
Childhood Photo Quiz
It’s a quiz often seen as entertainment at wedding receptions and parties: you show childhood photos in a slideshow and have everyone guess whose childhood picture it is.
While it’s of course fun and lively for adults too, it might feel especially fresh and exciting for kids.
Normally, they don’t get many chances to see what the adults they know looked like as children.
Why not pick some hilariously silly photos and go for big laughs from the kids?
Love Dance
This dance has become so famous that when people say “party dance,” they think of the Koi Dance.
Even little kids know it, right? It’s a bit tricky, but practice hard and give it a try! It’s adorable when little kids dance it.
Let’s all have fun and get excited together.
Who is eating the wasabi?
It’s a game where you guess who is actually eating food with wasabi.
Out of everyone, only one person is really eating something with wasabi; the others are just pretending to.
I think it’s fun and exciting to watch adults overreact and make a big fuss.
Mystery Puzzle Treasure Hunt Game
Let’s try a treasure hunt game that’s full of excitement and anticipation about what you’ll find! First, hide some treasures around the house or within the kindergarten/daycare.
Then prepare missions—like quizzes—to help find the treasures.
By solving them in order, the players will reach the prize.
Make the puzzles feel like a mystery game, but simple enough for children to solve.
Basically, let the kids try on their own, and if they seem stuck, give them a small hint.
Be sure to prepare a wonderful treasure that will delight the hardworking children!
paprika
The song “Paprika” has become so popular that there might not be a child who doesn’t know it now.
It was created as the theme song for NHK’s “2020 Support Project,” a project aimed at cheering on people working toward the future.
There’s also a version sung by Kenshi Yonezu, who wrote, composed, and produced the song, and it’s well known from programs like NHK’s “Minna no Uta.” It’s adorable when kids dance to it, and it’s wonderful when adults perform the dance to show the children, too.