Fun for Children’s Day! A Collection of Performance and Play Ideas Recommended for Early Childhood Education

Fun as a game too! A carp streamer hand play

[Children's Day] Fun as a game too! Koinobori hand play

Hand play that you can enjoy like a game seems like something kids can happily take part in! In “The Carp Streamer Sucked It In,” children guess what the carp streamer gulped down with its big mouth.

The teacher makes the sounds or cries of whatever was sucked in, and the children answer based on those hints.

Another one, “Koinobori,” features a carp streamer appearing along with Children’s Day essentials, set to a tango-like melody that matches the Boys’ Festival.

Have the children answer which way the carp streamer’s tail fin points, like playing ‘Acchi Muite Hoi!’

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SAKI

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Perfect for events! Color water magic

“Colored Water Magic” ~Tips for Childcare from an Active Kindergarten Teacher~

Here’s a simple-to-prepare color water magic trick that instantly grabs kids’ attention.

Put a small amount of paint on the inside of a plastic bottle cap, and fill the bottle about two-thirds full with water.

Close the cap and shake—clear water will suddenly turn into colored water, and the kids will go “Wow!” with delight! If you add a face to the bottle with stickers, it transforms into a cute character and the play expands.

It’s easy to try, so please use this as a reference and feel free to include it as an activity for your event.

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kepiko

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Kerapons’ “Koinobori”

Koinobori by Keropons

How about a “koinobori” counting-and-grouping game that’s perfect for Children’s Day? Have the kids pretend to be koinobori and take part.

Call out a number—like “two” or “three”—to the swimming carp, and the children must quickly gather and form groups of that size.

As in the video, adding a rule that everyone has to stand on one leg to keep their balance once they’re in a group raises the difficulty a bit and makes it even more exciting.

It’s a playful idea that encourages communication among the children and brings out lots of smiles.

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moko

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Celebrate Children’s Day! Sketchbook Theater

Here’s a perfect sketchbook theater idea for a fun activity.

Divide a sketchbook horizontally into four equal sections.

On one side, draw foods like strawberries and bananas, and on the other side, draw koi-shaped streamers (koinobori).

When you flip a food page, the koinobori “chomps” it and transforms into a koinobori of the same color as that food! Ask the children, “If it eats a strawberry, what color will it be?” as you go along, and they’ll enjoy it with excitement.

The color changes are engaging and really capture children’s interest.

Preparation is simple and easy to incorporate, making it perfect for Children’s Day gatherings or as a performance in early childhood settings.

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kepiko

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Active Play! Sinking Game

[For Childcare Workers] Teacher Rio’s Active Play That Gets Kids Excited [The Sinking Game]

Scary but cool—that’s what sharks are to kids.

There are many kinds: whale sharks you can see at aquariums, great white sharks that often appear in movies, and hammerhead sharks with their hammer-like heads.

This “Sinking Game” is a game where you run away from those sharks.

Children stand on mats pretending to be ships, and when the leader shouts, “We’re sinking!” they move from one mat to another.

The sharks will chase you, so run away and don’t get caught!

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sasashina

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Mark-finding game

[For 5-year-olds] Mark-Finding Game!

Circle, square, triangle… This is a game where you carry a ball by stepping only on the instructed mark among these three.

There are nine marks lined up on the floor between the starting point and the hula hoop where you place the ball, so listen carefully and move forward stepping only on the specified marks.

Once you get used to it, try splitting into teams and competing.

Some children may get excited and start jumping.

To prevent injuries, be sure to secure the mark cards firmly to the floor.

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sasashina

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Balloon Whack Game

[Age 3] “Balloon Whack Game”

Watermelon splitting is a classic summer activity and a big hit with kids.

However, actually breaking a watermelon can be messy to clean up and carries a risk of injury, so it’s not easy to incorporate into activities at a nursery school.

This “Balloon Whacking Game” is an adaptation that lets you enjoy the fun of watermelon splitting safely.

Prepare a bat and an eye mask, some balloons, and ring toss rings.

The rules are the same as watermelon splitting: if you can hit the balloon with the bat while blindfolded, you succeed.

To keep the balloon from flying away, secure it with a ring from the ring toss set.

Have the children who are watching call out directions like “A little to the right” or “Left!” so everyone can participate and have fun together.

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moko

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