Lovely childcare

[Childcare] Games and performances that liven up Children's Day

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.
9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

May 5th is Children’s Day.

Also called Tango no Sekku, it’s a day to celebrate children’s healthy growth.

Many preschools and daycare centers, as well as families at home, likely celebrate Children’s Day.

As they gaze up at the carp streamers on display, the children eagerly look forward to the festivities.

So this time, we’ll introduce plenty of games and performances that will liven up Children’s Day.

From activities performed by teachers, such as panel theater and plays, to ones children can join and enjoy—like dance, choir, and puzzle-solving games—we’ve gathered a collection of perfect Children’s Day fun!

Amid the exciting, enjoyable time, we also want to share with the children the origins and traditions of Children’s Day.

Be sure to make good use of these ideas!

[Childcare] Games and Performances to Liven Up Children's Day (21–30)

A balloon that inflates on its own

[Fun Science Experiment] Can you inflate a balloon without using your mouth? [Tried the experiment] ★ Interesting science experiment

A balloon that inflates on its own

Pour vinegar into a plastic bottle, then place a balloon filled with baking soda over the mouth of the bottle.

When you let the baking soda from the balloon fall into the vinegar, they react chemically and the balloon inflates.

Even adults who haven’t seen it before will go “Wow!” Kids are sure to get excited by this mysterious phenomenon!

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mock battle

Newspaper Craft [How to Fold a Samurai Helmet]: Wearable and fun for Tango no Sekku (Boys’ Festival) / Children’s Day Origami

mock battle

On Children’s Day, some families display valiant warrior dolls.

Speaking of warrior dolls, that means a kabuto helmet.

How about folding a kabuto out of newspaper, putting it on, and playing at sword-fighting to feel like a brave warrior? You can make a sword in no time by rolling up some newspaper.

Enjoy a realistic battle game that’s different from video game consoles.

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kamishibai (paper theater)

The origin of Children’s Day explained at a daycare: an easy-to-understand picture-story show for kids! The Koinobori song ♪

kamishibai (paper theater)

Kamishibai—paper theater—has been loved unchanged from past to present.

There’s a wide variety of stories, from fun tales to thought-provoking, meaningful ones.

Store-bought or borrowed kamishibai are, of course, great, but it might also be nice to make your own kamishibai based on picture books.

And of course, an original story works too!

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Gesture Game

Age 5 Gesture Game

Gesture Game

That gesture game you often see on quiz shows: someone gives a theme, and you have to express it using gestures only so others can guess.

You must not speak—communicate only through gestures.

It might also be fun for adults to perform while children watch.

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Tambourine Dance

Easy for beginners! Gonzo tambourine act for year-end party entertainment

Tambourine Dance

As the name suggests, it’s a dance performed while playing the tambourine.

It’s lively and fun, isn’t it? Threading your arm through the tambourine’s ring and such makes for a pretty nimble style.

I think the tambourine is an instrument that people of all ages—from children to the elderly—can easily enjoy, so everyone can get excited together.

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hand play song

[May Children’s Day / Koinobori (carp streamer) fingerplay] I wanna eat the koinobori, meow! Must read: If you use this in childcare, be sure to check the description below. Lyrics/Music: Boku to Kimi.

hand play song

If there are many small children, how about doing some hand-play songs together? Even if it’s a song they don’t know, if you sing and show an example first, I think everyone will more or less be able to do it.

Whether or not it’s related to Children’s Day, I think it’ll be fun because people can say, “I know this one,” “I don’t know this one,” or “This is my first time hearing it.”

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Teacher Guessing Quiz

A teacher-guessing game where you use a fully covered teacher or photos of teachers to figure out which teacher it is.

One way is to have the teacher hide their face and body completely, and guess who it is based on various movements and clues.

Another way, when using photos, is to prepare pictures that show parts of a teacher other than their face, and guess which teacher is in the photo using the picture and hints.

Offer fun clues and get even closer to the kids than ever before!

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