RAG MusicChildcare
Lovely childcare

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!

Fun for Children’s Day! A Collection of Recommended Performances and Play Ideas for Childcare (41–50)

Making kashiwa mochi

How to Make Kashiwa Mochi (Recipe) — 柏餅の作り方(レシピ)
Making kashiwa mochi

When it comes to sweets for Children’s Day, kashiwamochi is the classic choice.

It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say there’s hardly any chance to eat it outside of this day.

Buying it at a shop is fine, but why not try making it together by hand? You can find recipes online.

Collecting oak leaves might be tricky, but if you can’t get them, please substitute with something else.

Have Fun on Children’s Day! A Collection of Recommended Performances and Play Ideas for Childcare (51–60)

Making koinobori (carp streamers)

[Nursery/Kindergarten] Koinobori Craft: Easy How-To [For 3-, 4-, and 5-Year-Olds]
Making koinobori (carp streamers)

When it comes to Children’s Day, carp streamers are a must, aren’t they? That said, due to housing situations, many families find it difficult to let large ones swim in the sky.

So why not make carp streamers by hand together with your children? Feel free to choose your own methods and materials and get creative.

We can’t wait to see everyone’s unique carp streamers!

Koinobori paper airplane

Flying Koinobori♪ A free printable of the “Koinobori Ring Airplane” for everyone.
Koinobori paper airplane

Large carp streamers swimming in the sky on the wind are wonderful, but there’s a different kind of fun when you can fly a carp streamer yourself like a paper airplane! So, let’s make a carp streamer and try flying it with our own power! Draw a carp streamer on a sheet of paper, then roll it into a tube.

When drawing, keep in mind that the paper will be formed into a tube later, so make the picture as if the carp streamer were flattened out.

Once it’s a tube, place your thumb in the tail fin area and use your elbow to launch it.

Then your carp streamer will fly not only in the sky but also in various places like indoors!

Sweets and dishes associated with Children’s Day

Children’s Day: How to Make a Koinobori (Carp Streamer) Roll Cake
Sweets and dishes associated with Children's Day

For Children’s Day celebrations, try decorating dishes and sweets in a Children’s Day style! You could make roll cakes or sushi to look like carp streamers (koinobori), or create sweets shaped like samurai helmets (kabuto).

It sounds like something fun to make together with your child, too.

Yo-kai Exercise No. 1

Yo-kai Watch: Yokai Exercise No. 1
Yo-kai Exercise No. 1

The song “Yo-kai Exercise No.

1” is the theme song for the anime Yo-kai Watch.

How about having adults cosplay Yo-kai Watch characters and perform the Yo-kai Exercise? You can buy character costumes like kigurumi at variety shops.

I’m sure the kids will join in and have a great time dancing, too!

Ebi Kanics

Ebi Kanix / Keropons [Official Music Video]
Ebi Kanics

Hugely popular with little kids, “Ebi-Kani-x” sung by Keropons.

How about performing it in front of the children? The costumes are single-color, so with some effort you could probably make them using full-body tights and the like.

The kids will definitely get into it and have a blast together!

Sazae-san dance

Funabashi Kindergarten Entertainment - Sazae
Sazae-san dance

Sazae-san is a nationally beloved anime known by everyone from children to the elderly.

We’ll dance to the Sazae-san theme song—and everyone’s face will be Sazae-san! Masks are made by fitting our own faces into Sazae-san’s iconic hairstyle.

This guarantees a great time for all ages.