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!
- [Entertainment/Performances] Ideas for Performances to Introduce at Kindergartens and Nursery Schools—Great for Children and Staff
- Ideas for games and crafts to enjoy on Children’s Day: a roundup of fun activities
- [Childcare] Entertainment that excites a birthday party
- [For Preschoolers & Kids] Game, Play, and Craft Ideas to Enjoy on Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day)
- A childcare quiz to enjoy on Children's Day! Learn about traditions and customs
- [Childcare] May Activities: Spring Outdoor & Indoor Play
- [Children's Day] Let's make and display! Children's Day wall decoration special
- [Craft] Make and Display! A Special Feature on Ideas for Making Koinobori (Carp Streamers)
- Recommended for childcare! Game and activity ideas to liven up a summer festival
- [Childcare] Fun for Hinamatsuri! Performance ideas perfect for the event
- Games to Play on Children’s Day: A Collection of Family-Friendly Ideas
- [Childcare] Recommended for Tanabata party! Fun and exciting performance/activity ideas
- [Childcare] Recommended for Entrance Ceremonies! A Collection of Fun Performance Ideas
Have Fun on Children’s Day! A Collection of Recommended Performances and Play Ideas for Childcare (51–60)
Stick trick

It’s a performance that combines both sound and visuals—playing the drums while spinning and tossing the sticks.
It might be difficult if you don’t have drumming experience, but with practice you should be able to manage it for simple songs.
Let’s pick songs that fit Children’s Day and get everyone excited.
Crafting together with cardboard

Cardboard workshop: let’s all make headgear together! We’ll create hats and masks by painting the cardboard in colors we like or decorating it with origami paper.
You can have fun while making them, and everyone can enjoy them together once they’re finished.
Bubble Dance

This is the “bubble dance” that the dance club at Takaoka High School in Osaka popularized nationwide.
You often see adults doing it as entertainment at weddings and parties, but wouldn’t it be adorable and a real crowd-pleaser if kids did it? I have a feeling that getting those costumes ready would be the toughest part (lol).
Hige Dance

Back in the day, Ken Shimura and Cha Kato performed the Beard Dance as part of The Drifters, and it became an instant hit.
Kids today might not know it, but it’s guaranteed fun! Set to lively music, it features comedic takes on street performance tricks like plate-spinning and speed-eating watermelon—something that gets both adults and children excited!
Fun for Children's Day! A Collection of Recommended Performances and Play Ideas for Childcare (61–70)
flash mob

There’s a public debate about whether people would be happy or unhappy to be proposed to via a flash mob, but I think flash mobs for celebrations or parties—especially ones aimed at children—would be well received.
Even if you don’t really know what a flash mob is, it’s fun to watch as more and more people join in and start dancing!
true-or-false quiz

Let’s try running the quiz contest in a true-or-false format.
That way, both small and large groups can enjoy it.
I think it would be really exciting if there were a small prize for the winner.
Adults and children can enjoy it together, and it can be fun even if everyone runs around in a large open space.
line dance

Line dance is a style of dance where the dancers line up and coordinate their movements—raising and lowering their legs, and alternately moving the items they’re holding.
There are no strict rules about the music or tempo, so familiar, popular songs that everyone knows can really liven things up.
It’s a dance that’s satisfying to watch.



