Lovely childcare

Enjoyable in December childcare! A collection of fun event and play ideas

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
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.

Winter at preschools and kindergartens is full of heartwarming, fun events! December gets colder, but there are plenty of activities to enjoy both indoors and outdoors.

Try creating memorable seasonal events with the children—like traditional nursery rhymes, rice cake pounding, and homemade Christmas cakes.

Outdoors, activities like mandarin orange picking and marathon races are perfect for shaking off the cold with lots of energy.

Indoors, we introduce lively games that are great for both daily care and Christmas parties—fun events and games that will fill the room with children’s smiles!

Have fun in December childcare! A collection of fun event and play ideas (21–30)

Cha-cha-cha of the Snowman

Recommended for January: Winter fingerplay song “Snowman Cha-Cha-Cha” #NurserySchool #NurseryTeacher #Shorts #ASKNurserySchool #PreschoolPracticum

Cha-cha-cha of the Snowman

Here’s a hand-play song with a wintery theme of “snow” and “snowmen.” In this song, you first use both hands to show snow falling and piling up.

Then, you touch your fingertips together to make the round shape of a snowman, and finally, you rotate your clenched hands in front of your chest to show a dancing snowman.

It’s short, but it sparks children’s imaginations and teaches them the joy of playing in the snow.

If the part where you clap quickly three times is difficult, slow down the overall tempo and enjoy it at a comfortable speed.

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Newspaper Rip-Rip! Eurhythmics with a Snow Song

[January Eurhythmics: Tearing Newspaper + Snow Song Eurhythmics] 🎵 A eurhythmics session that includes a snow-themed craft set, all doable while seated ✨ Parent–child eurhythmics and rhythm play

Newspaper Rip-Rip! Eurhythmics with a Snow Song

Here’s a eurhythmics activity that starts with a newspaper play element.

Give each child a sheet of newspaper and, at the cue of “1, 2, 3,” have them tear it into pieces.

Once it’s torn into small bits, pretend they’re snow and have fun letting it fall from above to the tune of the children’s song “Yuki” (Snow).

After the eurhythmics session, pack the used newspaper pieces into a clear bag to make a snowman.

It’s a winter-themed idea from start to finish, so please enjoy it with the children.

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[Game] Christmas Ball Toss Game

@kidssupport_nagoya
Merry Christmas!After-school day service Step Support #Christmas
♬ Jingle Bell Rock – Bobby Helms

Let’s pretend to be Santa indoors and pull a sleigh! Here’s an idea for a Christmas ball-toss game.

What you need: a basket, some balls, and a piece of string.

How to play: Choose one person to be Santa.

The Santa player ties the string to the basket and pulls it like a sleigh.

The other players try to throw the balls into the “sleigh” (the basket).

Playing while Christmas music is on will make it even more exciting! Give it a try!

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[Game] Korokoro Game

@ranmaru_shien
Cup-in game#HandmadeToys work Childcare Educational # developmental support (ryōiku)#AtHomePlay
♬ All I Want for Christmas Is You – Mariah Carey

Let’s make a rolling game with gashapon capsules! Here are some ideas.

What you’ll need: gashapon capsules, paper cups, a jump rope or other string, and round stickers.

First, decorate the empty capsules using round stickers and vinyl tape.

Designing them like Santa’s face or a Christmas tree gives a festive vibe—highly recommended! In the game, you roll the finished capsules along the jump rope and try to drop them at just the right moment where the cups are placed.

Putting candy inside the capsules will make it even more exciting!

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[Game] Santa’s Territory-Capturing Game

@ai_paint_diy
A territory-capturing game with Santas that’s cute just by lining them up. Everyone, try making it too!Craft Play Simple craft work Craft ideas #HandmadePlay Origami Challenge Christmas crafts Daycare craft Kindergarten crafts Handmade Christmas
♬ Christmas Love – Justin Bieber

When it comes to someone arriving on a sleigh at Christmas, it’s Santa Claus! Here’s a Santa territory-capturing game.

You’ll need cardboard, a utility knife, and colored pens.

First, cut nine pieces of cardboard in the shape of Santa’s face.

Next, draw a Santa with a red hat on the front side, and a Santa with a green hat on the back side.

Finally, make a board out of cardboard, and you’re done! Whose Santa will expand their territory further? Give it a try during the Christmas season!

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Christmas games using paper cups

There are lots of cute Christmas-themed paper cups on sale, right? How about using them to play a variety of games? For example, you could race to build a tower out of paper cups, or play a shell-game-style challenge where you guess which cup is hiding an item.

If you put a star on top of the paper cup tower or use ornaments as the hidden items, it will feel even more Christmassy.

There are plenty of other games you can try too, so if you’re interested, be sure to look them up!

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[Game] Christmas Imitation Game

[Play] Instantly exciting! Merry Chris★ Rhythm Game | Lala-chan | Christmas | Kids’ Activities | Party | Christmas

[Game] Christmas Imitation Game

You can play right away even without any materials! Here are some ideas for a Christmas mimicry game.

What comes to mind when you think of Christmas? In this game, you imitate sounds and movements related to Christmas and Santa Claus to a rhythm.

A teacher or parent acts as the leader: start with two items, and once everyone gets used to it, increase to three.

It could also be fun to come up with Christmas-related sounds and movements together with the children! Be sure to try it out and make your own variations as you play.

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