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)

[Game] Christmas Present Stacking Game

[Christmas Craft] Stacking Game with Gift Boxes! [Craft Play]

[Game] Christmas Present Stacking Game

One of the fun things about Christmas is getting presents from Santa! Here’s an idea for a Christmas Present Stacking Game.

What you’ll need: construction paper, masking tape, scissors, and glue.

First, cut and paste the construction paper to make present boxes! If you prepare several colors of paper and masking tape, the boxes will be colorful and even more exciting to play with.

See who can stack the finished present boxes the highest.

Give it a try!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

A make-and-play Santa Claus ‘Stuffed Belly’ game

[Crafts, Games, Play, Also Suitable for Infants] Santa Claus Full Belly Game Play 1

A make-and-play Santa Claus 'Stuffed Belly' game

Make-and-play fun! Here’s an idea for a Santa Claus “Stuffed Belly” game.

You’ll need: cardboard, white construction paper, black construction paper, brown construction paper, paper cups, origami paper, aluminum foil, pens, a utility knife, scissors, a plastic wrap tube, paper plates, newspaper, copy paper, yarn, and tape.

First, draw Santa Claus on the construction paper, paste it onto the cardboard, and cut out the mouth area.

Next, make paper onigiri (rice balls), chicken, and cake.

Finally, set up some grassy patches, make a reindeer, and place it on a paper-plate sleigh—and you’re done! Dodge the grass while delivering the food to Santa!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Fun for December Childcare! A Collection of Event and Play Ideas (31–40)

Christmas Present Toss

[Ages 3–5] The Long-Awaited Christmas☆

Christmas Present Toss

“Christmas Present Toss” is a game where you throw palm-sized presents into tubes.

Prepare plenty of presents to throw so the children can play a lot.

The tubes can simply be decorated milk cartons.

Lining up several tubes is recommended, as kids can think about which one to aim for while playing.

It’s also fun to change goals as you play, like “How many can I get in?” or “Can I land one in the far tube?” Since everyone can get excited together, why not include it as a fun activity at your Christmas party?

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Christmas Present Balance Game

[Christmas Craft] Make a Stand and Play♪ Present Balance Game! [Craft Play]

Christmas Present Balance Game

Why not try making a Christmas-themed balancing game by hand? You can make it with toilet paper tubes and paper plates.

Cut slits into both ends of a toilet paper tube and spread them open.

Stick double-sided tape on the spread parts and stand it in the center of a paper plate.

Place another paper plate on top of the tube, then stand another toilet paper tube on that… Keep alternating and stacking, securing each layer as you go.

Once it’s reached a certain height, it’s time to make the present boxes for the balancing game! The key is to play carefully so it won’t topple over when you place them on the paper plate.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Christmas Matching Game

[Christmas Rec] Picture-Matching Game! How fast can you do it? [Care Recreation] [Kids Recreation]

Christmas Matching Game

How about playing a matching game using Christmas motifs? All you need are paper and paper cups, so try making it in your spare time.

First, draw Christmas-themed pictures on the bottoms of the paper cups.

Make sure each one has a different motif.

Next, draw the same pictures you drew on the cups onto a sheet of paper, arranged in a layout.

Coloring each picture makes them easier to recognize and lowers the difficulty, so it’s recommended.

Ready, go! Place each paper cup on the matching picture.

If you’re playing with multiple children, it works well to have them take turns placing the cups.

How quickly can they find the matching images?

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

balanced tree

[Ages 3–5] The Long-Awaited Christmas☆

balanced tree

In the Balance Tree game, children develop the ability to think and play while watching their friends.

The game can be handmade, so why not make it as we head into December? All you need are a paper plate, a toilet paper roll, chenille stems (pipe cleaners), and plastic bottle caps.

Punch holes around the edge of the paper plate.

Cut the pipe cleaners short and tape the ends so they don’t poke anyone.

Attach two bottle caps together and fasten them to the pipe cleaners.

When playing, stack the paper plates and toilet paper rolls alternately, and hang the pipe cleaners from the holes.

Be careful not to upset the balance and make it topple.

It’s a fun, focused way to play!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Paku-Paku Santa & Reindeer

Easy with paper cups! Talking Santa and reindeer puppets that open and close their mouths

Paku-Paku Santa & Reindeer

Many preschool and kindergarten teachers who put on performances at Christmas may be wondering what to do this year.

Here’s a suggestion: make Chompy Santa & Reindeer.

These are puppets made by attaching two halves of a paper cup together, and you can move their mouths like a hand puppet.

If you use them to put on a puppet show, it will definitely liven things up.

They’re also great for anyone looking for a cute craft.

Since there are many steps involving scissors, please proceed with care to ensure safety.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem