Lovely childcare

Parent–child interactive play. Fun activities popular in childcare settings and at parent–child observation days.

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 for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.
Keyboard playerSAKI
I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”

Activities that let parents and children interact are always a hit at nursery and kindergarten observation days, as well as at community support centers where families gather.

“Interactive play” is a great way to communicate and build physical closeness with your child.

By engaging with adults, children feel secure and discover how fun it is to play together.

That said, many people may not be sure what kinds of interactive games to play with their children.

In this article, we’ll introduce parent–child interactive activities that are sure to bring smiles to kids’ faces.

No special tools or preparation are needed, and there are plenty of quick games you can enjoy in short moments—so try incorporating them into your daily routine and enjoy quality time together.

Parent-child interactive play. Fun activities popular in childcare and parent–child observation days (71–80)

Tomoe-nage forward roll

Daily PE play: 'Tomoe-nage forward roll'

Tomoe-nage forward roll

Let’s try playing “Tomoe-nage forward roll,” a game adapted from the judo throw Tomoe-nage, together with your kids! When you hear Tomoe-nage, you might imagine tossing someone, but in this game the adult serves as a solid base and helps the child rotate safely.

The adult sits on a mat with knees bent, flexes the ankles, and seats the child on top of their feet.

The child leans against the adult’s shins with arms spread, and the adult supports the child with their arms while gently rolling backward, rotating the child over their body.

It’s the kind of play that might double as an ab workout for the adult (haha).

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Parent-child bread relay

Sports Day: Giant Pants Race Japan JAPAN

Parent-child bread relay

This is the “giant underpants relay,” where you run while both of you fit into a big pair of shorts like the ones sumo wrestlers wear.

The parent and child hold hands at the start, then at the spot where the giant shorts are placed, each puts one leg in.

Hold the waistband firmly so they don’t slip down, and aim for the finish line.

Because adults and children are different sizes, it’s hard to run smoothly—that’s part of what makes it exciting.

Adding obstacles makes it even trickier and more fun.

Be careful not to fall and head for the goal!

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Robot walk

[Preschoolers] [Elementary School Students] Parent and Child English Play: Robot Walk – English Song

Robot walk

If you’re looking for a bonding activity that also strengthens your child’s English skills, we recommend “Robot Walking.” In this game, your child stands on the parent’s feet, and the two of you walk like a robot together.

All the instructions are set to an English song, making it perfect for those who want their child to pick up English naturally.

Enjoy learning English together while having fun as a parent and child!

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Parent-child interactive play. Fun activities popular in childcare and parent–child observation days (81–90)

sweet potato tempura

Parent-child bonding play (sweet potato tempura)

sweet potato tempura

Many children probably like sweet potato tempura itself.

Here is a bonding activity themed around sweet potato tempura.

First, pretend to wash the sweet potato and touch your child’s body.

Then slice it into rounds and coat it with flour.

Next, dust it so the flour covers it, and shake off the excess.

Finally, “fry” it in oil and it’s done.

By changing the way you touch your child to match each step of the cooking process, you may be able to bring parent and child even closer.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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In conclusion

Parent-child bonding play creates special moments filled with smiles and warmth. By moving your bodies and sharing gentle touch, you not only nurture your child’s emotional development, but also deepen the parent-child bond naturally. Have fun together—adults and children alike—and make lots of irreplaceable memories.