February: Liven up childcare! A collection of ideas for indoor play and physical activities
February brings plenty of seasonal events—like Setsubun and Valentine’s Day—even at daycare centers and kindergartens.
But when the cold days continue, there are many days when you can’t go outside.
That’s when activities that let children move their bodies freely indoors and recreations that incorporate winter’s unique seasonal feel come in handy.
From exercise games with an oni-slaying theme and traditional “kenken sumo” to ideas that let you enjoy a snowy play mood indoors, we’ll introduce lots of games perfect for February.
The content is enjoyable for infants through preschoolers, so please use it as a reference!
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- Make childcare more fun with winter quizzes! Seasonal ideas to get kids excited
[February] Get kids excited in childcare! A collection of indoor play and movement activity ideas (21–30)
Exciting tag game
Let us introduce “Three-Color Tag,” a game you can enjoy in red, blue, and green groups! Participants split into three groups—red, blue, and green—and everyone is “it.” Each group has its own base, which is a safe zone.
However, once you leave your base, you’ll be targeted by players from other groups, and if you’re tagged, you’ll be captured by that group.
You can call for help from a member of your own group; if they tag you, you can return to your base.
Those are the basic rules, but in the Setsubun version, the teacher beats a drum and calls out “Demons out!” When this signal is given, all the “it” players must leave their bases.
Anyone caught after the signal must sit down where they are and call for help from their teammates.
Perfect for Setsubun! Oni-themed fingerplay
We’d like to introduce a fun Oni hand game, “I’m an Oni!”—perfect for Setsubun events and performances.
In this game, children pretend to be an oni, using their hands to show its strength and distinctive features like horns and shaggy hair.
At the end, they make a face showing they’re startled by the bean-throwing, shouting “Eek!” Encourage kids to pull down the corners of their eyes to look pitiful, or to squish their cheeks with both hands—let them express themselves freely.
It’s sure to be a lovely time as the children laugh at each other’s faces.
Even kids who find oni scary might enjoy Setsubun with this hand game.
Demon-slaying with paper cups!
Let’s try making a jumping ogre craft that springs into the air! You’ll need two paper cups, two rubber bands, and construction paper to draw the ogre’s face.
First, make four slits on the rim of one paper cup—top, bottom, left, and right.
About 1 cm deep is fine.
Hook two rubber bands into the slits so they form a cross.
Secure the bands with tape so they don’t come off.
Next, draw your favorite ogre face on the construction paper, cut it out with scissors, and attach it to the paper cup with the rubber bands.
Finally, draw the ogre’s body on the second paper cup.
Place the body cup upside down with the bottom facing up, then fit the rubber-band cup over it from above and press down firmly.
When you release, the ogre’s head will spring—boing!—into the air.
A demon target-shooting game where the artwork changes!
Here’s how to make a target that changes from a strong ogre to a crying one.
First, tape a piece of cardboard to the top half of an empty box that will serve as the base.
In this state, draw a picture of a strong ogre.
Think of drawing the body on the lower box and the face on the upper cardboard.
Then flip up the cardboard, and this time draw the body on the lower cardboard and the crying ogre’s face on the upper box.
Once you’re done drawing, put the cardboard back up and secure it with a stopper.
By swapping the positions of the cardboard, the ogre illustration changes.
How to make a bean-throwing target
Bean-throwing games are a staple of Setsubun events! How about making a handmade ogre target? Cut a milk carton 10 cm up from the bottom.
Make three of these, connect them side by side, and glue them together.
Then, attach a sheet of construction paper to the back and draw an ogre illustration on it.
Finally, paste washi paper with tie-dyed patterns (for the ogre’s pants) onto the front of the milk cartons to finish.
When playing, stand the target against a wall and use balls made by crumpling newspaper, pretending they are beans.
Make different versions like a red ogre and a blue ogre, and do your best to defeat the ogres!
Setsubun balance game toy
@chooobo2 Balance game 👹 This material will be distributed via an Instagram subscription ✨ You can also play by stacking plastic bottle caps or sponges 🌼Made in FebruarySetsubun craftSetsubun#HandmadeToyspaper plate#AtHomePlayPaper Plate Craft
Oria – niKu
Let’s try playing the “Setsubun Balance Game,” which helps kids develop their sense of balance while having fun! It’s easy to make: add two fold lines to a paper plate to create a wobbly base.
It’s a good idea to tape the plate so it doesn’t open back up.
Decorate the paper plate with construction paper and crayons, and make the pieces to place on top using printed oni (demon) materials.
You can also use bottle caps or sponges as substitutes, or draw your own illustrations on construction paper.
This game trains fine motor skills and balance, making it a great educational activity for children!
Let’s defeat the demon with a ball!
February is still full of chilly days, so let’s get moving and play indoors! This Setsubun game involves defeating the oni (ogre) by throwing balls at it.
Ideally, the target oni is made in separate parts—head, torso, and left and right legs—and then assembled.
It’s fun because the way it falls changes depending on where you hit it: hit the head and only the head might drop; hit the torso and the whole thing might topple over.
When it’s knocked down, set it back up and try again and again.
Cheer each other on—“You can do it!”—and work together with friends to defeat the oni.
It’s a great way to build cooperation and learn the importance of steady, persistent effort.