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!
- Play activities recommended for childcare in February: ideas to enjoy seasonal events
- [Childcare] Play and craft ideas to include in February events
- [Childcare] Fun February Indoor Play Ideas That Work for Both Small and Large Groups
- Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for daycare and kindergarten
- [For Kids] Indoor Fun! Large-Group Recreational Activities and Games
- [Quiz] A Collection of Quizzes You Can Use in February Childcare
- Useful for childcare! Today’s recommended recreational activities, including fingerplay and games!
- Indoor games that different ages can enjoy! Ideas for fun everyone can get excited about together
- Indoor Games for Small Groups: Exciting Recreational Activities
- [For preschoolers] A collection of origami ideas to enjoy February, including Setsubun and Valentine’s Day
- [Childcare] Play Right Now! Recommended No-Prep Games
- Ideas for indoor play, physical activities, and games suited to the development of 2-year-olds
- 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)
Introduction to games perfect for Setsubun
February’s activities are decided: games themed around Setsubun! First, hide crumpled newspaper “beans” somewhere indoors and have players search for them in a bean-hunting game.
Split into two teams—hiders and seekers—and compete for the fastest time to make it exciting.
Second, try a Setsubun twist on the kids’ favorite Fruit Basket game.
Have the children wear colorful oni (ogre) masks they’ve made, and play Fruit Basket using the mask colors.
Change the call that makes everyone move from “Fruit Basket!” to “Oni wa soto!” (“Demons out!”).
The different rules will feel fresh and fun.
Third is a word game: set a pose for three words that begin with “oni.” When one person says “onigiri, onigiri, oni,” everyone else should strike the matching poses.
Let’s liven up February with Setsubun games!
How to Make a Bean-Counting Game
A bean-toss game like basketball.
If you’re looking for a bean-throwing game that doesn’t involve scattering real beans—which are a pain to clean up and take up space—this activity is perfect.
Cut open one side of a milk carton and cover the outside with colored construction paper.
Fold the opened flap and secure it with vinyl tape.
Make horns and head parts from construction paper, attach them to paper cups, and draw an ogre’s face.
You can adjust the difficulty by changing the size of the paper cups, so it’s good to make several in different sizes.
Glue a plastic bottle cap to the bottom of the milk carton to create an incline, make your “beans,” and you’re done.
The feeling when a bean lands in the goal is sure to be addictive!
[February] Liven up childcare! A collection of indoor play and movement activity ideas (31–40)
Roll it! Throw it! Demon-slaying
Here’s an idea that lets kids move their bodies—throwing or rolling toward a target—while also enjoying a seasonal event.
Prepare five plastic bottles, some string, and origami paper, and make ogre (oni) faces with the origami.
It’s more fun with a variety of colors, so let them choose their favorites.
Encourage them to draw freely—smiling, angry, or crying faces—so their individuality can shine.
Attach string to each ogre face and secure it to a plastic bottle by fixing it under the cap, and you’re done.
Roll or throw a ball to knock down the plastic-bottle pins.
Making toys fosters imagination and gives a sense of accomplishment.
Above all, kids will feel attached to what they’ve made and learn to value their belongings.
Oni Target-Throwing Game
For Setsubun in February, why not make a demon target game? A roly-poly-style demon target is fun to hit, and it’s also fun to watch it spring back upright.
Since it rights itself on its own, you can play over and over—this is the key appeal of the game! Prepare a capsule from a capsule toy, oil-based clay, a bamboo skewer, and two copies of a demon illustration.
Pack the oil-based clay into the clear half of the capsule.
Make a hole in the lid, pass the bamboo skewer through it, and attach the demon illustration.
You can print an illustration or draw your own.
Combine three thinly cut pieces of paper tube to make beans, and your “ball” is ready.
Enjoy February with this indoor, absorbing demon target game!
Demon-slaying pretend play
Wouldn’t it be great to enjoy a demon-slaying pretend play using familiar scrap materials? This time, let’s play with toilet paper rolls.
Make balls by crumpling newspaper.
Secure any parts that stick out with tape.
Cover the toilet paper rolls with construction paper to resemble oni (demons).
Use any color you like for the face, and of course make the pants yellow! Attach hair and horns, then draw patterns on the face and pants to finish.
Enjoy “Oni Bowling” by throwing the newspaper balls to knock them down.
Making lots of oni and stacking them up is fun too.
There are also ideas using cardboard and balloon-based demon-slaying games, so be sure to check those out for inspiration.
Production that can also create a demon-slaying game
Here’s a two-in-one idea that’s fun for both crafting and play: an oni (ogre) bean-throwing game for Setsubun.
Cut solid-color or patterned origami paper and glue it onto a paper tube.
Using various patterns and colors will make it bright and cute.
Make horns with gold origami, and crumple tissue paper to create hair and attach it.
Draw the face with colored pens, and make “beans” from tissue paper to finish.
Both the crafting process and playing with your own creation will make wonderful memories.
It’s also great that you can make it with items from a 100-yen shop or with recycled materials—give it a try!
Drop the Handkerchief
Many people probably played this in elementary school.
A large group sits in a circle.
The tagger walks around the outside and secretly drops a handkerchief behind someone, then starts to run.
The person it was dropped behind chases the tagger; if the tagger manages to sit in the empty spot, that person loses, but if they catch the tagger before that, they win.
