[Childcare] Play and craft ideas to include in February events
Speaking of February events, Setsubun and Valentine’s Day come to mind.
Some of you are probably brainstorming event ideas like bean-throwing or cute crafts.
On the other hand, there may be people who struggle to come up with fresh ideas for annual traditions.
For those people, this time we’ll share play activities and craft ideas that are perfect for Setsubun and Valentine’s Day.
Incorporating new ideas is sure to make your events much more exciting.
Be sure to check out these ideas before you start preparing for your events.
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[Childcare] Play and craft ideas to include in February events (71–80)
Making ehomaki (lucky direction sushi rolls)
Homemade ehou-maki are sure to taste better than even the fanciest ones! For kids who don’t like classic ingredients like gourd strips (kanpyo) or cucumber, it’s a good idea to prepare fillings they’ll enjoy, such as tuna or salmon, so they can make their own and eat happily.
Using a bamboo mat from the start is tricky, so first roll it loosely on plastic wrap, then use the mat to shape and tighten it.
Ehou-maki are eaten while facing the year’s lucky direction, making a wish as you eat.
Cut them into small pieces to make them easier to eat.
Tango of the Red Ogre and the Blue Ogre
If you overemphasize the idea that “oni are scary,” some children might end up traumatized.
To prevent that, it’s a good idea to show a slightly playful side of the oni.
There are several songs related to Setsubun and oni, but Isao Bito’s “Akaoni to Aooni no Tango” is perfect for dancing! How about performing it in front of the children while incorporating tango moves where you face each other? Seeing the funny side of the oni will make the subsequent Setsubun event even more enjoyable.
Making snowflake stamps
These are snowflake-themed stamps that are easy to incorporate into decorating drawings and other crafts.
Simply attach a plastic bottle cap to a lactic acid drink container and stick a piece of cut cushion sheet to the tip to complete it.
It’s also nice that the body is easy to decorate with masking tape and the like.
A single stamp won’t complete a snowflake, so let’s have them enjoy the process of thinking about how to layer the stamps to form the crystal.
By giving clear advice on the paints to use and how to press the stamp, and helping them achieve a clean final design, they’ll enjoy it even more.
Valentine’s woven basket
This is a craft using a soft paper called reversible crepe.
Prepare two sheets of paper of the same size, fold them in half, then leave 2–3 cm at the top and cut slits on the looped side to make strips.
The number of slits will vary depending on the paper size, but if the paper is 9 cm wide, cut one sheet into 3 cm-wide strips and the other into 1 cm-wide strips.
After making the slits, weave the strips through each other inside the loop alternately, as if weaving a basket.
Once everything is threaded, attach a handle to complete your heart-shaped woven basket!
paper puppet theater
While Setsubun is often seen as an event where beans are scattered to drive away demons, many people may not know the history and meaning behind it.
How about using a paper puppet show to present a detailed explanation of Setsubun? By adding theatrical elements rather than making it just a plain explanation, people can learn about Setsubun in a fun way.
Keeping the structure simple and focusing on clarity are key points.
Introducing well-known characters might help make the content even more enjoyable for everyone.
Bean Grabbing Game
The bean-picking game is a fun way to exercise the fingers.
In this idea, you use chopsticks to pick up beans and place them on a paper plate with an illustration of an ogre.
Adding rules like “Put in as many beans as your age” or “Put in as many as you want to eat” can make it even more enjoyable.
Some children may find it difficult to grasp the beans well with chopsticks.
In that case, prepare a spoon for them or have the teacher provide training chopsticks.
Once they get used to it, it’s also fun to compete to see how many beans they can put in.
playing in the snow
On days when snow piles up in regions that don’t get much of it, kids will be bursting to go play outside.
At times like this, even if you already had a main activity planned, let them fully enjoy nature’s gift! Building snowmen, making small igloos, and having snowball fights are precious experiences you can only have when there’s snow on the ground.
Bundle them up well so they don’t catch a cold, and while teaching them how to make a snowman and the rules of a snowball fight, let them revel in winter-only play within the teacher’s line of sight.