[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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- Parent–child interactive play. Fun activities popular in childcare settings and at parent–child observation days.
- [For preschoolers] A collection of origami ideas to enjoy February, including Setsubun and Valentine’s Day
- Indoor games that different ages can enjoy! Ideas for fun everyone can get excited about together
- Play activities recommended for childcare in February: ideas to enjoy seasonal events
- Fun Setsubun Activities for Childcare: A Collection of Exciting Games and Craft Ideas
[Childcare] Play and craft ideas to include in February events (71–80)
Have fun with 1-year-olds! Setsubun ideas
https://www.tiktok.com/@levwell_hoikushi/video/7587613943309339924When February comes, we think of Setsubun, and when we think of Setsubun, we think of oni (ogres)! Some childcare centers and families might enjoy bean-throwing with a teacher dressed as an oni.
For crafts during this season, let’s make cute oni to boost the Setsubun mood! First, use white construction paper to create the oni’s hairstyle, then make the hair with crumpled washi paper.
Use a dropper to suck up paint and drip it onto the washi.
It’s fun to watch the oni’s hair gradually get dyed by the paint.
Changing colors to create a gradient can make it even more exciting.
Attach the horns and facial parts, and you’re done.
Dyeing the hair with paint and creating three-dimensional oni hair make this a delightful craft.
Kocho-ko Choco
We’d like to introduce a play song perfect for tickle games.
Is what’s in the box chocolate, or a tickle? Enjoy matching the actions to the lyrics.
If it’s chocolate, say “Here you go!” and offer it as a present; if it’s a tickle, give a little tickle.
With babies, caregivers can use it as a bonding touch game, and with toddlers and preschoolers, kids can pair up with friends and enjoy it as a hand-play song or dance song.
It could also be fun to set your own original items in the box besides chocolate and tickles!
3 fun activities with yarn
Winter is a season when the weather is unstable and infectious illnesses tend to spread, so kids end up spending more time playing indoors.
Some children may miss playing outside, but why not take this opportunity to try some crafting this winter? We’ll introduce three activities: making yarn bracelets, making yarn pom-poms, and knitting using a milk carton.
The bracelets are made with finger knitting, and the pom-poms are created by wrapping yarn around a U-shaped piece of cardboard.
Give these winter craft projects a try to help nurture children’s creativity.
3 hand-play activities for Setsubun bean-throwing
We’d like to introduce some fun hand-play activities for Setsubun, a traditional event to drive away evil spirits that appear during seasonal transitions! The first is the classic “Oni no Pantsu” (The Ogre’s Underpants).
It’s a song about the ogre’s sturdy underpants that never tear, even after many years, and you express “pants” with handclaps and a peace-sign gesture.
The second is a song called “Mame-maki” (Bean Throwing), where you use your hands to mimic tossing beans and inviting in good fortune, just like the real bean-throwing ritual.
The third, “Oni no Oyako” (Ogre Parent and Child), is enjoyed by changing your voice and facial expressions to match the characters: the father ogre, mother ogre, and child ogre.
When the “Pika!” lightning part comes, energetically thrust both hands forward!
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.
