[Childcare] Play and craft ideas to include in February events

Perfect for Setsubun! Oni-themed fingerplay

Recommended for Setsubun! [Hand Play] I'm an Oni! Great for kindergartens, nurseries, and training/practicum too!

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.

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Setsubun Eurhythmics

[Setsubun Bean-Throwing Play] Nursery/Kindergarten ♪ With sheet music! Quietly now ♪ Mame-maki Pon Pon

Eurhythmics that nurture children’s expressiveness and concentration.

We move our bodies and play to the music.

We’re introducing two songs perfect for Setsubun: “Sotto ne” (“Quietly”) and “Mame-maki Pon-pon.” In “Sotto ne,” walk slowly so you don’t wake the ogre, and in “Mame-maki Pon-pon,” throw beans at the ogre.

When the music stops, freeze, and next, follow the teacher’s color cues to throw beans at the red ogre and the blue ogre.

While enjoying eurhythmics, you can even drive away scary ogres!

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Demon-slaying with paper cups!

Easy Craft: “Oni Paper Cup” [Preschool Activity / Setsubun Craft]

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.

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A demon target-shooting game where the artwork changes!

Setsubun. Ogre-slaying! A handmade target game with changing designs!

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.

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How to make a bean-throwing target

Perfect for Setsubun! How to make a bean-throwing target game

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!

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bean container box

How to Fold an Origami “Bean-Holder Box (Masu)” | Setsubun Decoration

Let’s make a little box for beans with origami! First, fold the paper in half into a square twice, crease well, then unfold back to the original.

Next, fold all four corners to the center (a “zabuton” fold), then fold the left and right edges to the center and crease.

Now, open the paper back up, leaving only the top and bottom corners folded.

This time, fold the top and bottom edges to the center, crease, and unfold.

With the creasing complete, fold in the left and right sides so that the central square becomes the bottom, forming the box shape.

Try using origami with patterns you like, and decorate with stickers to make it unique!

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ogre mask

Oni Mask Setsubun Craft [Preschool Craft Made by Children] BABYJOB

Here’s a craft idea for making an oni using paper plates and yarn.

If adults prepare the face and horn parts in advance, even small children can enjoy it.

First, paint the paper plate with your favorite paints.

Since it will be the oni’s face, red or blue are classics.

Once the paint dries, glue horns and yarn at the top to represent the hair.

Finally, attach the face parts and it’s done! It’s also fun to create the face with crayon resist art.

Let the children freely place each part on purpose, so they can fully express their individuality.

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