[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 (21–30)
Make and play! Setsubun crafts
After you make it, you can enjoy bean-throwing too! Here are some oni craft ideas.
First, prepare an envelope in your preferred size and cut it in half.
Please use a gusseted envelope.
Attach small pieces of cut paper along the cut edge to represent the oni’s hair, then stick on the horns and face parts made from construction paper.
Finally, draw the eyebrows and mouth with a pen to complete the oni! Mount the oni on the wall and throw “beans” made by crumpling paper at it.
After the bean-throwing is over, try a challenge to see how many beans you can put into the envelope!
Egg-shaped red ogre & blue ogre
This is an oni made by covering an egg-shaped polystyrene ball with chirimen fabric! All you do is cut and stick the chirimen fabric, yet it turns into a very elegant and lovely piece.
After making it, place it on a table as a Setsubun decoration.
You’ll need chirimen fabric for the oni’s body, pants, hair, horns, club, and mouth, so prepare any designs you like.
The process is simply to apply double-sided tape to the back of the chirimen fabric, cut out the parts, and stick them onto the polystyrene ball.
Since the body and pants cover a large area, stretch the fabric as you apply it to avoid wrinkles, and trim any excess fabric with scissors.
Ehomaki (lucky direction sushi roll)
Let’s make an Ehomaki using a toilet paper roll core.
The main materials are a toilet paper core, origami paper, tissues, rubber bands, and tape.
First, attach black origami paper to the side of the core to resemble seaweed.
Next, cut the origami paper for the fillings into 7.5 cm × 15 cm pieces.
Fold the cut paper in half to make a strip, roll it up tightly from the end, and glue it.
Once all the fillings are rolled, bundle them together and secure with a rubber band, wrap them with tissue, and fix them inside the core.
You’ll need the same on the other side as well, so please make two sets of fillings.
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.
Setsubun Eurhythmics
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!
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.