[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 (51–60)
Kids will love it! Ice play
@nexus_official5 Makes you look forward to cold days?! We can’t wait for spring either, but try making this on a day when the forecast says it’ll be chilly the next day!#nexus#memorytree nursery schoolKids will love it#IcePlayWinter PlayNursery teacher / Childcare worker#MemoriesTree Nursery School
♬ Escort – MoppySound
When it comes to playing with ice, many people think of summer, but in winter you can use the cold outdoor air to make ice.
The time it takes to freeze varies depending on where you place it and the temperature, which makes it a great learning experience for children.
You can make ice simply by putting water in a cup and leaving it outside, but this time let’s mix tissue paper and food coloring to create vibrantly colored ice.
In addition to making ice, try different ways to play: hold the ice up to the light, observe how it melts, or draw pictures using ice.
Expand the possibilities of ice play while embracing children’s free and creative ideas!
Let’s enjoy the bean-throwing game!
@mammybear_ Last week during Setsubun bean-throwing, the children at each class enjoyed various games.#Nursery schoolBean-throwing (Setsubun)Demons out, fortune in.Recommended
♬ Red Ogre and Blue Ogre Tango (Kids Song Cover) [from “NHK Educational TV E Tele - Okaasan to Issho”] – UtaSTAR
A heart-pounding event in February! How about trying some games perfect for Setsubun? You can pull a ring filled with beans to carry them, or throw beans at an oni target to defeat the ogre—plenty of Setsubun atmosphere to enjoy.
Let the children also have fun making masks and beans, and use the games to help them learn about the Setsubun tradition.
Feel free to adapt the rules to suit different ages! When older preschoolers carry the beans, turning it into a team competition will likely get everyone excited.
Oni Masks and Preparing for Setsubun
@lienkashii In the 1-year-old class, we made oni (ogre) masks☺️ We drew patterns on the inside of a milk carton using strings and pipe cleaners, then used paint to make stamps! We also made paper bands so they can wear them on their heads, and we’re getting ready for Setsubun👹 We’ll keep posting about the charms of our daycare, tips from childcare workers, and helpful parenting information🎶 Please follow us at @lien_kashii3550 🤲Bean-throwing (Setsubun)Setsubun craftDemon mask#Demon ProductionCrafts for 1-year-oldsDemonStampState of the nurseryMake children’s everyday moments more photographic#SmilingPhoto#Nursery School CraftFukuoka CityHigashi Ward#Nursery school#FukuokaCityNurserySchoolCertified Childcare and Education CenterLianshii Nursery SchoolParentingChildcare#AuthorizedNurserySchoolKashii#Hoikatsu (childcare enrollment activities)Searching for a nurseryLife with childrenMomDadRecruiting KindergartenersRecruiting childcare workers
♪ Original Song – Liankashii Nursery School – Liankashii Nursery School
An oni mask that’s fun to make and fun to enjoy after it’s finished is a perfect idea for a February craft.
Before you start, try reading a picture book about oni to spark creative inspiration—you might enjoy it even more.
Speaking of oni features, their hair is curly.
Let’s express that hair using stamps.
You can easily make a stamp by creating curly patterns with string or pipe cleaners on a milk carton.
Dip the stamp in paint, then dab it onto construction paper.
Cut it into a fluffy hairstyle, add horns, and you’re done.
Attach a paper band so it can be worn on the head.
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.
[Childcare] Play and craft ideas to include in February events (61–70)
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!