Play activities recommended for childcare in February: ideas to enjoy seasonal events
February, when the cold really sets in, is a time when snow play and indoor activities tend to get lively.
There are also many seasonal events like Setsubun and Valentine’s Day, so some of you may be looking for ideas children will love.
In this article, we’ve gathered games and recreational activities perfect for early childhood care in February.
We’ll introduce a wide range—from activities you can take your time with indoors to ones that get kids moving actively.
Hands-on play and games can also spark children’s imagination and help their ideas flourish.
We hope you’ll find these recommended activities for the chilly season helpful.
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Recommended activities for childcare in February: Ideas to enjoy seasonal events (1–10)
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.
A demon target-shooting game where the artwork changes!
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.
bean container box
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!
Recommended activities for childcare in February: Ideas to enjoy seasonal events (11–20)
ogre mask
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.
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!
playing hot spring
Hot springs are generally more of a relaxing space for adults, but we want kids to enjoy them too! So let’s try playing “hot spring” indoors.
Draw rocks on construction paper to make the outer wall, and inside, spread out strands of cut-up raffia ribbon or bubble wrap.
Finally, decide on a name for your hot spring and put up a sign.
Get in together and ask the kids what they think.
They can have fun draping the crackly raffia ribbon over themselves or popping the bubble wrap—let them freely experience the hot spring through play.
Fun snow play in your room!
How about enjoying some snow play indoors? You can make “snow” by cutting thin paper like tissue or flower paper into small pieces.
The floor will turn completely white, and every movement will send fluffy flakes dancing—kids are sure to be thrilled! You can even make snowmen: stick double-sided tape on crumpled newspaper and roll it over the paper snow to collect it.
Add round stickers for eyes, and attach a construction-paper carrot nose and a bucket, and you’ll have a row of cute, wintry snowmen decorating the room.
Pack in lots of ideas that kids will love and have a blast with plenty of snow play!