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)
Bean Grabbing Game
February is still bitterly cold, so how about playing a bean-picking game with children at daycare or kindergarten? While learning how to use chopsticks, they can also develop finger dexterity.
Perfect as a Setsubun activity, this simple yet fun game involves picking up beans with chopsticks and moving them.
To match the season, you can swap the beans for heart-shaped items to enjoy a Valentine’s Day mood.
Deciding on the rules together and showing each other how well they can pick up the beans can also deepen the children’s communication.
A bean-picking game created by teachers and children—be sure to share a joyful time together!
Bean-throwing (Mamemaki)
How about incorporating bean-throwing (mamemaki) as a heartwarming activity during the cold month of February? Through mamemaki, everyone can enjoy time together—like throwing beans—while learning about the culture of Setsubun.
The teachers came up with a target game: draw a big picture of an oni (ogre) on the wall and have the children throw beans made from construction paper at it.
Through this activity, children can develop their motor skills while gaining a deeper understanding of the seasonal tradition.
Please make adjustments to ensure safety and fun, keeping in mind that beans may scatter during the activity.
sledding
One long-loved winter outdoor activity for children is sledding.
As long as you have a slope and space to slide down, you can enjoy it right away.
I hope kids will enjoy the floating sensation and little thrills as they zip down the hill.
By the way, you can get a one-person sled sold at 100-yen shops, or opt for a longer type that two people can ride.
Choose based on whether it will be used solo, where you’ll store it, and other such considerations.
Recommended activities for childcare in February: Ideas to enjoy seasonal events (11–20)
Valentine’s Day Crafts
Speaking of Valentine’s Day, most people picture it as a day to give chocolates to someone special.
If you make a container to hold those chocolates, it might help you feel even more connected to the holiday.
Using items meant for holding things—like paper cups, paper bags, or gift boxes—as a base and then customizing them is a great way to create a sturdy container.
Decorating with ribbons or paper cut into heart shapes is a classic approach—aim for a festive look that helps convey your feelings.
Cardboard Ogre
If you engage in a game themed around Setsubun bean-throwing, it won’t just be fun—it can also serve as a rehearsal.
So here’s an idea I’d like to share: the cardboard oni (ogre).
This involves attaching a paper-crafted oni face to a cardboard box.
Then, throw balls made from crumpled newspaper, pretending they’re beans, into the box and play.
The fun part is that sometimes the throws go in and sometimes they don’t.
Since everyone tends to crowd into one spot to retrieve missed balls, place several baskets filled with the “beans” in different locations as a preventative measure.
Eurhythmics
With rhythmics perfect for February childcare, I plan to help children enjoy moving their bodies.
How about incorporating pretend activities like bean-throwing and chocolate-making with songs themed around Setsubun and Valentine’s Day? By putting on masks to the beat or handing out handmade hearts, children can experience the fun of events through music.
On days with light snowfall, rhythmics inspired by snowflakes and snowmen are also recommended.
Let’s nurture creativity together with the children by weaving in elements of each season!
Ice ogre
Let me introduce a game that evokes the feeling of cold: “Ice Tag.” First, start the game as usual by dividing into a tagger and runners.
The rule is that anyone touched by the tagger must freeze on the spot and can’t move.
A key point is that the tagger does not change.
A frozen player can be revived if another player touches them, but if everyone gets tagged and frozen, there’s no one left to revive them, so the tagger wins.
Once everyone gets used to the basic rules, you can add variations, such as deciding a specific pose for freezing.