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.
- February: Liven up childcare! A collection of ideas for indoor play and physical activities
- [Childcare] Play and craft ideas to include in February events
- [Quiz] A Collection of Quizzes You Can Use in February Childcare
- [For 4-year-olds] Enjoy February! A Collection of Craft Ideas
- [For 3-year-olds] A collection of recommended craft ideas to make in February
- [For 5-year-olds] Let’s Make It! A Collection of Recommended Craft Ideas for February
- Fun activities with newspaper! Recreation games kids will love
- Ideas for Childcare Quizzes to Enjoy in January
- [February Wall Decorations] Perfect for Setsubun! A Collection of Ideas You Can Use in Childcare
- Useful for childcare! Today’s recommended recreational activities, including fingerplay and games!
- [Childcare] Fun February Indoor Play Ideas That Work for Both Small and Large Groups
- Have fun in childcare! A collection of play ideas to liven up cold days in January
- Recommended in February! A collection of easy origami ideas perfect for childcare to enjoy the season.
Recommended activities for childcare in February: Ideas to enjoy seasonal events (21–30)
Demon-slaying pretend play
Wouldn’t it be great to enjoy a demon-slaying pretend play using familiar scrap materials? This time, let’s play with toilet paper rolls.
Make balls by crumpling newspaper.
Secure any parts that stick out with tape.
Cover the toilet paper rolls with construction paper to resemble oni (demons).
Use any color you like for the face, and of course make the pants yellow! Attach hair and horns, then draw patterns on the face and pants to finish.
Enjoy “Oni Bowling” by throwing the newspaper balls to knock them down.
Making lots of oni and stacking them up is fun too.
There are also ideas using cardboard and balloon-based demon-slaying games, so be sure to check those out for inspiration.
Production that can also create a demon-slaying game
Here’s a two-in-one idea that’s fun for both crafting and play: an oni (ogre) bean-throwing game for Setsubun.
Cut solid-color or patterned origami paper and glue it onto a paper tube.
Using various patterns and colors will make it bright and cute.
Make horns with gold origami, and crumple tissue paper to create hair and attach it.
Draw the face with colored pens, and make “beans” from tissue paper to finish.
Both the crafting process and playing with your own creation will make wonderful memories.
It’s also great that you can make it with items from a 100-yen shop or with recycled materials—give it a try!
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.
oshikura manju (a children’s pushing game)
Oshikura Manju, a game born from the idea of enjoying the winter cold, is an ideal activity for winter childcare.
Children and teachers join forces to form a circle and move their bodies in a warm, comforting atmosphere where they can feel each other’s warmth.
The charm of this game is that children support one another while sharing a fun time together.
You can also add variations that incorporate February events like Setsubun and Valentine’s Day.
For Setsubun, everyone can chant “Oni wa soto! Fuku wa uchi!” while playing; for Valentine’s Day, you can use items with sweet scents—adding a sense of the season to the fun.
Making chocolates for Valentine’s Day
When it comes to big events in February, Valentine’s Day—when we give chocolate—tops the list! Enjoy making chocolate with an easy recipe that just involves melting and arranging.
Lay out pink and white chocolate bars on a sheet of parchment paper and melt them, then arrange store-bought cookies, candy-coated chocolates, and more on top.
Chill until set and break into pieces, and you’ve got colorful, stylish chocolate bark.
Some kids may want to give it to someone they like.
Finish by wrapping it neatly so they can present it as-is.
Making ehomaki (lucky direction sushi rolls)
Homemade eho-maki are sure to taste better than even the fanciest store-bought ones! When making them at daycare or kindergarten, be sure to follow strict hygiene practices.
For children who don’t like classic fillings like kampyo or cucumber, it’s a good idea to prepare kid-friendly options such as tuna or salmon so they can enjoy what they made themselves.
Using a bamboo rolling mat from the start can be tricky, so first roll the sushi loosely on plastic wrap, then use the mat to shape and tighten it.