Lovely childcare

[For Preschoolers & Kids] Game, Play, and Craft Ideas to Enjoy on Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day)

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.
Nursery Teacher Mom Writertsukada moe
After working for five years at an after-school childcare club and three years at a nursery school, I began working as a freelance writer. I’m a mother of two children. Inspired by playing the flute in the school wind ensemble in elementary school, I joined a jazz club at university. I’ve also incorporated ukulele and piano performance into childcare. Playing, laughing, feeling sad, feeling frustrated—through all kinds of experiences, I want children to grow.

March 3rd is Hinamatsuri, the Doll Festival.

Some preschools and kindergartens include it as one of their traditional events, and some families may be thinking of celebrating it at home.

We’d love for children to become fond of Hinamatsuri culture while enjoying its festive atmosphere.

So this time, we’re introducing a collection of Hinamatsuri-themed activities, games, and craft ideas that can be enjoyed at preschools and children’s groups.

Every idea is something kids will love.

Adults, please enjoy the traditional festival together with the children as well.

[For childcare and children] Game, play, and craft ideas to enjoy on Hinamatsuri (1–10)

Let’s make Hina dolls with origami

Origami Hina Doll: Easy Folding Method — Origami Japanese Kimono Doll Tutorial (niceno1)

Let's make Hina dolls with origami

Perfect for making Hina dolls for Hinamatsuri at daycare centers, kindergartens, or at home! These Hina dolls are made with origami.

The folding steps for both the Empress (Ohinasama) and the Emperor (Odairisama) are the same up to a certain point, so they’re easy to make.

With few folds and a simple process, they still end up with a beautiful silhouette.

For the finishing touches, cut another sheet of origami paper to create the Empress’s hair and the Emperor’s crown and add them on.

You can also make a scepter, crown, and fan out of gold origami to create an even more splendid set of Hina dolls—give it a try!

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Self-standing Hina dolls

[Easy Origami] Hinamatsuri: A self-standing Ohinasama (Hina doll) folding method — with scepter, crown, and fan — Odairisama

Self-standing Hina dolls

Use half-size origami paper to make the doll’s body.

Place the paper with the white side facing up.

First, fold the bottom edge up to the top, offset slightly from the top edge, and fold in half.

Turn the paper over, tuck the left edge into the crease on the right edge, then flatten it in this position.

Fold the bottom corner to the back and the body is complete.

For the head, prepare 15 cm origami.

With the white side facing up, fold the left and right corners inward to make three equal sections.

Next, turn the paper over and fold the top triangular part down toward you.

Then fold it toward you once more around the center of the paper.

Fold the four corners of this section to the back to refine the outline, cut off the unnecessary part at the bottom, draw the face with a pen, and attach it to the body to finish!

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Hinamatsuri Ball-Toss Game

Hinamatsuri: Hina Doll Festival Ball-Toss Game

Hinamatsuri Ball-Toss Game

Here’s a Hinamatsuri ball-toss game that’s perfect for Girls’ Day events, using paper cups.

It’s a game where you toss crumpled sheets of construction paper, shaped into balls, into paper-cup versions of the Emperor (Obina) and Empress (Mebina).

The person who gets the most balls into the cups wins.

Create the goals by attaching paper cutouts of the Obina and Mebina to the paper cups.

You can also decorate the cups with origami paper or washi tape to make them look like kimono patterns—very cute! It’s also recommended to enjoy the game while keeping some distance from the Hina dolls.

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Hinamatsuri Balance Game

Hina Dolls in Danger! Don’t Drop Them—Display Them All! Hinamatsuri Balance Game [Crafts/Educational Game/For Kids]

Hinamatsuri Balance Game

Fun to make and play! Here’s how to create a Hinamatsuri balance game.

First, cut out the hina doll pieces from the downloaded balance game sheet with scissors.

Once you assemble the dolls, glue them together.

It’s also fun to decorate the hina dolls with your favorite origami paper.

Next, cut out the parts on the second sheet.

Assemble the cut-out parts and glue them.

Attach the small round pieces to cover both openings on the ends of a toilet paper tube.

After cutting out the parts on the third sheet, glue them to the side of the paper tube.

Attach the large round piece and the spring piece to the paper tube, and you’re done!

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[Hand Play] Mochitsuki on March 3rd

On March 3rd, rice-cake pounding

[Hand Play] Mochitsuki on March 3rd

If you’re looking for a perfect hand game for Hinamatsuri, how about “Mochitsuki on March 3rd”? The tempo doubles, and you quickly slip your hand between your partner’s hands.

You can enjoy the fun and tension of syncing perfectly with your partner.

There are also versions with different names but the same game, such as “Mochitsuki on the Third Day of the New Year” and “Mochitsuki on the Night of the Harvest Moon.”

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