[For Preschoolers & Kids] Game, Play, and Craft Ideas to Enjoy on Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day)
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.
- [Childcare] Fun for Hinamatsuri! Performance ideas perfect for the event
- [Kindergarten/Daycare] Games and Performances for Fun Events
- [Childcare] A Collection of Origami Ideas for Hinamatsuri: Let’s Make Them with Kids!
- [Childcare] Fun Craft Ideas for Hinamatsuri (Girls' Day)
- [Children’s Club] Easy and fun indoor games. Exciting party games
- Hand-play songs to sing for Hinamatsuri. Songs everyone can enjoy.
- [Childcare] Recommended crafts and activities for March, such as Hina Matsuri (Doll’s Festival) and cherry blossoms
- Indoor games that different ages can enjoy! Ideas for fun everyone can get excited about together
- [Entertainment/Performances] Ideas for Performances to Introduce at Kindergartens and Nursery Schools—Great for Children and Staff
- [Childcare] Perfect for Hinamatsuri! Hanging Hina doll craft ideas you can make with kids
- [Daycare/Preschool] Let’s Make Handmade Hinamatsuri Costumes! An Idea Collection You’ll Want to Copy
- [Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
- Games and activities everyone can enjoy together. A collection of fun play ideas.
[For Preschoolers & Kids] Games, Activities, and Craft Ideas to Enjoy on Hinamatsuri (21–30)
Apron Theater
An apron theater turns the apron worn by childcare workers into a stage.
It has a handmade feel and is a popular activity in childcare settings! In March, let your child enjoy an apron theater themed around Hinamatsuri, the Doll Festival where children are the stars.
Using the apron, you can kindly explain things like introducing the Emperor and Empress dolls and the secret behind the colors of hishi-mochi, which is essential for Hinamatsuri.
Since it’s a great opportunity for children to learn fun facts about the festival—such as traditional customs and color meanings—try getting creative and making it by hand!
[Craft] Hina Doll Suncatcher
@buchiko_hoiku 🐶 @buchiko_hoiku ◂◂◂◂ Check out my other posts too 🌼 I was brainstorming a sun catcher craft for Hinamatsuri, and it turned out super cute 🤭 The key is using flower paper in hinamatsuri rice cracker colors—pink, white, and green 🩷🤍💚 Once it’s finished, I’d love for you to take the kids outside, hold their creations up to the sun, and let them feel the spring sunlight 🌸 Tips to keep in mind: to make it three-dimensional, glue both paper plates facing inward! Don’t mix them up ☝🏻 Please give it a try 🌈 ⋱⋰ Thank you for reading to the end 🐶 I share simple, easy-to-copy ideas from introduction to craft-making ♬︎ I’ll be over the moon if you like ♥, save 𖤘, and follow 𖤐—I might even cry from happiness 😂 lol Comments are also very welcome 🤍🤍 ⋱⋰Nursery teacher / Childcare workerKindergarten TeacherChildcare student#suncatcherStained glass style#HinamatsuriCraft
♬ Together – Dai Hirai
Cute decorations for Hinamatsuri! Here’s how to make a Hina Doll sun catcher.
First, cut out the centers of two paper plates.
Cover the center of one plate with clear tape.
Cut tissue paper into small circles inspired by hina-arare rice crackers, and stick them onto the adhesive side of the tape.
Next, take origami paper with a pattern you like, cut it in half, slightly offset the pieces, and glue them together.
Flip it over and fold it into a kimono shape.
Attach the facial parts of the Hina Doll, then trim the kimono a little shorter.
With the blank paper plate facing up on the back side, attach the Hina Doll to it.
Glue the two plates together with wood glue, add a ribbon, and you’re done!
Making cute icing cookies
How about making icing cookies with your child—sweets that are a little different from traditional wagashi? Icing cookies are baked treats like cookies decorated on the surface with icing sugar powder and egg whites.
You’ll have fun as if you’re drawing or coloring, and your originality will shine through.
Mixing various colors expands the range of expression.
Even if they don’t turn out like the sample, the fact that you made them together will become a fond memory.
Hinamatsuri drawing song
This is a drawing song themed around Hinamatsuri that’s perfect for performances or crafts at a Hinamatsuri party.
Let’s complete the Empress (Ohina-sama) and Emperor (Odairi-sama) while singing along to this humorous drawing song! Children will surely feel excited as the picture gradually comes together.
After drawing while singing with the kids, you can use crayons or colored pencils to color it any way you like and make it even more fun.
Drawing songs are also great for nurturing children’s imagination.
Picture Book Read-Aloud: Hinamatsuri (Doll Festival)
The picture book “Hinamatsuri” is a perfect read-aloud story in which Rin-chan’s mom gently answers questions related to Girls’ Day.
It also makes a great activity for Hinamatsuri events, so please feel free to use it as a reference! It explains why we display Hina dolls, the meanings behind eating chirashi sushi and hina-arare, and more—content that will satisfy not only children but adults as well.
Even children who don’t yet understand the significance of Hinamatsuri can get a feel for the holiday’s atmosphere through read-aloud time.