[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)
Hina-arare Shooting Game
This is a Hinamatsuri game that uses various tools.
Place a paper ball—standing in for hina-arare—on a launcher made from rubber bands and chopsticks, press it down firmly with your finger, and release.
If the ball shoots off and lands in any of the many goal cups set up ahead, you win.
Plus, this game is fun to craft, too: draw your favorite designs on the goal cups, or make your own personalized hina-arare balls.
Use your imagination and discover your own way to make it fun.
Hinamatsuri Quiz
How about livening things up with a quiz about Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day)? There might be fun facts that not only children but also teachers and parents don’t know.
It would be lovely to learn together and strengthen your bonds! Try asking questions in a multiple-choice format, such as: “When did Hinamatsuri begin?”, “Why do we display the dolls?”, and “Where should the Empress (Ohinasama) and Emperor (Odairisama) be placed?”.
By learning about this event, you may enjoy Hinamatsuri even more and feel a greater sense of familiarity with it.
Fukuwarai for the Doll Festival
Fukuwarai is a familiar New Year’s game, but why not try arranging it in a Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day) version too? It’s also a great activity for making crafts for Hinamatsuri in nursery schools and kindergartens, so give it a try! In keeping with Hinamatsuri, let’s adapt the face outline for fukuwarai to look like the Empress (Ohinasama) or the Emperor (Odairisama).
Depending on the children’s ages, teachers can prepare the pieces in advance, or children who can use scissors can cut construction paper and make their own fukuwarai by hand.
Panel Theater: Happy Hinamatsuri
A panel theater where you enjoy the story by sticking illustrations onto a panel board and taking them off.
How about using this panel theater to liven up Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day)? While singing the children’s song “Ureshii Hinamatsuri” together with the kids, complete the tiered doll display! Be sure to try it when hosting a Hinamatsuri event at a daycare or kindergarten.
After finishing the doll display with the panel theater, it could also be fun to talk with the children about the roles of each Hina doll.
Making ‘bonbori’ (traditional paper lanterns) with origami
Many people probably DIY the tiered stands for their Hina dolls, right? But when you make one yourself, it can feel like something’s missing—that happens a lot.
Could it be that you’ve forgotten the item that makes the display instantly cuter: the bonbori lanterns? Their gentle light really enhances the Hinamatsuri atmosphere.
Folding them together with your child adds a lovely, handmade touch.
Try making bonbori out of origami and decorating your display!
