![[For Preschoolers & Kids] Game, Play, and Craft Ideas to Enjoy on Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/nScn1y93laI/maxresdefault.webp)
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 childcare and children] Game, play, and craft ideas to enjoy on Hinamatsuri (1–10)
Hinamatsuri coffee filter blot paintingNEW!
Draw on a coffee filter with water-based markers, then float it on water to wet it.
Once the ink has bled, take it out and let the filter dry.
When it’s dry, fold it to make the body of the Hina doll.
Finally, attach the face you made from construction paper, and it’s done! Imagine the filter as a kimono: fold the left and right sides to overlap at the center, then fold the bottom up to the back to finish.
The impression of the bleeding pattern changes depending on which colors of markers you use, so you’ll end up with wonderfully unique creations.
Hand Play: Hinamatsuri • Clap and Open (Musunde Hiraite)
Let’s try playing “Musunde Hiraite,” a hand game familiar to children, arranged in a Hinamatsuri (Doll’s Festival) version! After singing the regular “Musunde Hiraite,” add gestures for the flutes and drums of the five court musicians.
At the end, place your hands on your knees and finish gracefully, just like the Ohinasama dolls! Of course, it could be fun to switch to any instruments you like.
This is recommended for Hinamatsuri events or to play at home, so please give it a try!
Hina Ring Toss
Many daycare centers, kindergartens, and kids’ clubs hold events for Hinamatsuri (Girls’ Day).
If you’re looking for an activity, we recommend “Hina Ring Toss”! This game is great because people of all ages can enjoy it.
Line up pins made by wrapping plastic bottles with paper illustrated with Hina dolls, and earn points by tossing rings and landing them on the pins.
You can also add bonus points depending on the type of pin.
As a variation, we recommend decorating a tiered Hina display with the pins you’ve won as the game progresses.
Kamikishibai: Hinamatsuri
If you’re looking for an activity for Hinamatsuri events at daycare centers or kindergartens, kamishibai (paper theater) is highly recommended! It gives children a chance to learn about the origins of Hinamatsuri and offers adults a good opportunity to relearn as well.
While making a kamishibai by hand may take a bit of effort, it can nurture children’s imagination and empathy, so why not actively incorporate it? Kamishibai also facilitates communication between the reader and the audience, so it will get conversations flowing between teachers and children!
Hinamatsuri Musical Chairs
When in doubt, you can’t go wrong with musical chairs! It’s a classic recreation game that’s fun no matter the era.
That said, since it’s the Doll Festival, it’d be nice to tie in some themed ideas—like having everyone wear small, festive costumes, or letting the winner eat hina-arare.
In the end, musical chairs needs music anyway, so the easiest option might be to prepare some Hinamatsuri-style BGM.
Have fun, everyone!
