By around the middle of kindergarten, more children start to take an interest in hiragana.
You may find your child asking, “What does this say?” more often, and if you’re wondering, “I want to teach hiragana, but how can I help them remember it?”, this is a must-read.
This time, we’re introducing popular hiragana toys for kids.
From building blocks and puzzles to karuta, these toys make it fun and natural to learn hiragana.
Whether your child is already interested or hasn’t shown much interest yet, they can get to know hiragana through play.
Let’s create a fun atmosphere and play together while nurturing children’s curiosity!
- [Childcare] Letter and word games: Introducing fun activities using hiragana
- Kids go wild! Popular hand games and fun sing-alongs
- [Educational] Spark and nurture curiosity: simple and fun DIY toys
- Useful for childcare! Today’s recommended recreational activities, including fingerplay and games!
- [Quiz] Recommended Quiz Selection for Preschoolers (Year-R Class)
- Play equipment that delights children. Toys and play tools that can be enjoyed from early childhood.
- Age 4: Simple and Fun! Handmade Toy Ideas
- Word games you can enjoy with your kids. Let’s learn through play with words!
- Get excited! A list of popular and fun hand games that captivate children
- Recommended for 5-year-olds! Simple DIY toy ideas
- [Quiz] Recommended for preschoolers! A collection of fun quiz ideas
- [For Preschoolers] Thinking Is Fun! Riddle Special
- [Childcare] Recommended for toddlers! Toy ideas you can make and play with
A popular hiragana toy. Learn while you play! (1–10)
Easy ABCs with a pen
When learning hiragana, actually writing it yourself is important, too.
That’s why I’d like to introduce “Pen de Rakuraku Aiueo.” This product is a collaboration between Gakken and Disney.
You set a sheet into the device and trace the hiragana printed on it with the included pen—like a toy for guided writing practice.
It also features modes for enjoying quizzes and trying your hand at writing letters.
By the way, similar products are available from other companies as well, so it’s a good idea to compare them before purchasing.
aiueo tablet
I also recommend the Aiueo tablet as a toy that lets kids enjoyably learn hiragana like a game.
In fact, it’s a toy with quite a long history, so many parents probably played with it when they were children.
In recent years, some models come with LCD screens and include mini-games.
Depending on the type, there are also versions that let you learn katakana, numbers, and musical scales.
That way, children can keep using it even after they’ve learned hiragana, and they’re less likely to get bored.
Hiragana lesson in the bath
Toys that let kids learn hiragana in the bath are popular, too.
The classic type involves sticking a sheet on the bathroom wall and tracing or reading the characters.
Looking at more unique products, there are toys themed around hiragana that float in the bath, and sets with magnets attached to sheets printed with hiragana so you can stick and arrange them on the wall.
When purchasing, it’s a good idea to check factors like size and water resistance.
By the way, similar items are also sold at 100-yen shops.
Word Picture Dictionary
When learning hiragana, pronunciation is an important element too.
A toy I’d like to recommend that lets you enjoy learning pronunciation is the “Kotoba Zukan” (word picture book).
There are several versions available, but the most famous is the “Anpanman Kotoba Zukan.” With this toy, you touch the book with a pen and it plays audio corresponding to the spot you touched.
For example, if you touch Anpanman, it plays the sound for “a.” It also includes a mode where you can touch multiple spots to form specific words.
Shiritori Bingo
Shiritori Bingo is also recommended for situations where multiple people want to enjoy learning hiragana together.
Normally, bingo cards have numbers on them, right? But in Hiragana Bingo, the 50-sound hiragana characters are printed on the cards.
Then everyone plays shiritori, and if the last character of the word you say appears on your bingo card, you get to punch that spot.
It’s quite a strategic game, so I think parents and guardians will enjoy joining in as well.
hiragana building blocks
Building blocks are said to help nurture children’s imaginations.
Hiragana blocks add an element that helps kids learn hiragana.
There are many products available, including sets with illustrations of words that start with each hiragana letter, and sets featuring popular characters.
Some focus on the tactile feel of the wood, while others include stroke order guides.
Look for a set that best fits your child’s preferences and age.
Hiragana Karuta
Hiragana karuta are also a popular toy.
In most cases, karuta cards have hiragana written on them, but products released for children are sometimes called “hiragana karuta” as well.
They’re made by various manufacturers, but in recent years, the ones attracting attention are karuta sets based on picture books, such as Noraneko Gundan.
These make it easy for kids to take an interest, and the humorous illustrations are sure to make you chuckle.
Karuta also helps develop quick reactions and memory skills.