From New Year’s games to winter crafts! A roundup of January recreation activities to enjoy in childcare
January is a season filled with excitement, wrapped in the special atmosphere of the New Year! There are plenty of ideas you can enjoy with children, from traditional New Year’s games to crafts that let you feel the winter season.
Here, you can savor the fun of writing letters by playing post office, or try spinning a buzzing top.
From lively indoor events to seasonal crafts, we’ll introduce activities that will make children’s eyes sparkle.
Enjoy memorable experiences with the kids—perfect for the start of a brand-new year!
- [January Childcare] Traditional New Year’s Games! A Collection of Ideas to Enjoy with Children
- Ideas for Childcare Quizzes to Enjoy in January
- [January] Enjoy with 2-year-olds! A collection of craft ideas that capture winter and the New Year
- [Children’s Club] Easy and fun indoor games. Exciting party games
- [Kindergarten/Daycare] Games and Performances for Fun Events
- Fun January Crafts! A Collection of Ideas You Can Make and Play With for 5-Year-Olds
- Have fun in childcare! A collection of play ideas to liven up cold days in January
- Useful for childcare! Today’s recommended recreational activities, including fingerplay and games!
- [For Kids] Indoor Fun! Large-Group Recreational Activities and Games
- [Parent-Child Rec] Recreational activities and games for parents and children to enjoy together—also great for sports days.
- [Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
- [For 3-year-olds] Perfect January Winter & New Year Crafts! A Collection of Fun, Hands-On Ideas
- [Elementary School] Quick and Easy! Indoor Recreational Activities Perfect for Lower Grades
From New Year’s games to winter crafts! January childcare recreation ideas (91–100)
invisible ink (revealed by heat); rubbings to reveal hidden text
Do you know “invisible ink” art? Here’s a fascinating drawing activity you can do using mandarin orange juice! First, squeeze a mandarin to get its juice.
Next, dip a brush into the juice and write or draw on white paper, then let the paper dry.
The letters and pictures that were invisible while you were drawing will appear when you gently warm the paper over a flame! This works because acids and other components in the juice react with the paper fibers and change how they hold moisture.
The juiced areas char more easily and change color.
If a child asks “Why?”, you can explain it—or have the kids research it themselves.
Try this activity in ways suited to the children’s ages!
beanbags
Children’s eyes are sure to sparkle with a New Year–only game like beanbag juggling.
The charm of handmade beanbags is that you can enjoy choosing the fabric.
The throw-and-catch motion is perfect for boosting concentration.
If you play in a circle, it can also foster everyone’s sense of cooperation.
Adding traditional children’s songs lets you connect with cultural heritage, too.
Beanbag play is something parents and guardians can enjoy together, making it a great tool for communication at home.
How about creating happy memories at the start of the new year with a little beanbag fun?
From New Year’s games to winter crafts! January childcare recreation special (101–110)
New Year’s Quiz
Kids love quizzes! They’re easy to play without any special materials, so they’re great for activities at nurseries and kindergartens.
For January fun, how about New Year’s quizzes that teach children about Japanese culture? Try questions like: “What fruit is placed on top of the kagami mochi?”, “What square-shaped food do we eat at New Year?”, and “What arrives in the mailbox at New Year?” Come up with New Year–themed questions! You could also add multiple-choice answers or provide hints to suit the children’s ages.
Kendama
Let’s ring in the New Year with a classic New Year’s pastime—kendama! When the kids catch the big ball and everyone cheers, “Congratulations!” smiles are sure to spread.
Kendama not only builds concentration, but also fosters communication as friends show off their tricks to one another.
Trying different moves helps boost children’s confidence, too.
Even if they miss, their determination to say “One more time!” and keep at it might help them achieve their New Year’s goals.
It’s a wonderful chance for everyone to have fun while experiencing Japanese traditional culture.
Sugoroku
Sugoroku is a game that has long been loved in Japan.
Many of you may have played it with family and friends during the New Year holidays.
It’s a simple game where you move your piece according to the number rolled on the die and compete to see who reaches the goal first.
The Game of Life, which incorporates elements of sugoroku, is also well-known among children! Whether you play a commercially available game or create your own original sugoroku, it’s sure to be a hit.
Making your own is recommended, as it helps develop thinking and creativity.
menko (a traditional Japanese card-and-coin-flipping game)
A popular game that was all the rage in the Showa era is “menko.” Paper ones are the most common, but it’s said there are also versions made of clay or lead.
The rules are simple: you slam your own menko down onto your opponent’s menko placed on the ground, and if you flip it over, you win! Precisely because it’s a simple game, it’s easy to get excited.
If you want to try menko casually, make your own using a milk carton found in any household! Just cut the carton into squares and draw your favorite designs.
Make them with the kids, and have the grown-ups join in the fun too!
Dice game
Win or lose, it’s fun! Let me introduce a game called Dice Janken.
Prepare a die big enough to hold with both hands.
Here’s how to play: first, face each other while holding the die.
Say, “Dice Janken, Janken Roll!” in rhythm and roll the die.
Do this three times; the player with the higher total wins.
You can also change the number of rounds, or make the rule that the lower total wins.
It’s a blast either way, so be sure to try it with kids!