From New Year’s games to winter crafts! A roundup of January recreation activities to enjoy in childcare

playing in the snow

●Everyday Play● Let’s play in the snow☆ snowball fights, building snowmen, and making igloos♡ It was fun☆ Ma-chan [6 years old], O-chan [4 years old] #607

Didn’t you get excited when it snowed as a child? As adults, snow can feel like a hassle, but kids love it! When it snows, be sure to go outside and play in the snow.

Snowball fights, building snowmen, making igloos, sledding—there are more kinds of snow play than you might think.

Kids are natural-born play experts, so it’s great to let them play freely while adults keep a watchful eye.

If you live in an area where it rarely snows, there are facilities where you can enjoy indoor snow play all year round, so be sure to check them out!

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Bozu Mekuri

bōzu-mekuri (a traditional Japanese card-flipping game)

Do you know Bouzu Mekuri? It’s one of the traditional New Year’s games.

Try incorporating it as an activity you can enjoy with children.

In this game, you flip illustrated cards to test your luck and memory—it originated from the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu.

The moment when the teacher and children flip cards together and guess what will appear is really exciting.

The rules vary by region, so it might be fun to create new rules with the children as well.

It’s a great chance to build communication skills and a good opportunity to experience Japanese traditional culture.

Involving parents, everyone can have a fun time together.

Kagami mochi made with whipped paint

Get into the New Year spirit! How about making a kagami mochi with your kids using whipped paint? You’ll need shaving foam, liquid glue, a container, a spoon, a brush, a pen, and construction or origami paper.

First, draw a picture of a kagami mochi on colored construction paper with a pen, then make the daidai (bitter orange) to place on top using origami or construction paper.

Next, let’s make the “whipped cream.” Squeeze a rough amount of liquid glue into the container, then add about the same amount of shaving foam.

Mix with a spoon until it reaches the consistency of whipped cream.

If you don’t have enough, you can add more! Finally, paint the whipped “cream” onto your sketch with a brush, and you’re done!

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[Fingerplay Song] Umm, the Zodiac

[Hand Play / Play Song] Umm, the Twelve Zodiac Signs

As a January activity that can be introduced immediately in childcare settings, we recommend a fingerplay song with a zodiac theme! The zodiac originated in ancient China.

Since many animals appear in the zodiac, children can have fun learning about it.

The highlight of this fingerplay song is that it includes the sounds of all 12 animals! You can also sing while mimicking each animal, and have the children join in and get excited by copying the motions.

For the final part, feel free to adapt it to match the year or the timing and enjoy!

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karuta (traditional Japanese playing cards)

[Age 5] Let’s make karuta and play!

Karuta, which is said to have been introduced from Portugal, is also widely known as a New Year’s game.

The rules are simple: lay out the grabbing cards (torifuda), each marked with one of the 50 syllables, on a flat surface.

When a clue card (yomifuda) is read, the player who grabs the matching torifuda first gets the card, and the one who collects the most cards wins.

It also helps children learn letters, so it’s perfect for January activities! It could be fun for teachers and children to compete, or to hold team matches at daycare centers and kindergartens.

Prepare karuta sets that kids will enjoy, such as regional traditional karuta, dialect karuta, or even handmade sets created by the children themselves.

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buzzing top

Spins Great! Whirligig Made from a Milk Carton – Handmade New Year’s Toy [Daycare/Kindergarten]

Perfect for winter play in January! Here’s a fun project to make a buzzing spinning top (bunbun-goma) using a milk carton.

You’ll need a milk carton, kite string, crayons, a permanent marker, and double-sided tape.

First, open up the milk carton and cut off the bottom and the spout.

Fold it in half with the inside facing out.

Sketch an oval shape with a pen, cut along the outline with scissors, and draw a daruma on both sides.

Next, stick the two sides together with double-sided tape.

Color the daruma with crayons, then make a hole in the center and thread the kite string through.

Punch the holes along the carton’s crease, tie the ends of the string, and you’re done!

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mochi pounding

[New Year] Everyone pounding together♪ Mochi making at the daycare 🎍

How about incorporating a mochi-pounding activity into your January recreation program—something you don’t often get to experience? It’s sure to be a hit with both kids and adults! To spark interest beforehand, you might start by reading a picture book themed around mochi pounding.

Along with that, introduce the kine (mallet) and usu (mortar), let participants taste the freshly steamed glutinous rice, and help them experience how mochi is made.

Since the kine is heavy, adults should assist during the pounding.

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