Lovely childcare

Have fun in childcare! A collection of play ideas to liven up cold days in January

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.

When January comes, many teachers may want to incorporate New Year’s games and activities unique to the cold season.

Traditional games and action-based finger plays offer chances to engage with friends while experiencing Japanese culture.

Here, we introduce winter-specific play ideas such as Oshikura Manju, Fukuwarai, and kite flying.

We’ve picked a variety of activities—from ones that require no preparation to those where you can make the materials together with the children.

These are all activities that warm the body and spread smiles even on cold days.

Be sure to try them in your childcare setting!

Have fun in childcare! A collection of play ideas that liven up cold January days (41–50)

Cute with origami! Kadomatsu made of origami

[One sheet of origami] Easy Kadomatsu tutorial 🎍 How to make a paper Kadomatsu #Seollal #NewYear #NewYear’sDay #PlumBlossom #NewYear’sMorning #Nandina #HappyNewYear #Craft #FoldingMethod #Origami #Origami (Chinese) #Paper #PaperFolding (Korean)

Cute with origami! Kadomatsu made of origami

Recommended for those who want to make simple New Year’s decorations! Kadomatsu are New Year decorations made with pine and bamboo that are set up at entrances during the holiday, right? Many children have probably seen them while out on walks or outings.

This time, let’s finish it using just one sheet of green origami paper.

The key points are to make firm creases along the lines and to align the corners.

There are many steps where you create a crease and then use it to form the next one, so it would be great to enjoy making it while keeping these points in mind.

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You can make it with origami! Kagami mochi origami

[New Year Origami] Easy and Cute Kagami Mochi Origami / Origami Kagami-mochi

You can make it with origami! Kagami mochi origami

Kagami mochi is characterized by stacked rice cakes and a bitter orange on top.

It looks lovely whether you stick it onto a surface or let it stand on its own, and it’s great for preschool craft projects! You’ll need white origami paper, light yellow origami paper, orange origami paper, green origami paper, colored pens, glue, and so on.

It’s exciting to make each part—the mochi, the daidai (bitter orange), and the sanpō (the wooden stand)—separately and then assemble them.

Since the origami sizes differ for each part, please follow the video to check the sizes as you make it!

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[Play Song] Rub-Rub

[Play Song] Rub, Rub (Keropons & Ryuzo Fukuda)

[Play Song] Rub-Rub

Warm up by dancing in the cold season! Let me introduce the play song “Kosure Kosure.” This song features a catchy melody and a fun rhythm that makes your body sway.

The choreography, where you rub-rub your body with your palms, is also adorable! Once you get used to rubbing your own body, it could be fun to rub your friends, or gently rub a parent’s or teacher’s back, too.

Try arranging it together with the kids and have fun! In the cold season, be sure to play with “Kosure Kosure!”

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Sketchbook Theater for the January theme

[Sketchbook Theater] Perfect for New Year! Three Recommended Theaters for January ☆

Sketchbook Theater for the January theme

Sketchbook theater is a popular activity at preschools and kindergartens, where the story unfolds with each page you turn.

In January, why not try a New Year’s theme? All you need is a sketchbook, and it’s easy to prepare—just draw pictures with pens, crayons, or colored pencils, or attach cutout pieces of construction paper.

Draw traditional New Year’s activities like kite flying, spinning tops, handballs, and hanetsuki (a paddle-and-shuttlecock game), and introduce them to the children while singing New Year’s songs.

Not only can you draw illustrations, but creating motifs from construction paper or adding simple mechanisms will likely delight the children as well.

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[Hand Play Song] Happy New Year

Happy New Year [hand play song]

[Hand Play Song] Happy New Year

Would you like to enjoy the fingerplay song “Akemashite Omedetō,” which captures the New Year atmosphere, together with the children? Let’s use our whole bodies to express the joy of welcoming a brand-new year! A key feature of this fingerplay song is that its lyrics include traditional New Year customs such as playing karuta, flying kites, and doing the first calligraphy of the year.

Enjoying this song with the children also provides a great opportunity for them to learn about these traditions!

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[Fingerplay Song] Umm, the Zodiac

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

[Fingerplay Song] Umm, the Zodiac

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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beanbags

Beanbag play: example edition

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?

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