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[Childcare] June Event Ideas! Great for Cavities Prevention Day and Family Day♪

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.
Nursery Teacher Mom Writertsukada moe
After working for five years at an after-school childcare club and three years at a nursery school, I began working as a freelance writer. I’m a mother of two children. Inspired by playing the flute in the school wind ensemble in elementary school, I joined a jazz club at university. I’ve also incorporated ukulele and piano performance into childcare. Playing, laughing, feeling sad, feeling frustrated—through all kinds of experiences, I want children to grow.

In June, nursery schools and kindergartens hold events like Cavity Prevention Day, birthday parties, and Family Day.

Here, we’ve gathered ideas for June-themed activities.

With a few simple twists and some new materials, you can create unique, school-specific events.

There are ideas that parents and children can enjoy together, so you’re sure to see lots of smiles! Try incorporating some fresh ideas into your June events to create fun, memorable moments for both children and adults.

[Childcare] June Event Ideas! Great for Cavity Prevention Day and Family Day♪ (11–20)

[Family Day] Make Your Own Coaster

Let's make a Father's Day gift♪ Original coaster

[Family Day] Make Your Own Coaster

Let’s make and gift an original coaster using a string-lacing technique.

First, punch threading holes in three pieces of backing paper.

Cut a circular window in just one piece, then stack the three and glue them together.

It’s best for the teacher to prepare up to this step in advance.

Have the children choose embroidery floss in their favorite colors and thread it through the holes.

The teacher should support them and encourage steady, patient work.

Finally, draw the parent’s face in the center circle—and it’s done! A one-of-a-kind, special coaster.

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[Family Day] Handprint & Footprint Card

[Nursery School] Mother's Day and Father's Day Crafts (Nishi-Ogawa Campus)

[Family Day] Handprint & Footprint Card

As families take many different forms, there’s a growing tendency not to hold traditional “Mother’s Day” or “Father’s Day” events.

So how about creating a “Family Day” to share children’s growth with their caregivers? From the time they were newborns, caregivers have watched over their children’s development.

If you take their handprints and turn them into an art piece, you might be moved to see their growth at a glance.

Let’s continue to watch over the children’s growth together from here on out.

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Family Day Footprint Stamp Bookmark

[Kindergarten/Nursery] June Father’s Day Gift Craft

Family Day Footprint Stamp Bookmark

How about taking the children’s footprints on “Family Day” and using them as clothing patterns? Add a face to the clothing and draw a portrait of a parent or guardian.

With a little creativity, you can turn it into Mom, Grandma, or Grandpa, making it a gift that’s considerate of many different family structures.

Their feet are still quite small, but they’ve grown so much compared to when they were newborns.

We want them to keep growing healthy and strong.

It’s a gift that lets you share that growth with their caregivers.

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“Cavity Prevention Day” Apron Theater

[Nursery School] Cavity Prevention Day Apron Theater

“Cavity Prevention Day” Apron Theater

June 4 is read as “mushi” (meaning insects), so it has become established as Cavity Prevention Day in Japan.

To protect children’s dental health, we want to pass on habits like brushing their teeth and not eating too many sweets.

How about hosting a lively cavity-prevention show using an apron theater? As children see the various ideas that appear along with the story, they’ll learn things like “Cavities look painful!” and “I need to brush my teeth properly!” We can also look forward to their spontaneous, enthusiastic reactions.

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Cavity Prevention Day Clear File Theater

Clear File Theater “Who Isn’t Brushing Their Teeth?” by Koichi Uranaka

Cavity Prevention Day Clear File Theater

A clear-file theater is also recommended as an activity for Cavity Prevention Day.

Place a drawing of a child’s face inside a clear file, and as the story progresses, color the teeth black so cavities appear right before their eyes.

Because it’s a clear file, you can erase the black marker afterward and reuse it—another plus.

Kids will be surprised to see the teeth turning black right in front of them.

Simply saying “Let’s brush our teeth” often doesn’t get the message across to children, but with a clear-file theater, they can have fun while learning!

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Cavity Prevention Day: Hand-play Song — The Mouse’s Tooth Brushing

A nursery classic to sing♪ “The Mouse’s Tooth Brushing” [Tooth-Brushing Song · Nursery Music Play · All-Purpose Activity]

Cavity Prevention Day: Hand-play Song — The Mouse’s Tooth Brushing

It’s a slightly surreal fingerplay song where a mouse’s front teeth gradually chip away in time with the music.

As the teeth go “one chipped, two chipped…” and disappear, children will likely feel, “Oh no!” When the mouse is down to just one front tooth, a toothbrush appears.

With a “shush-shush” scrub, that last tooth won’t be lost.

Children enjoying the fingerplay will also get a real sense of how important brushing is.

It’s a great introduction when you’re starting a toothbrushing routine at your preschool!

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[Childcare] June Event Ideas! Great for Cavity Prevention Day and Family Day (21–30)

Nursery class observation

May 12, 2017 Nursery/Daycare Observation (Indoors)

Nursery class observation

A nursery observation day where parents can see how their children spend time at the preschool.

It’s nice not only to observe scenes from the children’s day, but also to have parents join activities they can do together with their child.

You’ll be soothed by the children enjoying songs and dances with friends and sharing meals, and you may discover sides of them that differ from their everyday behavior.

It can also be a chance for not only the children but the parents to build closer relationships with one another.

This event not only lets you record their adorable moments on video, but also notice what they’re interested in and curious about.

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