[Autumn] Seasonal play ideas to incorporate into childcare: Let’s connect with nature both outdoors and indoors

Transform in autumn nature!

[Ages 3–5] Transform with Autumn Nature!

Let’s have fun making your favorite crown using colorful leaves! Stick lots of fallen leaves you found on a walk onto a headband that you’ve prepped with double-sided tape, and you’ll have a crown in no time! Since you can choose leaves in your favorite colors outdoors as you make it, it really sparks the imagination—“Which leaf should I use?” We also recommend trying acorns and pine cones.

And it’s not just crowns—making other items like a walk bag or a cape would be exciting too! Once you’re done, everyone can transform and put on a little show together.

Making a fallen-leaves cake

[Ages 0–2] Feel the Fall: Make a Leaf Cake!

How about everyone working together to make a big cake out of fallen leaves? First, have fun collecting leaves and acorns.

The teacher will prepare a cardboard base in advance.

Make stamp daubers by attaching cotton to plastic bottles or disposable chopsticks, and decorate a large white sheet of paper cut to the shape of the cake with colorful patterns.

Then stick the paper onto the cardboard cake and keep pasting on the leaves and acorns.

The sheer size of the cake will have the children buzzing with excitement.

Let them go all out—paste freely and abundantly—and create a delicious-looking cake!

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hiyori

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Let’s go out with a walk bag

How about handmaking a “stroll bag” that makes autumn walks even more fun? All you need are a toilet paper roll and an insulated bag! It’s perfect for a group craft activity at nursery school or kindergarten, and once you’re done, why not head out for an autumn walk? To make it, wrap your favorite origami paper around a toilet paper roll, insert it into an insulated bag and secure it with tape, then attach a ribbon to wear over the shoulder.

You can also freely customize it—use patterned insulated bags, decorate with stickers or washi tape, and more! Have fun collecting fallen leaves and nuts in your stroll bag.

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miyabi

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[Dance] We Are Grapes

[Dance/Childcare] We Are Grapes / Tsubasa Suzuki & Sho Fukuda [Exercise/Kindergarten/Toddlers/Infants/Fruit/Autumn/Parenting/Children’s Songs]

When you think of delicious autumn fruits, many people probably picture grapes.

Round and sweet, grapes are a favorite among children too.

Let’s become grapes ourselves and dance along to “We Are Grapes.” You can form a big circle with your hands and sway, or shake your hips while saying “bu-bu-bu.” The choreography and melody are easy for kids to pick up, so they’ll learn it in no time.

Teachers looking for a fun dance that captures the feeling of autumn, please give this a try.

[Hand Play] Autumn Hand Play

[Fingerplay] Autumn Fingerplay Medley [Daycare/Kindergarten]

Here are some hand games you can enjoy with children in autumn.

The first is “Yakiimo Goo-Choki-Pa.” Its catchy rhythm and fun lyrics, plus the rock-paper-scissors at the end, make it a favorite that really appeals to kids.

The second is “Tonbo no Megane” (Dragonfly Glasses).

It beautifully expresses how the autumn sky changes as seen through a dragonfly’s eyes.

The third is “Matsubokkuri” (Pine Cone).

It’s the kind of song that makes you want to hum along when you find a pine cone outdoors.

If you replace the word “monkey” with a child’s name, it really livens things up.

The fourth is “Ookina Kuri no Ki no Shita de” (Under the Big Chestnut Tree).

Many of you may know this one.

It’s a hand game that’s fun to play in pairs, facing a friend or teacher.

The fifth is “Donguri to Korisu” (Acorns and a Little Squirrel).

Numbers appear in the song, so it helps deepen children’s understanding of counting.

We’ve introduced five hand games recommended for autumn.

Try adapting them while watching the children’s reactions, and expand the play to make it even more enjoyable.

Autumn finger play

Finger play for 2- and 5-year-olds themed around autumn

Let’s play hand and finger games that promote fine motor development with an autumn-themed twist! You can make autumn motifs with origami or try a torn-paper collage that looks like autumn leaves.

It would also be lovely to cut colored construction paper into ginkgo and maple leaf shapes, punch holes, and thread yarn through them to create necklaces.

Threading yarn through holes requires concentration, and by taking on this challenge, children will learn to use their fingertips more skillfully.

Plus, it could be fun to create together with friends of different ages.

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miyabi

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Easy and cute! How to fold a squirrel (origami)

[Autumn Origami] Easy! Cute Squirrel Folding Method / Animal Squirrel Decoration Origami Squirrel

After folding the first sheet of origami into a triangle to make a crease, open it up.

Place the paper so the crease runs vertically, then fold the bottom corner up about 5 cm.

Flip the paper over and fold the opposite corner down to meet the very bottom edge of the paper.

Turn the paper upside down, then fold the base to meet the center crease; it will form a heart shape.

Fold both sides of the two top corners inward to make the squirrel’s ears.

Fold the remaining corners inward to round them off, and the face is complete.

For the second sheet, also fold it into a triangle and open it.

Offset slightly from the crease, fold the two left edges inward.

On the right side, fold the two edges along the center crease.

Take the corner created on the right side and fold it up diagonally.

Flip the paper over, then fold the right corner of the square section up to meet the crease.

Finally, fold up the corner on the opposite side as well to complete the body.

Finish by drawing the face and patterns with a pen.

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sasashina

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