Lovely childcare

[Childcare] Let’s all play! A collection of recommended ideas for group play and games

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.
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.

Group play is essential in early childhood care, isn’t it?

But it’s easy to end up doing the same games over and over, and children can get bored.

So we’ve gathered a collection of group play ideas for teachers who have that concern.

We’ve included a variety of movement-based games that can be enjoyed both outdoors and indoors, so you can choose according to the day’s activity setting.

Another fun aspect of group play is that the level of excitement varies depending on the class’s age and the children’s personalities.

Try choosing while thinking, “Which games will suit my class?”

Let’s spend a fun time with the children.

[Childcare] Let’s Play Together! A Collection of Recommended Group Play and Game Ideas (71–80)

Hoop Daruma-san ga Koronda

[Age 3] Daruma-san ga koronda♪

Hoop Daruma-san ga Koronda

More ways to play! Here are some ideas for playing “Red Light, Green Light” using hula hoops.

You’ll need two balance beams, a hula hoop, a ball, and flat markers.

“Red Light, Green Light” is a game that’s been loved for generations.

Since the rules are easy to understand, many preschools and childcare centers likely include it in their activities.

Using hula hoops, balls, and balance beams expands the possibilities, so it’s highly recommended.

Once children are comfortable with the basic rules, give these variations a try!

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Hoop Musical Chairs

[Nursery Teacher | Outdoor Play] Hula Hoop

Hoop Musical Chairs

Let’s play using both our bodies and brains! Here’s an idea for a hula hoop musical chairs game.

Prepare about 10 small hula hoops in various colors.

As everyone hums a song with a deserted island theme, walk around the hula hoops.

When the teacher calls out “1, 2, 3,” everyone jumps into a hula hoop island.

It gets more exciting if you gradually reduce the number of hula hoops! Once everyone gets used to the game, try specifying which color hula hoop to enter, or call out items related to a color to decide which hoop to use.

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Hoop Music Play

Eurhythmics Video for Children 15: “Let’s Play with Hoops!” — Song Home Lesson Movie

Hoop Music Play

Let me share some ideas for playing with music using hula hoops.

All you need is a piano and large hula hoops.

Eurhythmics nurtures children’s interest in music and their abilities by moving the body to music and playing with rhythm.

While it’s possible to do these activities without any props, why not try eurhythmics ideas that use hula hoops? By moving the hula hoops to the music or along the scale, children can enjoy the fun of expressing themselves with their bodies.

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Dodgeball (line dodgeball)

Coordination Training Junior: Dodgeball (Hit-and-Out)

Dodgeball (line dodgeball)

Here’s an introduction to “Nakaa-te,” a game that’s great fun with a large group.

Many of you may have played it when you were little.

While the finer rules can vary by age and experience, the basic idea is simple: players are divided into those inside and outside a boundary, and the people on the outside throw a ball to try to hit the people on the inside.

You can tweak it endlessly—make the boundary a square or a circle, use a larger or smaller ball, and so on.

If any children are afraid of getting hit, try using a soft ball so it doesn’t hurt.

You can play with as few as three people, so give it a try!

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Signaling Game

A simple game you can play in your room: 'Traffic Light Game'

Signaling Game

Here’s a traffic-signal game everyone can play.

The rules are: blue = march in place one step, red = crouch quickly, yellow = shake your head and look around, and any other color = do nothing.

Choose one person as the leader.

The leader calls out a signal color, and the other participants perform the corresponding action.

The game gets more exciting if you increase the speed and keep a good rhythm! It’s recommended to start at a slower pace at first.

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