[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 all play! Recommended ideas for group activities and games (41–50)

Hoop ball throwing

@omiyamichinoko ♪ Classical Medley 2019 (Cover) – Pianica Magician

Hula hoops become the targets! Here’s an idea for a game where you throw balls at hula hoops.

You’ll need two hula hoops, masking tape, and small colored balls.

First, stick masking tape onto the hula hoops to create targets.

Next, throw the colored balls at the hula hoop targets.

When the balls fly just right, they’ll stick to the masking tape with a satisfying plop—it’s really fun! Competing to see how many colored balls stick should make it even more exciting.

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[Childcare] Let’s Play Together! A Collection of Recommended Group Play and Game Ideas (51–60)

Hoop Tag

@soramame.sensei
Tag, but with hoops! Jump to the rhythm!! It’s great because even kids who aren’t good at running can enjoy it 😊Child Development Support After-school day service child Parent-child time #StayHomeTime # developmental support (ryōiku)Tag Hoop translation
♬ Fun comical busy busy – SOUND BANK

Let’s play by predicting the ogre’s moves! Here’s a fun idea for a hula hoop tag game.

Prepare nine small hula hoops and an easy-to-see marker for the person who’s “it.” On the count of “1, 2, 3,” jump to move into an adjacent hula hoop! You can move the length of one hoop vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.

“It” also moves on the cue, so the key is to avoid landing in the same hoop as “it.” Predict the ogre’s movements and try to escape to the end!

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Red Light, Green Light: the daruma who delivers the ball

Hula hoops are safe bases! Let me share an idea for a “Red Light, Green Light” style game where you deliver a ball.

You’ll need more hula hoops than the number of children playing, plus a ball.

You have to move forward to carry the ball, but if you step outside a hula hoop, you get caught! It’s a unique game that lets kids enjoy that thrilling tension.

Even if you’re thinking about which hula hoop to move to, you might end up choosing the same one as a friend.

It seems great for developing quick decision-making skills, too.

Give it a try!

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centipede ogre

@yokohama_rs
#Centipede Demon (Mukade Oni)Recreation Children's Play #Sports Childcare Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Technical college Yokohama #RizospoLet's give it a try!Agility Training
♬ Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!! – Vengaboys

Move nimbly and avoid danger! Here’s an idea for a game called Centipede Tag.

You probably know there are many types of tag, like Freeze Tag and Color Tag.

Have you heard of Centipede Tag, where you work together with teammates to escape the tagger? Assign one person as the tagger, and everyone else is on the centipede team.

The centipede players place their hands on the shoulders of the person in front and stay connected without letting go.

When the last person in the centipede gets tagged, the tagger switches.

It’s tough to escape from a freely moving tagger, but by cooperating, the centipede team will build strong bonds.

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Alien Repatriation Game

https://www.tiktok.com/@asobiinlife/video/7304249524820708609

Let’s work together with friends to help the aliens! Here’s an idea for an Alien Return game.

You’ll need balloons, markers, and something to mark the start and finish lines.

In this simple game, you carry balloon “aliens” to the goal—but cooperating with friends is absolutely required.

That’s because you play in teams of four, holding hands, and the rule is that you can’t let go! Coordinate your moves using your linked hands, heads, shoulders, or hips, and call out to sync your timing.

Work together and save the aliens!

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A hoop you can make and play with using newspaper

@soramame.sensei
Educational toy # developmental support (ryōiku)newspaper (newsprint)Form / Shape #CapCut
♬ Kids, cute, pets, energetic background music(1101939) – nyansuke

Fun for kids and adults alike! Here are ideas for a hoop game you can make and play with newspaper.

All you need are newspapers and cards with different motifs drawn on them.

Hand a sheet of newspaper to each person, then reshape the paper according to the motif card that’s revealed—this unique game is all about transforming the newspaper.

For a round motif, link the newspaper into a circle; for a square motif, try folding it into a square.

You can crumple it, fold it, or even tear it, so the game offers a high degree of freedom.

It really sparks creativity!

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Ring Relay

@kidschallengeclub
⭐️Exciting⭐️ 🌈Ring Relay🌈 We’ll split into two teams and do a relay‼️ I think you’ll understand the rules once you watch the video☝️✨ Let’s do it while thinking with your friends about how to get to the finish faster❣️ After explaining the rules, we’ll give you practice time again, and then it’s the real run‼️ It’s more fun than just training 😀 And because it’s done as a team, everyone takes it more seriously than usual 🎵 We’re sharing fun games like this 🗽 Please follow us 🙇‍♀️relay team Recreation Cooperation Friendship Kids Challenge Club Exercise Play Class Fukuoka City #Momochi Gymnasium <h id=”10″>弥生幼稚園</h>︎
Battle Theme / Dragon Quest III – Me Gāne

Here are two ideas for ring relay games.

What you need to prepare are markers for the start and finish lines.

In the first game, each person crawls under the feet of the person in front, then quickly stands up and spreads their legs to form a tunnel, connecting all the way to the finish.

In the second game, players form pairs to make a ring, and the next person in line crawls through as they all move toward the finish.

The key point is that neither game can be completed by a single person.

It’s also fun to compete by team!

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