Lovely childcare

[Childcare] Play ideas using hula hoops: Have fun by making the most of simple equipment

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.

Playing with hula hoops is an exciting time for children!

Here, we introduce ideas for hula hoop activities that can be enjoyed in childcare settings.

Moving their bodies with colorful hula hoops makes the fun complete!

Children can enjoy games that involve cooperating with friends, as well as activities set to music.

Through these games, children can strengthen their friendships while moving their bodies to the fullest.

Please use this as a reference and try incorporating these ideas into everyday childcare and events.

[Childcare] Play ideas using hula hoops: Have fun with equipment (21–30)

Balloon roly-poly game

@soramame.sensei
Let’s make a roly-poly toy with a balloon and play a game! 😊 With friends! With family! An indoor game you can play even on rainy days ☔✨️Child Development Support After-school day service #SoramameKids #StayHomeTime #Indoor Play Parent-child time #HandmadeToys child # developmental support (ryōiku)translation
♬ A cute pop and bouncy song(1526882) – sanusagi

First, attach a weight to a balloon to make one that pops back up when knocked over.

Create a 3×3 grid on the floor with hula hoops or similar, and you win by lining up three in a row vertically, horizontally, or diagonally! This activity effectively improves motor skills, hand–eye balance, and sense of force control.

Kids are sure to be captivated.

It’s easy to prepare and safe to enjoy indoors, so adults can join in the fun too.

It promotes growth through play, so be sure to enjoy it together with the children!

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hoop jump rope

[Fun for Kids] Hula Hoop Play! It’s fun even beyond just spinning it!

hoop jump rope

Let’s try jump rope with a hula hoop! It’s a simple game, but once you start, you’ll want to keep jumping again and again, and I think kids will get completely absorbed in it.

Since it’s made of a harder material than an actual jump rope, it’s a bit harder to swing, but because it doesn’t flex like a rope, it’s actually easier to catch the timing for your jumps.

In fact, people sometimes use a hula hoop to practice for real jump rope.

Prepare a lightweight hula hoop that suits your child’s size, and give jump rope a try!

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Hula hoop relay

Hula hoop relay

Hula hoop relay

Let’s clear the game by cooperating with friends! Here’s an idea for a hula-hoop relay.

It’s perfect for a sports day event for five-year-olds and is a great game for building teamwork.

Everyone holds hands and, without letting go, passes the hula hoop from person to person—working together is the key! Children will learn the importance of cooperation as they value teamwork and call out to encourage each other.

Through this event, they’ll deepen their bonds with friends and experience a real sense of accomplishment.

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A hula hoop made from empty lactic acid bacteria drink containers

A handmade hula hoop for the daycare—we made it using Yakult bottles.

A hula hoop made from empty lactic acid bacteria drink containers

Here’s a hula hoop you can make using empty lactic acid bacteria drink containers.

Gather empty containers from a lactic acid drink, double-sided tape, ribbon tape (suzuran tape), scissors, and clear tape.

First, cut out the bottoms of the containers with a utility knife.

Fit the mouth of one container into the bottom opening of the next, and apply double-sided tape over each joint to secure it firmly as you form a hoop shape.

Once the entire ring is connected, peel off the backing from the double-sided tape and wrap ribbon tape over the surface so there are no gaps.

Reinforce it with clear tape on top, and you’re done! By changing the color of the ribbon tape, you can make a colorful hula hoop.

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A hula hoop made from newspaper

Improve motor skills with handmade hoops!! [Hoop Jump] [Hoop Crawl]

A hula hoop made from newspaper

Here’s how to make a hula hoop out of newspaper.

Gather newspaper and tape, and let’s get started.

Spread out a sheet of newspaper and roll it tightly lengthwise.

Rolling the newspaper firmly will strengthen the base of the hula hoop and make it more durable.

Secure the roll with tape so it doesn’t loosen, and fix it in place.

Connect the rolled newspapers into a circle, and you’re done! Wrapping the finished hula hoop with vinyl tape will make it even stronger, so it lasts longer and is even more fun to play with.

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Pull hoop play

https://www.tiktok.com/@soramame.sensei/video/7230741022383312146

Compassion is the key to winning! Here’s a fun idea for a Pull-the-Hoop game.

Prepare a hula hoop or a ring made from newspaper, some plastic ribbon (suzuran tape), and start and goal lines.

The person moving inside the hoop should walk in step with the moving hula hoop.

Be careful to keep your feet inside the hoop and maintain your balance! The person pulling the hoop should control the speed and the amount of force to guide their teammate to the goal.

Give it a try!

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hopscotch

130616 Ken-ken-pa

hopscotch

Ken-ken-pa is usually enjoyed as an outdoor game.

But with hula hoops, you can have fun indoors too! Prepare several small hula hoops and connect them in order: one hoop in the first row, one in the second row, two in the third row, and so on.

Make sure to secure them firmly with tape so they don’t move.

Once the hoops are fixed on the floor, have the children jump through them while saying “ken-ken-pa.” “Ken” is a hop on one foot, and “pa” is a landing on both feet.

For children who are not yet able to hop on one foot, let them jump with both feet for the “ken” part as well.

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In conclusion

We introduced some fun games using hula hoops.

One of the great things about hula hoops is that you can adapt the activities to match each child’s stage of development, from toddlers to older preschoolers.

Keep safety in mind, get moving together with the children, and enjoy lots of smiles.

You’ll surely discover more fun than you imagined.

Try incorporating hula hoops to create wonderful memories in your childcare activities.