Lovely childcare

[Childcare] Full of energy! Indoor activity ideas to get kids moving

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.

There are times when the weather or location keeps you from playing outside, right?

You still want to get moving and play with your energetic kids, even just a little.

For teachers who feel this way, here are some ideas for indoor active play.

The games that captivate children vary depending on their age and interests.

This time, we’ve gathered activities that involve different movements and creative thinking—so you’re sure to find ideas that fit your class perfectly!

Kids will be thrilled with games that are possible precisely because they’re indoors.

Teachers, have fun together with the children, too.

[Childcare] Full of energy! Indoor play ideas to get kids moving (11–20)

circuit play

Circuit play / circuit exercises

circuit play

Circuit play, where children complete laps while overcoming various obstacles, helps improve their physical abilities even indoors.

Figuring out how to get past the obstacles set along the course and using their muscles to climb over them makes it just as physically engaging as outdoor play.

By adjusting the size and complexity, you can create a course that offers an age-appropriate challenge, making it a great opportunity for adults to get creative as well.

It’s a recommended activity for energetic kids that lets them fully engage both their minds and bodies, even indoors.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Run Away from the Hula Hoop Game

[Group Play] Run Away from the Hula Hoop Game!

Run Away from the Hula Hoop Game

Great for group play! Here’s an idea for a “Run from the Hula Hoop” game.

All you need is a large hula hoop.

The rules are simple: it’s a game where children try to avoid getting hit by a hula hoop rolled by a parent or teacher.

The key is to predict the hoop’s speed and direction of travel and move accordingly.

Once everyone gets used to the game, adding variety to how the hoop moves will make it even more fun for the kids! Be sure to give it a try during your activities.

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Rock-Paper-Scissors Train

Eurhythmics (Class for 3-year-olds) July 9, 2015 (5)

Rock-Paper-Scissors Train

A great game to recommend for preschools and kindergartens is “Rock-Paper-Scissors Train.” While singing, the children in the class play rock-paper-scissors.

The child who loses lines up behind the winner like a train, and in the end, the one who keeps winning becomes the leader of a single long train.

The key point is that everyone can enjoy a sense of unity by singing together and forming the train.

It’s a game where children can have fun while learning rock-paper-scissors.

Let’s all get excited together!

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Storm Storm Big Storm Game

[Indoor Play] Even MatsuJun was shocked?! Indoor play!!

Storm Storm Big Storm Game

Let’s play using our heads and bodies! Here’s an idea for the Big Storm Game.

Depending on the age group, it’s helpful to prepare visual aids like sample diagrams or origami markers.

Assign one child as the squirrel and two children as the trees.

At the teacher’s cue, “A wolf is coming!” the squirrel moves to a different tree.

At the cue, “A lumberjack is coming!” the trees move to a different squirrel.

At the cue, “A big storm is coming!” everyone moves and pairs up with different friends.

To start, try playing while using the sample diagram or markers as guides!

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Rolling Dodgeball

@toiro_efilagroup
Do you know “Korokoro Dodgeball”?After-school day service #toiro #Kanagawa Prefecture Andante Childcare Worker
♪ Original song – toiro After-school Day – toiro After-school Day

Let me introduce Korokoro Dodgeball, a game where you roll the ball to play.

The rules are similar to regular dodgeball, but instead of throwing the ball, players are split into inside and outside, and the outside players roll the ball to keep the game going.

If an inside player is hit by a ball rolled by someone on the outside, they move to the outside and join their team’s attack from there.

In the end, count how many players remain on the inside to decide the winner.

Using a softer ball than in regular dodgeball makes the game safer and more enjoyable.

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