Lovely childcare

Recommended for childcare! Game and activity ideas to liven up a summer festival

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.

The once-a-year summer festival that the kids look forward to is here! At nursery schools and kindergartens, you’ll want to make the special time with friends even more exciting.

Here, we’ll share recommended ideas for games and activities you can do together with the children.

Enjoy the preparation time together, too.

Classic activities like target tossing and yo-yo fishing can be even more fun with a few simple twists.

Choose ideas that fit the size and atmosphere of your school, and make it a summer festival that thrills both children and adults!

Recommended for childcare! Game and performance ideas to liven up a summer festival (41–50)

[Shooting Game] Safe Shooting with Paper Cups

Easy Shooting Game with Paper Cups! [Try Making It? Craft Edition]

[Shooting Game] Safe Shooting with Paper Cups

Many adults probably felt excited by shooting gallery games, too.

Let’s make a safe version for kids using paper cups.

An adult should handle cutting out the bottom of a paper cup with a utility knife.

After trimming a second paper cup to make it shallow, cut a slit in its base and secure a rubber band by hooking it onto a stick.

Then stack the cups, pull the rubber band, and release—that’s it! Since the cups are paper, it won’t hurt much even if someone gets hit, but make sure you have plenty of space before playing.

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Target practice: Hit it accurately

Kindergarten Summer Festival

Target practice: Hit it accurately

Target-hitting games, where you aim and hit a target, are definitely ones you’ll want to include.

Some versions use targets that the thrown object sticks to, but that can be tough for children who don’t have much strength yet.

So how about shaping the target like a bowl so the thrown balls can land inside? Of course, they’ll go in if thrown to the right spot, but it’s also exciting when a ball bounces or slides in by chance.

Let’s fully spark the children’s spirit of challenge.

As we cheer them on, we can’t help getting caught up in the excitement, too.

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[Bon Odori] The Waste-Not Grandma Ondo

“Mottainai Grandma” Ondo (Official) – Icchi & Naru [Bon Odori]

[Bon Odori] The Waste-Not Grandma Ondo

“Mottainai Grandma Ondo” is a bon dance inspired by the picture book “Mottainai Grandma.” It’s a humorous bon dance where children dance while saying “what a waste,” about things they can probably relate to.

There are movements like using a cane, just like a grandma, making it a fun song to dance to.

Let’s incorporate it into everyday childcare time as we head toward the summer festival.

It actually uses the whole body more than you’d expect, so it also works as a light warm-up.

Let’s all sing and dance together!

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[Bon Odori] Moonlit Ponchararin

Ponchararin on a Moonlit Night

[Bon Odori] Moonlit Ponchararin

To boost the summer festival mood, bon odori is essential.

“Tsukiyo no Ponchararin” has a classic bon odori style, yet its unique depictions of tanuki and fun choreography make it an entertaining song.

The moves are easy to remember as you repeat the dance, so even infants can enjoy it.

Once you’ve learned the steps, you might practice dancing while moving in a circle next.

If you dance bon odori as if you’re surrounding a yagura tower, your school event will feel just like a real festival venue.

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Wobbly Ghost Target Game

[Make-and-Play Craft] Wobbly Ghost Target Game ♪ Let’s make it and have fun ♪ Perfect for festivals [For ages 1–3]

Wobbly Ghost Target Game

Here’s an idea for a “ghost target game” that could be used for summer haunted houses or Halloween decorations.

It’s easy to make: just cut construction paper into ghost shapes or inflate balloons, then stick on facial features! Using decorative tape or yarn to add a three-dimensional look is also recommended.

Once the ghosts are ready, attach string and hang them from the ceiling.

This version sways gently and is fun to aim at, but since it doesn’t topple like a standard target, if you use it as a game, it might be best to assign point values to each ghost and compete by the total score of successful hits.

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Thousand-string Fishing (Senbon-tsuri)

Perfect for summer festivals and events☆Senbon-tsuri (lucky fishing game)

Thousand-string Fishing (Senbon-tsuri)

The festival game Senbon Tsuri that everyone loves—I’ve heard some regions call it “Senbon Biki.” What about in your area? In Senbon Tsuri, you pull a string that’s connected to a prize, and you get whatever you hit.

It’s fun precisely because it’s so simple: you just pull a string.

I wonder if old-fashioned candy shops still have small lottery games modeled after Senbon Tsuri.

If the prizes are candy and snacks, it’s an activity everyone can enjoy, from little kids to slightly older boys and girls.

At a large venue, a jumbo Senbon Tsuri could even be the main attraction!

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Crocodile Game: Will I/We hit the mark?

[Summer Festival] We tried the Crocodile Game 2!!

Crocodile Game: Will I/We hit the mark?

Let’s handcraft the classic arcade-style game where you whack the crocodiles that pop out.

Just attach a crocodile made from a decorated box to the end of a sturdy stick, like a plastic wrap core.

Then divide into roles: the customer who does the whacking, and the shopkeeper who makes the crocodile appear and disappear from behind a wall, and start the game.

Because the roles are clearly defined, children can also take on responsible tasks like minding the stand.

It’s heartwarming to see kids do their best as shopkeepers.

Be sure to include this as one of your summer memories.

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