[January Childcare] Traditional New Year’s Games! A Collection of Ideas to Enjoy with Children
Are you wondering what kinds of activities to include in childcare in January? January is a perfect time for children to get familiar with Japanese culture through traditional games and seasonal recreation.
Here, we introduce New Year’s themed play ideas such as invisible-ink drawings (aburidashi), lion dance (shishimai), and shell matching (kai-awase).
Traditional games are full of elements that nurture children’s creativity and concentration.
They offer many ways to play—moving their bodies with friends, using their hands to make things, and more.
These ideas are also perfect for events in childcare settings, so please use them as a reference!
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[January Childcare] Traditional New Year’s Games! A Collection of Fun Ideas to Enjoy with Children (41–50)
Tōsenkyō (a traditional Japanese fan-tossing game)
@yuko.suzuhana Do you know the Japanese traditional game called Tōsenkyō? A Japanese traditional game!TosenkyoHaku ChikudoWagakki BandPeople's challenge#Wagakkibnd#tosenkyo#sensu
♪ Original Song – Yuko Suzuhana – Yuko Suzuhana
Kyoto’s first! We’re introducing tosenkyo, a traditional game that even children can enjoy.
It began in Kyoto in the mid-Edo period and is a type of competitive game.
The rules are simple: you throw a folding fan at a target called the “cho,” and the score changes based on the way it lands and how elegant it looks—making it a uniquely Kyoto-style game.
There’s a reference chart showing the shapes and corresponding points, but we also recommend creating your own original chart in advance to make it easier for kids to play.
It can also be fun to make the fans themselves out of construction paper and similar materials.
Fukuwarai (a traditional Japanese “lucky laugh” face-making game)
Fukuwarai is a traditional game that can be enjoyed as a New Year’s pastime.
It’s a game where, while blindfolded, you place facial parts—eyes, mouth, nose, eyebrows, and so on—onto a sheet of paper that has the outline of a face drawn on it.
The fun comes from the fact that, because you’re blindfolded, the face never turns out the way you expect! In addition to the analog version drawn on paper, the game has evolved in recent years, with versions you can play on the web or even ones included in robot toys.
So give it a try with your family and friends—not just at New Year’s, but anytime.
Ema making
Ema are the items used when making wishes at shrines and temples! Many people probably entrusted their New Year’s wishes for exam success to an ema.
How about making ema by hand and letting children experience this traditional practice? It’s also great for strengthening fine motor skills and nurturing expressive ability, so be sure to include it in your January craft activities! Cut colored construction paper into the shape of an ema, and have the children write their wishes on it.
For children who can’t write yet, drawings are perfectly fine.
Decorating with stamps, strings, or ribbons will make it even more wonderful!
Battledore and shuttlecock
Hanetsuki is one of the traditional New Year’s games.
While it may have become less familiar in recent years, we still want children to know about this tradition.
Did you know you can make a hagoita paddle out of a milk carton? Why not give it a try? Cut the milk carton into the shape of a hagoita, then insert and secure a pair of chopsticks as the handle—done! It’s easy to make, and the best part is you can actually play with it afterward.
If you make the shuttlecock out of yarn, it won’t hurt if it gets hit, so children can play safely.
Making kagami mochi
@kids_worker Let's make a kagami mochi with whipped paint 🤭☁️Nursery teacher / Childcare worker#Nursery school#KindergartenSTEAM educationParent-child timeHow to spend the New YearNew Year’s holiday#NewYearDecorations
♬ Oshogatsu – Yasuko Kora/Wakakusa Children’s choir
Cute with whipped paint! We’ll show you how to make a kagami mochi craft you can create with kids.
You’ll need shaving foam, liquid glue, a container, a spoon, a brush, construction paper or origami paper, and a pencil.
First, draw a rough sketch of the kagami mochi in pencil on the construction paper that will be your base.
Make a mandarin (mikan) out of origami or construction paper.
Next, make the “whipped” paint.
Start by squeezing some liquid glue into the container.
Begin with a small amount—you can add more if needed.
Add about the same amount of shaving foam as the glue into the container.
Mix with a spoon, then spread it over your pencil sketch on the paper.
Let it dry, and you’re done!
Kagami-biraki (the ceremonial opening of a sake barrel or breaking of New Year kagami mochi)
Kagami-biraki is a January event where we take down and eat the kagami mochi that was offered to the gods and buddhas for New Year’s, right? It’s also a traditional ceremony to give thanks to the deities and pray for health and safety.
It’s a great opportunity for children to learn about Japanese traditions, so let’s hold it with family, or at daycare or kindergarten, and make it fun! You might let the children experience breaking the displayed kagami mochi with a wooden mallet.
It’s also recommended to have everyone observe the pieces of mochi after they’re broken.
mochi pounding
How about incorporating a mochi-pounding activity into your January recreation program—something you don’t often get to experience? It’s sure to be a hit with both kids and adults! To spark interest beforehand, you might start by reading a picture book themed around mochi pounding.
Along with that, introduce the kine (mallet) and usu (mortar), let participants taste the freshly steamed glutinous rice, and help them experience how mochi is made.
Since the kine is heavy, adults should assist during the pounding.