[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)
cat’s cradle
Ten transformations of cat’s cradle are so much fun! We’ll introduce a cat’s cradle sequence that lets you make creations from five diamonds all the way to a fortune-teller.
In this sequence, you go: five diamonds → chestnut → diamond → slide → turtle → picture-story show → rubber band → airplane → samurai helmet → fortune-teller.
First, make the basic setup.
From there, by moving your fingers, you’ll complete ten different figures.
The last fortune-teller feels especially satisfying when the string slips smoothly off your hands, so it’s highly recommended.
Adults and kids can enjoy it together—give it a try!
Childcare in January: Traditional New Year’s Games! A Collection of Fun Ideas to Enjoy with Children (51–60)
oshikura manju (a children’s pushing game)
Perfect for a cold winter! Let me introduce a game recommended for kids called “Oshikura Manju.” First, make a circle big enough for the children to stand inside.
Have them step into the circle, stand back-to-back to form a ring, and at the start signal, they sing “Oshikura manju, osarete nakuna~” while pushing against each other with their backs and bottoms.
If a foot or body part goes out of the circle, or they touch the floor with a hand, they lose and step out of the circle.
The child who remains inside the ring to the end is the winner.
You can easily make the circle with a jump rope or vinyl string—warm up together with the kids!
Ohajiki (traditional Japanese coin-flicking game pieces)
Enjoy curling with ohajiki! Here’s a simple, fun ohajiki game recommended for kids.
Prepare a sheet of paper with circles drawn to resemble a curling target, some ohajiki (flat game pieces), and masking tape for the starting line.
First, place the tape for the start, then set the paper a short distance away.
Flick the pieces with your finger aiming for the center target.
Compete by scoring based on the colors of the rings.
Controlling the flicking force can be tricky even for adults, so be sure to try it together with your kids!
beanbags
By incorporating otedama (beanbag play) into New Year activities, teachers and children can enjoy a fun time together.
Otedama can be handmade, and choosing fabric colors and patterns is part of the enjoyment.
From simple motions like throwing and catching to group play in a circle, there are many ways to play, which can help foster children’s cooperation and concentration as they play together.
Including traditional children’s songs can also nurture sensitivity while connecting with cultural traditions.
Because otedama is something that can be shared with parents and guardians, it can serve as a tool for communication that families can enjoy at home.
Kendama
Kendama is a wonderful game that lets children feel each other’s growth at New Year.
While enjoying the techniques, they encourage one another with friends cheering each other on and teachers supporting by their side, making the process of taking on new tricks together especially appealing.
Through this traditional play, children naturally build concentration and fine motor skills, and not only celebrate each other’s successes but also learn from occasional failures.
With just one kendama, children become active both in mind and body as they enjoy Japanese culture—perfect for a fresh start to the year.
koma
Speaking of New Year’s, children look forward to the start of a fresh year.
The traditional spinning-top games that are perfect for this season provide a wonderful opportunity to nurture children’s dexterity and imagination by enjoying them together.
Temomi-goma (hand-rolled tops), hineri-goma (twisted tops), and bunbun-goma (buzzing string-and-disk tops) each have their own unique charm and ways to play.
By spinning a spindle or using strings and boards, children can also learn physical principles through play.
Making the tops together and deepening cultural understanding through these activities can create unforgettable memories when incorporated into New Year’s early childhood programs.
buzzing top
Fun to make and play with for New Year’s! Here’s how to make a whirligig (spinning button toy) using a milk carton.
First, open up the milk carton and let it dry.
Cut off the bottom of the carton.
Also cut off the spout.
Fold the carton in half with the inside facing out.
Next, draw an oval outline on the carton.
Cut along the outline, then draw a daruma on both sides.
Use double-sided tape to stick the two faces together.
Color it with crayons, make a hole in the center, and thread a kite string through.
Punch the holes along the carton’s fold line, tie the ends of the kite string, and you’re done!