![[Childcare] Ideas for learning about the SDGs through play](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/kM-iQoJ0Kyk/maxresdefault.webp)
[Childcare] Ideas for learning about the SDGs through play
Many teachers may be thinking about incorporating the SDGs into early childhood education.
In nurseries and kindergartens, it’s important that learning is fun, so it can be challenging to decide how to approach it.
With that in mind, we’ve gathered ideas that let even infants and toddlers enjoy experiencing and thinking about the SDGs’ goals.
If teachers join in and have fun together, the SDGs will become familiar and natural for children.
Let’s enjoy working on them together with the children who will shape the future.
[Childcare] Ideas for Learning about the SDGs through Play (1–10)
PET bottle cracker
How about making a party popper using a plastic bottle and a balloon? Once you make it, you can reuse it, which reduces waste and is environmentally friendly.
Be careful not to use it in infant classes, as the confetti inside could pose a choking hazard.
It’s great for celebrations like birthday parties, or as entertainment at events such as cherry-blossom viewing and summer festivals.
If each child can make their own popper, it will surely become a favorite toy.
[Ages 5 and up] Sign Language Play
![[Ages 5 and up] Sign Language Play](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/aY2KdGXOMnI/sddefault.jpg)
Why not try incorporating sign language activities, especially with five-year-olds? Learning that there are ways to communicate beyond spoken Japanese can also tie into SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities.
Start by practicing important greetings in sign language with the children.
If they enjoy communicating with teachers and friends through sign language, it can boost their motivation to learn afterward.
We also recommend using the Japanese syllabary chart to explore how to express their own names—try it together with teachers and friends!
[Mokuiku] Let’s play with wood
![[Mokuiku] Let's play with wood](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/bS8e3N8GDnM/sddefault.jpg)
Let’s all play together using toys made of wood.
Touching wooden materials and using nature-based toys contributes to SDG 4: Quality Education.
In addition, because soft block toys are quieter, they can be used to provide play opportunities for children even in evacuation shelters during disasters.
It’s important for adults to think about what kinds of play we can offer children living in today’s rapidly changing world.
Let’s intentionally incorporate toys that keep children engaged and absorbed in play.
karuta game
Let’s try making a set of karuta cards with five-year-olds as the main participants.
The key point for expanding this into an SDGs activity is to align the karuta content with the SDGs.
Of course, the teacher can create the content, but drawing on the children’s ideas will likely produce some interesting concepts! Before making the karuta, it will go more smoothly if you provide plenty of opportunities to learn about the SDGs using picture-story shows or books.
Have the children draw the illustrations as well.
The finished karuta will be completely original to your preschool! The children will feel attached to it and enjoy playing with it.
Garbage collector
How about working together with children on trash collection and sorting? Normally we just throw trash into a bin, but by learning about the effort involved in collecting and separating it, they can naturally become interested in waste.
It also connects to SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
Plus, sorting trash can spark curiosity about recycling.
Because “trash” is something so familiar to children, it’s important for them to take an interest from a young age.
They might even put into practice at home what they learned at the preschool, helping with taking out the trash and sorting it.
Panel theater
How about introducing a panel theater to help children enjoy learning about the SDGs? By using easy-to-understand characters, the SDGs become a familiar theme for kids.
It will go smoothly if you first decide which SDG themes you want to convey to the children before starting production.
Panel theater can be a versatile teaching tool that can be used in everyday childcare or as part of special events.
One of its charms is that even non-living subjects—like the Earth or garbage—can be turned into characters.
Newspaper play
Let’s incorporate newspapers—which we’d normally throw away after reading—into playtime.
Newspaper play can take many forms, from activities that use the whole body to ones that spark imagination.
All adults need to prepare are the bare essentials like newspapers, glue, or tape.
Then, simply watch over the children so their ideas can flourish.
If they create something wonderful, it’s great to take it home, too.
Use it for active play and indoor time will be completely transformed! It’ll become an activity kids will say, “I want to do it again!”
Onion dyeing
Let’s try dyeing with onion skins using the skins from onions served in school lunches.
This also aims to learn about SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.
Have the children peel the onions, put the skins into a bag, and then simmer them in hot water.
While they are boiling, wrap marbles in handkerchiefs and secure them with rubber bands to prepare the patterns.
Soak the handkerchiefs in the onion-colored water, then dip them in an alum solution, and the handkerchiefs transform into a bright yellow! By playing with onion skins that would normally be thrown away, children can naturally learn the ideas behind the SDGs.
Colored water play
Let’s play with colored water made from flowers and berries.
By incorporating nature into play, it can spark interest in SDG 15: Life on Land.
After collecting flowers and berries from the garden or park, put them in a plastic bag with water and knead them to extract the color.
You can also pretend the colored water is juice and pour it into PET bottles or cups to play.
Children’s creativity is limitless! Let’s prepare the environment so we can support their “I want to try this!” moments.
swallow
As part of its efforts to promote the SDGs, NHK has released the song and dance “Tsubame.” The catchy tune, familiar to children, was written and composed by Ayase from YOASOBI.
There are two dance versions—one for little swallows (children) and one for parent swallows—so you can tailor the approach to children’s ages and developmental stages.
On days or at times when you can’t play outside, why not enjoy dancing together? The adorable sight of children pretending to be swallows will surely soothe the teachers as well!