[Nursery Schools & Kindergartens] Liven Up Setsubun! Entertainment Ideas
As Setsubun approaches, it’s the time when nursery schools and kindergartens start thinking about what performances to put on.
There are many ideas to liven up a Setsubun assembly, such as plays, dances, and finger plays that children can get absorbed in.
It’s also fun in ways unique to this season—cheers erupt when the ogres appear, and everyone moves their bodies to the bean-throwing song.
Here, we’ve gathered ideas for performances perfect for Setsubun events at nursery schools.
Please use them as a reference to make your Setsubun assembly full of children’s smiles!
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[Nursery & Kindergarten] Make Setsubun More Exciting! Performance Ideas (31–40)
paper puppet theater
Do you know what a “peep art” is? Peep art is an abbreviation of Paper Puppet Theater—basically a paper puppet show.
It’s easier to make than regular puppets, so give it a try.
For the story, we recommend something connected to Setsubun, like a tale about defeating the ogre in your belly.
It can be an original story or one adapted from a picture book—either is fine.
If you assign someone to act as the narrator who guides the story, it will be easier to develop the plot.
Sketchbook Theater
Let’s defeat the ogres that live in everyone’s hearts! With a traditional picture-story show, you simply show the pictures and read along, but with a sketchbook theater, you can add variety to the story by inserting and removing paper.
To make one, draw your illustrations in a sketchbook and place a clear film over them.
On the film, draw fragments of the images you want to reveal in advance, at minimum.
By sliding paper into the film, you can hide the drawings beneath and then reveal or conceal them as the story progresses.
It’s useful not only for Setsubun but for many different stories, so give it a try!
dance
When it comes to Setsubun songs, “Mame Maki” (Bean-Throwing) is famous, isn’t it? Let’s try adding choreography to this song and dance to it.
If you can dance it well, it’s a lot of fun.
Start with a short, slow version, then gradually work up to dancing longer and faster.
Learning the choreography is also a good workout for your brain, so definitely give it a try.
It’s easy to record videos nowadays, so film yourself, check your movements, and practice to improve your dancing.
It would also be nice to send the video to grandparents who live far away.
balloon art
When people think of balloon art, many probably picture Christmas or Halloween decorations.
But you can make all kinds of things with balloons for Setsubun, too.
It’s fun to think that you can even create colorful red and blue ogres and the soybeans—all out of balloons.
Even if you start by copying what you see, you’ll likely feel more motivated as you gradually learn to add your own twists.
Give balloon art a try.
There seem to be plenty of videos explaining how to make these as well.
Pastel art
Pastel art that you can make just by dabbing on pastels is a recommended craft that even children who can’t yet hold crayons or pens well can enjoy! Shave the pastel colors you’ll use in advance, then simply add color freely to create an ogre illustration.
Blend with your fingers, and use cotton swabs for fine patterns and small parts.
For the ogre’s face and body, imagine a snowman to achieve a neat finish.
Children sometimes have an astonishing imagination that adults can’t imitate.
Avoid over-specifying colors and shapes—let them draw as they wish.
[Nursery Schools & Kindergartens] Liven Up Setsubun! Performance Ideas (41–50)
gymnastics
We also recommend doing exercises with oni-inspired choreography to get everyone in the Setsubun spirit! The music can be anything that gets the kids excited—songs you usually use for exercise or dance, or popular anime tunes.
While doing big, full-body movements, try adding poses like an oni with horns or a scary, threatening stance.
If you say, “We only do this during Setsubun, so let’s try hard to remember it!” the children will likely stay focused on the exercises.
Momotaro
How about putting on a Momotaro play based on stories the children come up with? Kids often have surprisingly fun ideas.
If you keep the basic plot of Momotaro defeating the ogres but tweak the story a bit, you’ll end up with your very own unique Momotaro.
If you record and edit it, it will become a keepsake you’ll cherish when you look back on it as an adult.
Should Dad take on the role of the scary ogre? Your child might even give you acting notes like, “Dad, do it more like this here.”