Fun Setsubun Activities for Childcare: A Collection of Exciting Games and Craft Ideas
When it comes to Setsubun, bean-throwing is the classic activity, but many teachers at daycare centers and kindergartens may be wondering what kinds of games to include.
Especially for very young children like one-year-olds, it’s important to come up with ideas they can enjoy without being scared.
So here, we’ve gathered a variety of play and game ideas perfect for Setsubun.
From oni target-throwing and bowling to treasure hunts, these are all ideas that will bring smiles to children’s faces.
Many can be prepared with materials you already have on hand, so please feel free to use them as a reference!
Fun Setsubun Activities for Preschool! A Collection of Exciting Game and Craft Ideas (1–10)
Setsubun Eurhythmics
Eurhythmics that nurture children’s expressiveness and concentration.
We move our bodies and play to the music.
We’re introducing two songs perfect for Setsubun: “Sotto ne” (“Quietly”) and “Mame-maki Pon-pon.” In “Sotto ne,” walk slowly so you don’t wake the ogre, and in “Mame-maki Pon-pon,” throw beans at the ogre.
When the music stops, freeze, and next, follow the teacher’s color cues to throw beans at the red ogre and the blue ogre.
While enjoying eurhythmics, you can even drive away scary ogres!
How to make a bean-throwing target
Bean-throwing games are a staple of Setsubun events! How about making a handmade ogre target? Cut a milk carton 10 cm up from the bottom.
Make three of these, connect them side by side, and glue them together.
Then, attach a sheet of construction paper to the back and draw an ogre illustration on it.
Finally, paste washi paper with tie-dyed patterns (for the ogre’s pants) onto the front of the milk cartons to finish.
When playing, stand the target against a wall and use balls made by crumpling newspaper, pretending they are beans.
Make different versions like a red ogre and a blue ogre, and do your best to defeat the ogres!
Perfect for Setsubun! Oni-themed fingerplay
We’d like to introduce a fun Oni hand game, “I’m an Oni!”—perfect for Setsubun events and performances.
In this game, children pretend to be an oni, using their hands to show its strength and distinctive features like horns and shaggy hair.
At the end, they make a face showing they’re startled by the bean-throwing, shouting “Eek!” Encourage kids to pull down the corners of their eyes to look pitiful, or to squish their cheeks with both hands—let them express themselves freely.
It’s sure to be a lovely time as the children laugh at each other’s faces.
Even kids who find oni scary might enjoy Setsubun with this hand game.
A demon target-shooting game where the artwork changes!
Here’s how to make a target that changes from a strong ogre to a crying one.
First, tape a piece of cardboard to the top half of an empty box that will serve as the base.
In this state, draw a picture of a strong ogre.
Think of drawing the body on the lower box and the face on the upper cardboard.
Then flip up the cardboard, and this time draw the body on the lower cardboard and the crying ogre’s face on the upper box.
Once you’re done drawing, put the cardboard back up and secure it with a stopper.
By swapping the positions of the cardboard, the ogre illustration changes.
A toilet paper roll core transforms into a fearsome oni!
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DTcsGHVj5BO/Let’s make a warm and charming oni (ogre) using a toilet paper roll and felt.
First, wrap the toilet paper roll with felt and glue it in place.
Then use faux fur as hair, and attach facial parts and horns made from felt.
Using pearls for the eyes and cheeks will boost the cuteness and add a festive touch.
The key to this idea is layering yellow and brown felt, twisting them to create the pants.
It would also look cute if you use non-traditional colors.
Oni Oni Pakkun
“Oni Oni Packun” is a game where you whack ogres that pop out from beneath a screen using a paper fan, knocking them down.
It’s a lot like whack-a-mole and really fun.
Since they aren’t real ogres, even small children can enjoy it without being scared, and it helps build concentration and reflexes.
The toy isn’t very hard to make; with some cardboard, it should be easy to recreate.
If you want it to be sturdier, you could make the ogres out of plastic bottles.
Increasing the number of ogres and teaming up in pairs to defeat them is fun, too.
Balloon Ogre Target Game
Let’s have fun playing target practice with balloon ogres (oni)! First, inflate the balloons.
Next, use tape to attach the ogre’s face and horn parts made from construction paper, as well as yarn hair.
Finally, hang them from the ceiling to complete your ogre targets! Make the balls by crumpling newspaper into a ball.
By adjusting the height of the hanging ogres, this activity can be enjoyed by infants and preschoolers alike.
If you’re wondering what game to play for Setsubun, try this ogre target game.
Using balloons in various colors will make it look more festive.