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!
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Fun Setsubun Activities in Childcare! A Collection of Exciting Game and Craft Ideas (41–50)
Make it with a cup-folding method! Setsubun goods
@roi_mama.asobi Have you ever folded this!? Demon 3-WAY 👹💕SetsubunOrigami#AtHomePlay#StayHomeTimeHandmade crafts
♬ BGM_long when the hurry is in a hurry(1211968) – WataSound
Paper cups made with origami are very easy to make and can be customized, making them perfect for kids’ crafts or passing the time.
Here we introduce three Setsubun items that use paper-folded cups! Once you’ve made the basic cup, attach a face and a string to turn it into a bag.
If you use larger origami paper, it can hold lots of items and will surely be a hit.
Next, turn the cup upside down and add a face to make a finger puppet! It’s fun to make lots of them with small origami paper.
Finally, make a hat using newspaper or wrapping paper.
It can also be used as a substitute for a mask during bean-throwing, and the ways to use it are endless.
It’s a very simple folding method that you can enjoy, so give it a try!
How to Form a Demon Band
@roi_mama.asobi [For Setsubun!!] Oni (Demon) Headband 👹Setsubun#HomePhoto#AtHomePlay#StayHomeTimeHandmade crafts
♬ Cute up-tempo pop song(1511532) – sanusagi
Ogre headbands that are easy to make with everyday materials are items kids will love.
They’re a great idea for enjoying Setsubun and bean-throwing.
Cut a toilet paper roll and make a ring.
Cover it with your favorite origami paper, then round off the corners.
Use origami or colored construction paper to make and attach the horns, hair, and facial features.
Varying the number of horns, facial expressions, and face colors makes for a colorful and fun set of headbands.
Since they’re quick and easy to make, this is a perfect craft idea for young children.
Oni headband
@chooobo2 Making an Oni Headband 👹Made in FebruarySetsubun craftSetsubun#HandmadeToys#Nursery schoolNursery teacher / Childcare worker#Nursery School Craft#Childcare Crafting
♬ Find you in the dark feat. Nenashi – Ovall
How about making oni headbands for the bean-throwing event? These colorful demon headbands are perfect for getting into the Setsubun spirit.
Attach horns made from construction paper to a long, narrow strip of thick paper.
Draw patterns on the horns, shape them into cones, and make a few small cuts so you can spread and secure them more easily.
Punch holes in both ends of the thick paper, tie on an elastic cord, then crumple tissue paper into balls and attach them.
Using two or three colors—or multiple colors—creates a bright and cute finish! You can make one horn or two, whichever you like.
Demon Bean-Throwing Bag
A Setsubun bag that can hold beans is a great idea for fully enjoying bean throwing.
After the bean-throwing is over, kids can keep playing pretend by putting their favorite items inside, so they’re sure to love it! Fold a piece of colored construction paper in half and make an oni (ogre) face.
Cut out the mouth area so you can see the contents from the outside.
Fold the top edge of a storage bag back by about 5 cm and attach it to the oni’s face.
Glue on the facial parts, hair, and horns, then secure the ribbon to the bag and you’re done! A tip to keep the ribbon from slipping out is to fold it back once.
The bag is very easy to make, so try making it before Setsubun and enjoy the seasonal feeling!
A three-dimensional ogre made with origami
Many children might have a scary image of oni (ogres).
However, this oni is a cute, cone-shaped one! With some origami paper, you can easily meet a cute oni.
First, cut one sheet of origami into a semicircle.
Using a protractor, mark off about 135 degrees.
Take another sheet of origami, cut it into a semicircle as well, then trim it down to a 135-degree sector and cut it into about three long, narrow strips.
Paste these together with the first piece so they look like stripes, then roll them up into a cone shape.
Next, use chenille stems (pipe cleaners) to make the oni’s hair, and use round stickers or small pieces of cut origami to create and attach the facial features and patterns.
That’s it—you’re done!
A three-dimensional oni mask
Here’s how to make a paper oni mask that’s perfect for Setsubun using colored construction paper! First, cut out the oni parts.
Let the children do the cutting according to their age—it’s great scissor practice.
Next, cut yarn for the hair.
Glue the yarn onto the hair backing.
Be sure to apply the glue to the backing paper! Once you stick on all the parts, it’s done! When kids do the gluing, you get all kinds of adorable faces.
Add a band and it becomes a wearable mask for play, or hang it on the wall as a display.
It connects making, playing, and decorating, and it’s easy for children from about age three—give it a try!
Setsubun Oni Handprint Art
Let’s make a Setsubun craft using handprint art to capture your child’s growth! First, stamp an upside-down handprint on the backing paper to represent the ogre’s body.
Next, stamp a footprint slightly overlapping the thumb area; this will represent the kanabō (spiked club).
For the ogre’s head, imagine a circle and create it with finger stamps.
Once the ink is dry, glue on the ogre’s hair and shorts made from chiyogami paper, then draw the face, horns, and the club’s pattern with a pen to finish! Decorating the blank areas of the backing paper would also look lovely.
