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[Childcare] Overnight childcare ideas: from activities to games
Overnight childcare is an exciting event for children, giving them the chance to enjoy experiences they don’t usually have.
Teachers may find themselves unsure about which activities and treats to prepare.
So this time, we’ve compiled a list of ideas you’ll want to plan for an overnight stay.
These ideas can be used whether the children are staying at the nursery or going on an outing.
Weather is also a concern for overnight events.
We’re also introducing games that can be enjoyed both outdoors and indoors.
Let’s prepare exceptional experiences that will become cherished memories for the children.
[Childcare] Overnight childcare ideas: from activities to games (1–10)
Game
How about trying a game that everyone can enjoy all at once? Classic classroom games like musical chairs or Fruit Basket are great, but since it’s an overnight event, let’s go for large-group games that all grades can play together and really get excited about! For example, use a big space for a game where players flip double-sided colored papers, or try “Don-Janken,” where players clap hands when they meet on the course and then play rock-paper-scissors.
Team-based competitive games like these really get the energy up!
stamp rally
A stamp rally where children carry a stamp card and go around collecting stamps until it’s complete.
Since they’ll be going through the kindergarten or nursery building to gather stamps, they’ll get to enter classrooms they don’t usually go into, which might make it feel fresh and exciting.
It could be fun to add originality by turning the card into a coloring sheet or having the children draw on it themselves.
Once all the stamps are collected, they’ve reached the goal.
It also sounds fun if collecting all the stamps completes a single picture.
It’s an activity they can enjoy with a sense of adventure and exploration.
playing theater
Many kindergartens and nursery schools probably choose to show a movie as an activity for sleepover events.
If you’re going to watch a movie, why not add a little twist and create a movie theater atmosphere? How about playing “theater pretend”? For example, have the children hand over a ticket at the entrance when they enter the screening room, and place drinks and popcorn at their seats—just like at a real cinema.
The children will surely get excited and remember it as a special day.
Treasure Hunt
How about trying a treasure hunt that makes full use of the kindergarten or nursery school? Solve puzzles and use the clues to find where the treasure is hidden.
Playing in teams is recommended.
Think through the problems together and cooperate to solve them.
How quickly can you find it after you start? Using a stopwatch to time yourselves will add some excitement and hype.
Taking a team photo when you find the treasure sounds fun, too!
test of courage
When it comes to activities you can only do during an overnight stay, a nighttime classic has to be the test of courage, right? Some children will surely get scared, refuse to go, or even start crying.
They’ll move forward by pretending not to see the spooky ghosts, or by defeating and driving them away.
Have a reward ready, like giving them a snack once they get their stamp at the goal and come back.
Some kids aren’t bothered at all, so you could even appoint them as team leaders.
Bingo Tournament
Bingo is a game that everyone—from kids to adults—can enjoy.
It’s a game where you get a prize if your numbers line up, but even hitting just one number is exciting.
Punching out the holes on the card is fun, too.
I think children especially enjoy the thrill of wanting to complete their numbers faster than everyone else and wondering, “Will this number be called next?” You can buy cards even at 100-yen shops, and even without a bingo machine, you can write numbers on balls or use an app—there are plenty of ways to play with a bit of creativity.
cuisine
During the overnight childcare event, we want the children to create wonderful memories through play and experiences they don’t usually get to have.
Cooking will surely become a great memory—and a valuable experience as well.
Some children may have never cooked before because knives and fire are considered dangerous.
But since they see these scenes at home almost every day, many of them are probably itching to give it a try! These days there are more and more kitchen tools designed for kids, like child-friendly knives and peelers.
When they cook for themselves, they might even be able to eat vegetables they usually don’t like.