[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.
- [Kindergarten/Daycare] Games and Performances for Fun Events
- [Early Childhood Education] Ideas for childcare that make use of light
- [Children’s Club] Easy and fun indoor games. Exciting party games
- [Childcare] Have fun even on rainy days! Indoor play ideas
- [For Kids] Indoor Fun! Large-Group Recreational Activities and Games
- [Childcare] Wordplay and game ideas everyone can enjoy together
- [Nursery/Kindergarten] Water play ideas that kids will love
- Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for daycare and kindergarten
- A simple and fun co-op game that enhances teamwork
- Handmade Lottery Draws Kids Will Love! A Fun Collection of Ideas to Make and Play
- [Childcare] Let’s all play! A collection of recommended ideas for group play and games
- Childcare: Recommended program ideas for a sports day
- [Childcare] Sports Day activity ideas. Let’s make the Sports Day exciting!
[Childcare] Overnight childcare ideas: from activities to games (1–10)
cleaning
Let’s try enjoying cleaning like an event and do it together! How about teaching children the saying, “Leave it more beautiful (cleaner) than when you arrived,” so they tidy up the place where they stayed overnight before heading home? Even children who usually only sweep with a broom or take out the trash might enjoy wiping down hallways and classrooms like a form of exercise.
Above all, it feels great when the room is clean! Let’s all share that sense of accomplishment.
Making commemorative items
To commemorate the sleepover childcare event, it’s a great idea to set aside time to make keepsakes.
Children can draw pictures of their favorite moments from the sleepover, or make items like photo frames or shrink-plastic keychains.
Try creating something a little different from your usual crafts.
For photo frames, take simple ones from the 100-yen shop and decorate them with beads or seashells.
Display a photo from the sleepover in the finished frame, and it will become a keepsake that preserves those unforgettable memories.
Watermelon splitting
Let’s enjoy a classic summer activity—watermelon splitting—during the overnight childcare! It can be hard to try with a small group, but during an overnight stay, everyone can share the fun of eating the pieces together after it’s split.
Give the children the chance to fully enjoy this dynamic play that’s hard to do at home! It’s great outdoors, but if you lay down a blue tarp you can do it indoors too, so no worries even if it rains.
The watermelon everyone eats together will surely taste better than any other!
[Childcare] Overnight childcare ideas: from activities to games (11–20)
campfire
As a special activity you can only do at night, isn’t a campfire just perfect? We may be familiar with fireworks and small bonfires, but we don’t often get to experience a big blaze like a campfire, do we? It’s moving and magical, too.
It’s sure to be a memorable performance for the children to remember from their overnight stay.
And of course, a campfire goes hand in hand with folk dancing! Dancing in circles around the fire together will surely be fun and make for wonderful memories.
Medal awarding
A medal award ceremony is the perfect way to conclude an overnight childcare event.
Let’s praise each child for their unique efforts—those who felt uneasy being away from home, those who looked out so everyone could have fun, and those who worked hard at games and activities.
Even handmade medals crafted from origami or recycled materials can boost children’s confidence when they’re praised and have a medal placed around their neck.
They can take it home and proudly tell their families, “This is what I was praised for!”
Summer festival pretend play
Food stalls at festivals are kids’ favorites.
How about turning the sleepover daycare venue into a festival stall area? In addition to food stalls like fried noodles and shaved ice, booths like yo-yo fishing and super ball scooping would surely be a hit.
It could be fun to combine it with lunch or dinner while enjoying the summer festival vibe.
It would become a special memory unique to a sleepover event—something they can’t usually experience.
Try creating a one-day currency that can be used only within the festival.
fireworks
Fireworks are a summer tradition that kids love.
Try incorporating them into your overnight childcare program! These days, there are many exciting fireworks available.
While handheld sparklers can be fun for everyone, they do involve fire and can be dangerous, and with many children, it can be hard for caregivers to keep an eye on everyone.
So, using small aerial fireworks or ones that everyone can watch from a short distance is a good option.
The impact is different from fireworks at home, and the children will be thrilled—cheers are guaranteed!