[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 (11–20)
Try eating vegetables as a snack
When it comes to snacks, many children probably eat sweets or rice crackers and other treats.
So how about trying freshly harvested vegetables as a snack? Even if fresh-picked isn’t possible, try making raw vegetables—like cucumbers or tomatoes, which are usually eaten in salads with dressing—into a snack.
Some children may say they don’t like vegetables, but if they try the natural sweetness and freshness of truly fresh produce, their aversion may fade and before you know it, they might find themselves able to eat them.
Hiking
If there’s nature near the overnight childcare location, going on a group hike is highly recommended! It’s a bit more challenging than a walk and takes more energy.
But just calling it a “hike” makes it feel a little adventurous—like the world has changed.
You can dive into whatever catches your interest along the trail, such as grasses and flowers, or have fun looking them up after you get back.
Bringing a packed lunch or snacks and eating them at the goal can also give everyone a sense of accomplishment.
playing with paints
This is an activity where you can freely mix colors with paint and try stamping with your hands.
Prepare one white T-shirt per person, then press handprints and stamps in any colors and patterns you like! It’s fun to use handprints to create other shapes, and you can also make stamps from recycled materials.
Once it’s thoroughly dry, you’ll have a one-of-a-kind T-shirt full of originality! It will surely become a wonderful keepsake from the overnight childcare event.
3-minute marathon
On the morning of the sleepover at the preschool, will everyone get up smoothly? Some kids wake up refreshed, some were too nervous to sleep well, and some are just not morning people—there’s a whole range, right? How about trying a short run before washing faces and having breakfast? If you set it to three minutes and have them run laps around the playground, that alone should perk everyone up and help them wake.
Even in hot seasons, mornings are still cool enough to make it comfortable.
And breakfast after a run tastes extra special!
candle service
Activities involving fire, like campfires, are visually beautiful and leave a strong impression.
However, if a campfire is difficult due to the nursery school’s location or space constraints, why not enjoy a candle service instead? As the children enter a dark room, each child is given a candle.
Have everyone recite the goals of the sleepover together and gather the candles in the center of the room.
Watching the gently flickering candle flames in a dark room creates an extraordinary atmosphere and will be a special experience for the children.
colored water play
Summer offers many opportunities for water play that children love.
Since it’s an overnight daycare event, how about enjoying colored-water play, which we usually avoid because it can dirty their clothes? Prepare plenty of colored water and set out various shapes and materials of recycled containers—buckets, pudding cups, and empty tofu or yogurt containers—so children can scoop and play.
Simply touching the colored water is fun, but mixing colors to see what new color appears is another great way to enjoy it! It’s also fun to freely collect flowers and berries within the school grounds to make the colored water.
[Childcare] Overnight childcare ideas: From activities to games (21–30)
Copycat contest
Here’s a fun “Copycat Race” you can enjoy on the spot.
Prepare small chairs or cushions to get started.
The teacher says, “What’s the copycat race today?” and then names an animal or vehicle for the children to imitate.
The children pretend to be that animal or vehicle and go around their own chair or cushion three times.
When they finish, they sit on their chair or cushion to reach the goal.
The first person to sit down wins.
The rules are simple, so it’s a great game for all ages to get excited and play together.
