Lovely childcare

[Childcare] Recommended for Tanabata party! Fun and exciting performance/activity ideas

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.
9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

In the lead-up to Tanabata on July 7, nursery schools and kindergartens decorate bamboo branches and hold Tanabata gatherings together.

For those wondering, “What kind of performance should we do for this year’s Tanabata event?”, here are a variety of ideas! From songs and picture books to paper puppet shows, black theater, and even a planetarium, there are many special activities that children will enjoy.

Use these suggestions for your program, and have a wonderful Tanabata that both children and adults can enjoy.

[Childcare] Recommended for Tanabata events! Fun and exciting performance/activity ideas (1–10)

Tanabata Paper Puppet Show

Nursery Teacher's Storytime: Fun Tanabata Paper Puppet Show 🌌🌟

Tanabata Paper Puppet Show

If you’re unsure what to perform for a Tanabata event, a “Tanabata paper puppet show (peepshow)” is highly recommended.

Hugely popular with preschool and kindergarten children, this performance is a story-style puppet show using characters made of paper.

Add a bit of humor and some songs to the tale of Hikoboshi and Orihime, and the kids will be thrilled.

The story becomes even more enjoyable depending on the teachers’ expressions and tone of voice, creating a sense of unity throughout the venue.

It’s easy to prepare, low-cost, and if teachers share the roles, you can broaden the staging possibilities.

It’s a top-notch idea that captures the season and lets everyone have fun together!

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[Introductory fingerplay] Tanabata Bata-BataLyrics by / Music by: Boku to Kimi

[July Tanabata hand play] Tanabata Bata-Bata ≪Must read≫ Tips and arrangements for use in childcare are listed in the description below ↓ Lyrics/Music: Boku to Kimi.

[Introductory fingerplay] Tanabata Bata-Bata Lyrics by: / Music by: Boku to Kimi

A must-read for teachers wondering how to introduce Tanabata crafts.

Try enjoying the hand play song “Tanabata Bata-Bata” with the children—it answers their question, “What kind of event is Tanabata?” The song expresses Orihime and Hikoboshi’s feelings and situations in words that are easy for kids to understand, helping them picture the story and get excited while deepening their understanding of Tanabata.

It would also be fun to work on the craft while humming the song! Let’s boost the children’s excitement and connect it to their motivation to create.

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Tanabata school lunch

Many teachers are probably thinking about creating a special school lunch that lets children feel the spirit of Tanabata.

If you decorate somen noodles with star shapes made using cutters, you’ll have Milky Way-style somen.

Add shredded omelet and sliced boiled okra to complete the star-shaped decorations.

Incorporating summer vegetables that the children have grown into the menu may increase their interest in food.

By getting creative with school lunch for the event, you can deepen the meaning of the celebration and make it even more enjoyable!

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[Childcare] Recommended for Tanabata parties! Fun, crowd-pleasing performance ideas (11–20)

The Story of Tanabata

The Tanabata Story to Tell at Nursery School! The Tanabata-sama Song ♪ Orihime and Hikoboshi Paper Theater (Children’s Song, Nursery Rhyme, Tanabata-sama, Nursery Teacher)

The Story of Tanabata

As an introduction to Tanabata, we recommend telling “The Story of Tanabata.” Instead of just having the children listen, weave in questions as you go to fully capture their interest.

For example, ask: “What was Hikoboshi doing again?” or “Why were Orihime and Hikoboshi separated?” Adding these questions draws them into the tale and sparks their curiosity.

Using a picture-story show (kamishibai) or paper puppets helps them enjoy it visually and makes it easier to maintain their attention.

If you finish by singing the song “Tanabata-sama” together, you can bring the event to a warm, gentle close.

Connecting the lyrics to the story deepens the children’s understanding and creates a memorable Tanabata moment.

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Tanabata Play

Part 1: Making Tanabata Decorations & Tanabata Games [Ages 3–5] | Minami Senrioka Yui-en [Nursery/Kindergarten Event]

Tanabata Play

Here are some exciting Tanabata activities.

In the Tanabata relay, where you work together to carry summer vegetables and race to the goal, the key is to match your pace with your friends and cheer each other on so you don’t drop the veggies.

For the star hunt, children attach magnets to the stars they made, then find and fish them up.

Let’s decorate the Milky Way with the sparkly stars we find.

Hop over obstacles that represent the Milky Way, make little bamboo-leaf boats, and race to the finish! Through these games, kids just might learn about Tanabata in a fun way.

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Ideas for introducing Tanabata to children

[Event] How to introduce Tanabata for children [Nursery School/Kindergarten]

Ideas for introducing Tanabata to children

If you’re introducing Tanabata to children, a presentation that combines seeing, listening, and making is effective.

Start by presenting the story of Orihime and Hikoboshi using picture-story cards or paper puppets.

Then explain the meanings behind the decorations.

For example, you could say, “The streamers represent the threads woven by Orihime, and they carry the wish to become skilled at sewing and work,” while showing illustrations or the actual decorations to make it easier for children to understand.

After that, shift to “Now let’s try making them!” By following this flow, children will understand that Tanabata isn’t just an event, but a meaningful, special day—and it will surely stay in their hearts.

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Black Panel Theater

The Tale of Tanabata (Fairy Tale) Black Theater

Black Panel Theater

A black panel theater that you can enjoy in a darkened room, almost like watching a movie.

Black panel theater is a performance in which illustrations drawn with fluorescent art materials are moved across a board covered with black fabric to tell a story.

Simply darkening the room isn’t enough to make the fluorescent drawings clearly visible, so the board is illuminated with a black light during the narration.

Because it’s viewed in the dark, it’s perfect for a Tanabata story featuring stars.

The stars and the Milky Way, drawn with fluorescent materials on the black board, look beautiful—so be sure to give it a try!

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