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 (21–30)

Song ‘Tanabata-sama’

Tanabata-sama (with gestures) [Japanese Song / Shoka]

Song 'Tanabata-sama'

The Tanabata song “Tanabata-sama” is an essential tune for any Tanabata gathering.

Sung with a gentle, relaxed feel, it paints a scene of looking at bamboo branches decorated with wish-written strips of paper while gazing at the Milky Way and stars shining in the night sky.

If you sing it at the start of the event, it instantly wraps everyone in the Tanabata mood.

Depending on the age group, it can be a performance where not only the teacher but also the children sing together.

It’s also recommended to add simple hand motions that match the lyrics.

Sing softly and joyfully so that the day of Tanabata becomes a wonderful one.

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True/False Quiz

OK from age 2! Tanabata True-or-False Quiz: A Question Set for Nursery and Kindergarten Children

True/False Quiz

Let’s help children learn more about Tanabata with a true-or-false quiz! For example, ask questions like: Is Tanabata on July 7th? Are Tanabata wish strips only in seven colors? Are Orihime and Hikoboshi siblings? Try quizzing them about both the Tanabata story and the festival itself.

When quizzing about the story, it can be nice to tell the tale first using a picture book or a panel theater.

On the other hand, you could skip the story at first and introduce it afterward as part of the answer reveal.

Encourage the children to have fun and take on the quiz!

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In conclusion

We introduced recommended activities for a Tanabata party. There were plenty of activities that let children learn more about Tanabata while having fun. Please consider the number of children, their ages, and the size of the room to find and incorporate the perfect activities. Preparing may be a lot of work, but let’s do our best while imagining the children’s adorable reactions. We hope it becomes a wonderful gathering where everyone can enjoy the unique atmosphere of Tanabata!