Winter activities to enjoy at daycare! Outdoor play and nature play that warm the heart and body.

Games that use a long jump rope

[Kindergartners] Fun ways to play with a long jump rope!

Here are some games using a long jump rope that let you move your body and play to your heart’s content, even in the cold winter.

With just one long rope, you can enjoy many different activities.

First, place the rope on the floor and try walking along it.

It gets even more fun if you wiggle the rope into curves.

Next, try jumping forward and backward over the rope.

There’s also a way to play by tying one end of the rope to a pole.

Sit with your legs out in front, and pull the rope attached to the pole hand-over-hand to move yourself forward—give it a try facing backward, too! You can also jump over the rope as if it were a wave, or move the rope up and down and dash through when it rises.

There are lots of ways to play—get creative and have fun!

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kepiko

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Freeze tag

[For Childcare Workers] Arrange Ice Oni [Teacher Rio’s Active Play That Excites Kids]

Let me introduce “Kōri Oni” (Freeze Tag), a game perfect for running around on cold days! There are special rules that make it extra fun for kids.

First, split into runners and taggers; it helps to use something kids can recognize at a glance—like hat colors—to tell teams apart.

The rules are simple: if a tagger touches you, you freeze; if a teammate touches you, you can move again.

Anyone who never freezes from start to finish is a winner.

For extra excitement, have kids strike an animal pose or their favorite pose when they freeze—little twists like that really liven up the game!

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kepiko

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Rolling Dodgeball

Traditional Play Newspaper #70: Rolling Dodgeball

Let me introduce Rolling Dodgeball, a game that lets you play energetically outdoors even in the cold winter! Please prepare a large, soft ball.

First, draw a big circle on the ground.

Since this is rolling dodgeball, you’ll hit players by rolling the ball.

People on the outside of the circle roll the ball toward the people inside.

Anyone inside who gets hit by the ball is out.

If you’re hit, step outside the circle.

When adults roll the ball, varying the ball’s speed makes it even more exciting.

Because you roll the ball instead of throwing it, even kids who aren’t fond of regular dodgeball can enjoy it—highly recommended!

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kepiko

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grass sledding

We all went grass sledding♪

In winter it’s cold and we tend to stay indoors, but kids love sliding down grassy embankments outside, don’t they? Using cardboard helps cushion the impact on their bottoms and is highly recommended.

Since plants are dry in winter, the cardboard slides really well, too.

For children who are scared, don’t force them—slide together with them or offer words of encouragement.

When you go grass sliding, make sure everyone is dressed warmly, have multiple adults supervising, and slide only in a safe area.

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mayumi

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Hana Ichi Monme

Warabe Uta 2-6-2: Hanaichimonme — How to Play

The traditional children’s song “Han’ichi Monme” has long been loved, and the game played with the song is still passed down today.

As you move and call out in time with the music, warm up your body while having fun.

Split into two teams and sing back and forth.

Try to win rock-paper-scissors and pull a friend over from the other team.

Even if your team gets smaller, raise your spirits with loud voices so you don’t lose to the other team, and enjoy it right to the end—that’s the key.

It’s a game full of fun actions, from movements that match the song to whispery strategy talks.

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kappamaki

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yuzu bath

[Ages 3–5] “Winter Play (Winter Solstice)” | Minami Senri Oka Yui-Kindergarten [Nursery/Kindergarten Event]

Many people may remember having yuzu in their baths during winter.

Some children might have experienced a yuzu bath at home or while traveling.

Yuzu baths are said to promote circulation and help with shoulder stiffness and lower back pain, but for children, let them enjoy the scent and feel.

The warm sensation of the water, the refreshing aroma of yuzu, and the gradually loosening texture of the peel’s fibers—all of these offer discoveries just by touching the yuzu in the bath.

You can put a whole fruit in, or place cut pieces in a mesh bag—prepare different yuzu variations for them to enjoy.

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sasashina

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Chinese jump rope

Traditional Play Newspaper #55: “Daruma-san Fell Over”

Many adults probably played Daruma-san ga koronda at least once when they were children.

It’s a game where the “it” player chants “Daruma-san ga koronda” while the others try to creep closer to them.

If anyone is caught moving when the it-player turns around, they’re out and join as another “it.” The key is for the it-player to vary the timing of turning around—sometimes lulling others into carelessness, sometimes spinning suddenly—to keep it fun.

The non-it players watch the it-player’s movements closely to decide when it’s safe to move.

The rules are simple, and it’s a game people of all ages can enjoy, so give it a try!

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mayumi

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