[Entertainment/Performances] Ideas for Performances to Introduce at Kindergartens and Nursery Schools—Great for Children and Staff
At kindergartens and nursery schools, there are often opportunities to include entertainment and performances for fun.
Many teachers are probably wondering what kinds of activities they can plan for the children.
This time, we’ve gathered ideas that are perfect for such entertainment and performances.
From activities that children can take the lead in and enjoy themselves to ideas that teachers and parents can perform for the kids, we’re introducing a wide range.
If your ideas have become repetitive and you’re looking for something new…
Please use this as a reference.
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[Entertainment/Performances] Ideas for performances you'd like to include at kindergartens and nursery schools! Activities for children and staff (1–10)
Magic Theater
The magic theater is a wonderful activity that makes children’s eyes sparkle.
It’s easy to make with construction paper and a clear file, so teachers and children can enjoy preparing it together.
The mysterious mechanism where a new picture appears each time the paper slides will surely delight the children.
Interacting with them as the story unfolds can nurture their imagination as well.
It’s also a great idea to ask the birthday child for requests.
When teachers and parents work together to make it, it can deepen their bonds.
Just imagining the children’s surprised expressions is exciting, isn’t it?
shadow puppet play
A shadow play where you can enjoy the unique movements of characters projected on stage.
By basing it on picture books or nursery rhymes, you can savor an even richer world.
To make it, prepare a projector as your light source and a screen to cast the shadows.
Next, create shadow cutouts with drawings of animals or people.
If you want to express hand or tool movements, using chopsticks and rubber bands is recommended.
It’s a performance that can be acted out by staff or by children trying their hand at performing.
Decide on roles—such as character voices and movements—and give it a try!
Silhouette Quiz
Participatory activities really bring everyone together and get the energy up, don’t they? So how about trying a silhouette quiz? Prepare cards with a filled-in silhouette on one side and the picture of what’s inside that silhouette on the other.
Paste them back-to-back with glue or tape, show the silhouette side, ask “What do you think it is?”, have people guess, then flip it to reveal the answer.
Simple shapes like circles, squares, and triangles will probably spark lots of guesses.
Mix in some easy-to-recognize silhouettes, prepare plenty of them, and have fun!
[Entertainment/Performances] Fun activities to include at kindergartens and nursery schools! Performance ideas for children and staff (11–20)
What’s inside the box?
How about trying the “What’s in the Box?” game you often see on variety shows, where you stick your hand into a box and guess what’s inside just by feel? It’s easy to make with an empty box, so I recommend it.
Prepare an empty box, cut holes on both sides, attach two rubber drain covers over the holes, and put a transparent film on the front so everyone can see.
That’s all it takes! You can just leave the side holes open, but adding the covers makes the contents harder to see and amps up the excitement.
You can buy everything at a 100-yen shop!
kamishibai (paper theater)
Kamishibai, which nurtures children’s imaginations, is perfect as entertainment or a performance.
When the teacher weaves the story with rich emotion, children can feel as if the pictures are coming to life.
If it’s a handmade kamishibai, you can tailor the content to the day’s theme, so it’s great to use for each event.
Listening to the story together with the children and sharing that heartfelt time will surely become a very special experience.
Depending on how you choose the story and how you perform it, the children’s reactions will also change, so it’s nice to keep experimenting and having fun with it.
A gentle Setsubun for infantsNEW!
This is a sketchbook theater featuring Usako-chan the crybaby and Miketa-kun the hothead.
If you look closely at the two of them, you’ll notice ogres hiding there.
Usako-chan has a Crybaby Ogre, and Miketa-kun has a Hothead Ogre hiding inside.
Now, let’s all throw beans together and drive the ogres away! Once the ogres are gone, both of them are smiling, aren’t they? When you realize there are ogres, try asking the children once, “What do you think we should do?” I’m sure you’ll hear all sorts of interesting solutions.
Special Live
Feeling like an artist? Let’s put on a show that recreates the popular music program “Music Station” exactly as it is! From the familiar opening and artist entrances to song introductions and the final closing talk.
If you pick hit songs that kids can sing and dance along to, it’s guaranteed to be a blast! The choice of artists and songs can also showcase the teachers’ individuality.
Get the props and costumes just right, and enjoy the upbeat vibes all the way to the end.