Lovely childcare

Outdoor games for large groups. Fun, exciting games for kids.

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 as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is 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.

Here are some outdoor play ideas for large groups that are sure to bring out kids’ smiles!

There are many games where children work together with friends to achieve a goal, so try adapting them based on age.

With games that include a bit of competition, kids can have fun while moving their bodies—and boost their athletic skills, too!

By enjoying activities together, they also learn the joy of cooperation and develop leadership.

Outdoor play is full of new discoveries and adventures.

Get moving, stay active, and make wonderful memories!

We also recommend using these ideas as a base to come up with your own original games.

Outdoor games for large groups: Exciting kids’ games (31–40)

Kick the can

Kick the can

Kick the can

There are games that we somehow know without anyone formally teaching us, aren’t there? Many of them are passed down from grandparents, parents, or older kids in the neighborhood, and then we teach them to younger children when we grow up—traditional Japanese games, so to speak.

“Kankeri” (can kicking) is one of them.

The shared basic rules are: the time you can hide is the time it takes the It (the tagger) to return the kicked can to its original spot; if you’re found and your name is called, you lose.

There are detailed rule variations depending on the region.

A steel can works better than an aluminum one.

If you play in a park, be mindful of your surroundings, and don’t forget to try to put very young children on the hiding side when possible! It’s a fun game that anyone can join, and one we’d love to pass on to the next generation.

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Taki no namida pin ku

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pulling up a daikon radish

pulling up a daikon radish

pulling up a daikon radish

Pulling daikon radishes out of the field takes strength and technique—it’s hard work, right? That’s the idea behind this game, “Daikon Pulling.” The people playing the radish role lie face down in a circle and link arms tightly with the people next to them.

The “oni” (tagger) pulls at their legs as if pulling up a radish, trying to yank a radish player out of the circle.

Once someone is pulled out, the adjacent players quickly re-link their arms tightly to prepare for the next pull.

The person who was pulled out becomes an oni and works together with the other oni to pull out more radishes!

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Daikon-pulling game

@kidschallengeclub ♬ Anyway, Busy – Various Artists & Ken Ito

A game that kids and adults can enjoy! Here are some ideas for the Daikon Pulling Game.

It’s a fun game that works well with both small and large groups! The rules are simple and easy to understand, so anyone—from children to adults—can join in.

Divide into the “daikon” role and the “puller” role, and give it a try.

It gets even more exciting with larger groups, but it’s still plenty of fun with fewer people, making it great for any group size.

Once everyone gets the hang of it, trying team matches and competing for time sounds like a lot of fun!

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Bomb game

[Indoor Play] A Game Enjoyable Across Ages [Bomb Game]

Bomb game

The excitement just won’t stop! Here’s a fun idea for a bomb game.

It’s a great way to build concentration and decision-making skills while playing.

All you need is a device that can play music and a ball or balloon.

Have the participants stand in a circle facing each other.

While the music is playing, pass the ball to the person next to you.

When the music stops, whoever is holding the ball loses—simple as that.

It’s sure to be a hit with preschool classes!

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Evolution Rock-Paper-Scissors

@kidschallengeclub
Introducing Evolution Rock-Paper-Scissors! It’s a game where you keep playing rock-paper-scissors with lots of different people and evolve step by step! If you become a god within the time limit, you win! The kids suddenly start imitating grandpas and grandmas, and it’s so authentic I couldn’t stop laughing. It’s that kind of fun game!evolution Evolution Rock-Paper-Scissors Rock-paper-scissors Rock-Paper-Scissors Game baby #Grandma God Interesting
Invincibly Cute – Naoki Endo

An amusing game where you evolve by winning rock-paper-scissors: “Evolution Janken.” Aim to become a god within the time limit! Everyone starts as a baby.

Since you’re a baby, you crawl to move and play rock-paper-scissors with people you meet.

If you win, you evolve and can move by hands-and-knees crawling.

If you lose, keep belly-crawling and look for your next opponent.

It goes like this: belly-crawl, hands-and-knees crawl, bear walk, adult, elderly person, and finally, you become a god and the game ends.

Evolve within the time limit!

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