Lovely childcare

[Childcare] May events and activities at nursery schools and kindergartens

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.

May is full of events themed around nature and growth!

While enjoying the fresh greenery of the season, here are various ideas for celebrating with children in childcare settings.

May also includes Children’s Day.

It’s a great opportunity to celebrate children’s growth and deepen communication between adults and kids.

Be sure to enjoy the warm days of May together with the children.

Through fun events, may both children and adults spend a spring full of smiles!

[Childcare] May Events & Activities at Nursery Schools and Kindergartens (31–40)

May Panel Theater

May 2022 Birthday Party: “Which one? Which one? Which could it be?”

May Panel Theater

Also great for birthday parties! Introducing a panel theater for May.

At many preschools, teachers put on a performance for the children during birthday parties, right? For those wondering what theme to choose and how to stage it, we recommend the panel theater “Which one? Which one? Which do you think?” It’s perfect for kids who love quizzes! The way to answer is simple, making it enjoyable for infants through preschoolers.

Be sure to use it for birthday parties and other events.

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Eurhythmics play

[May Rhythmic Class: Let’s Play with Our Bodies!] For ages 3–5. Get moving with hoop play! Perfect for kids with extra energy ✨ Great for relieving children’s stress ✨ Music play, rhythm play—also usable in childcare settings.

Eurhythmics play

Let’s have fun moving our bodies with hula hoops! Here are some ideas for Eurhythmics (music and movement) activities.

Since children can showcase their daily activities at sports days or performance showcases, both parents and kids will be delighted! How about organizing a Eurhythmics recital using the familiar activities you practice regularly? By moving joyfully with hula hoops, children can not only develop a sense of rhythm but also improve their concentration and stamina.

Learning through play can help nurture a positive attitude toward music and physical activity!

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Fingerplay paper puppet (Pepaato)

May birthday party! We turned a popular hand game into a paper puppet show♪ From a round egg... a chick! An ant! A dinosaur?! (Nursery teacher / Daycare)

Fingerplay paper puppet (Pepaato)

Let’s put a fun twist on hand games that are super popular with kids and put on a show! Here are some ideas for hand-game paper puppets.

How many times a day do you play hand games with the children? Among those, take the hand games they’re most into and adapt them into paper-puppet versions to play! It could be fun to set a special Hand Game Day and try playing by adapting them into paper puppets, a panel theater, or even picture books.

Use the children’s reactions as a guide and enjoy the event together with them!

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Make a carp streamer with dyed paper

Make Koinobori with Dyed Paper: A May Craft for Use in Preschools (For 5-Year-Olds)

Make a carp streamer with dyed paper

An event recommended for older kindergarteners! Here’s an idea for making carp streamers (koinobori) using dyed paper.

Older kindergarteners are at a stage where they can do things on their own and develop a sense of responsibility.

It’s also their final year spent with teachers and friends at daycare or kindergarten, so let’s hold events on these important days to create memories and feel their growth! You’ll need dyed paper or washi (rice paper), paints, crayons, scissors, glue, and rubber bands.

Both the process of making them and the time spent admiring the finished creations become precious memories.

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Sketchbook Theater: Hungry Koinobori

https://www.tiktok.com/@himawarihoikusi/video/7359143785093254416

Let me introduce a sketchbook theater perfect for Children’s Day in May: “The Hungry Koinobori.” It’s a story where a carp streamer, hungry for food, changes into different colors after eating.

The moment it transforms from a colorless carp streamer into a colorful one is sure to capture the children’s attention.

You could match the colors to your class hat colors or get creative with the palette so the children feel more connected to the koinobori.

Give this seasonal koinobori theater a try!

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