Lovely childcare

[Childcare] May Activities: Spring Outdoor & Indoor Play

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.
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 May, when temperatures begin to rise little by little from the warmth of spring, the fresh greenery is beautiful and it’s a season when you can spend lots of time in nature.

However, as the latter half of the month approaches the rainy season, there are more days with unstable weather, and you’ll likely spend more time indoors.

So this time, we’ll introduce activities that suit May’s climate and can be enjoyed both outdoors and indoors.

We’ve gathered a variety of May-recommended activities—from games that let kids move their bodies to their hearts’ content, to ways to savor nature, pretend play, traditional children’s songs, and even activities perfect for Children’s Day.

As children gradually get used to their new routines around this time of year, we hope you can deepen their connections with people and nature while sharing fun moments together!

[Childcare] May Activities: Spring Outdoor & Indoor Play (11–20)

Alien Repatriation Game

https://www.tiktok.com/@asobiinlife/video/7304249524820708609

Work together with your friends to help the aliens! Here’s an idea for an Alien Return Game.

You’ll need balloons, markers, and something to mark the start and finish lines.

In this simple game, you transport a balloon (pretending it’s an alien) to the goal—but teamwork is a must.

The rule is that teams of four must hold hands and never let go! Coordinate your timing using your joined hands, and use your heads, shoulders, or hips while calling out to each other.

Cooperate and save the aliens!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Pull hoop play

@soramame.sensei
Super easy to set up! Perfect for cooperative play with friends, too! 🥰✨Kotoba no Kyoushitsu Soramame Kids #SoramameKids #KagoshimaRehabilitation # developmental support (ryōiku)Child Development Support After-school day service Let's play at home #Indoor Play #Indoor Play #IndoorPlay #HandmadeToys Focus Physical play (exercise)Cooperative Play
♬ The comedian’s gallop, a classic foot race song for athletic meet(1265442) – Kids Sound

Empathy is the key to victory! Here’s a fun idea for a “pull-the-hoop” game.

You’ll need a hula hoop or a ring made from newspaper, some plastic ribbon (suzuran tape), and start and finish lines.

Play in pairs: one person steps inside the hoop, and the other pulls from the goal side by tugging the ribbon attached to the hoop.

The person inside the hoop moves forward by jumping in rhythm with the hoop.

Be careful to keep your feet inside the hoop and maintain your balance.

The puller should adjust speed and strength to guide their partner to the goal.

Give it a try!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Playing strawberry picking

[0- and 1-year-olds] We made strawberries and played pretend strawberry picking.

Playing strawberry picking

Strawberry picking is an activity where you pick and eat strawberries grown in greenhouses, and it’s very popular with children.

Let’s try a play activity themed around this.

Put crumpled flower paper into a clear bag to make strawberries.

After sealing the bag, stick black stickers on the surface.

Finally, decorate with green calyx pieces to complete the strawberry.

If you hang the strawberries with tape or clothespins, you can recreate the feel of real strawberry picking.

Try making these strawberries—they’re great for various situations like colored water play and pretend play.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Playing Bento Bus

[1-year-olds] We had fun playing “Lunchbox Bus” pretend!

Playing Bento Bus

May, when you can feel the spring warmth, is a popular time for field trips and walks.

A perfect play activity for this season is “bento bus pretend play.” Make a bus-shaped lunch box out of paper and stick ingredient stickers on the inside to create your bento.

Pack it with your favorite items like rice balls, eggs, meat, and vegetables.

Once the bus is finished, hold the steering wheel, sing songs, and pretend to go for a drive.

It’s also fun to spread out a picnic blanket and act out a scene of eating lunch.

Why not try some indoor activities for May that let children enjoy a variety of play?

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Dandelion Play

Easy to do!? Dandelion games!

Dandelion Play

These are dandelion-themed activities that bloom in the warm spring season.

They can be enjoyed in kindergarten and nursery school yards, as well as on outings like field trips.

The first activity is a ring-toss game where children throw loops made from vines or ropes toward dandelions.

It’s also fun to boost the game element by competing to see how many dandelions land inside the rings.

The second activity is making a waterwheel using dandelions.

Cut slits into both ends of a dandelion stem and place it in water.

When the slit parts open up, thread a twig or similar through the stem and let water flow over it.

These are May activities that offer a chance to connect with rich nature.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Nursery rhyme “Yomogi Jōbu no”

Spring children's song / For the April–May seasonal festivals: [Yomogi-Jobu no]. I'd like to play it to coincide with the festival.

Nursery rhyme “Yomogi Jōbu no”

Yomogi Jōbu, a game themed around mugwort, which is in season in spring.

The person playing the “oni” (it) holds a bundle of mugwort and sings a children’s song.

When the song ends, the rule is that they chase and tap the runner’s bottom.

Tapping with mugwort leaves carries the wish to remove impurities and promote a healthy body.

If mugwort leaves aren’t available, you can substitute with wildflowers or a rolled-up newspaper tube.

It’s a game that allows for many variations, such as holding hands while singing and spinning in circles.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

[Childcare] May Activities: Spring Outdoor & Indoor Play (21–30)

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 rhythmic play.

Sports day and school performances are great chances to showcase everyday activities, which makes both parents and children happy! How about holding a Eurhythmics recital that makes use of the rhythmic play the children already enjoy? By moving joyfully with hula hoops, children can not only develop a sense of rhythm but also improve their concentration and endurance.

Learning through play can help foster a positive image of music and physical activity!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem