Lovely childcare

Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for daycare and kindergarten

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 for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: 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.

Even on days when the weather is bad and the kids can’t go outside, they still want to move their bodies and play! At times like that, many teachers and parents wonder what indoor activities to do.

Here, we introduce indoor recreational activities that can be enjoyed at nurseries and kindergartens.

You’ll find lots of ideas that kids can dive into with sparkling eyes—full-body movement games, activities everyone can enjoy together, traditional games, and sensory play.

Have fun staying active with the children, even indoors.

These are also great as references for games at events!

Indoor activities and recreation games recommended for nurseries and kindergartens (11–20)

Stacking paper cups

Mari-chan is furious! Paper cup stacking contest with friends! What’s Mari-chan’s time? HUGtto! Precure Three Siblings Mom Collaboration #37 Runrun Mama

Stacking paper cups

Let me introduce a fun stacking game with paper cups.

Stack 15 paper cups into a pyramid shape, starting from the bottom.

Time each round and compete to see who can finish their pyramid the fastest.

Because you have to think about the best way to stack the cups as you go, it trains both concentration and problem-solving skills at the same time.

Plastic cups are smooth and glossy, so for children, paper cups are recommended.

Give it a try!

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Let’s defeat the demon with a ball!

[Age 2] Setsubun Play: Let's Defeat the Oni with Balls! | Sendan Kindergarten, Certified Kodomoen

Let's defeat the demon with a ball!

February is still full of chilly days, so let’s get moving and play indoors! This Setsubun game involves defeating the oni (ogre) by throwing balls at it.

Ideally, the target oni is made in separate parts—head, torso, and left and right legs—and then assembled.

It’s fun because the way it falls changes depending on where you hit it: hit the head and only the head might drop; hit the torso and the whole thing might topple over.

When it’s knocked down, set it back up and try again and again.

Cheer each other on—“You can do it!”—and work together with friends to defeat the oni.

It’s a great way to build cooperation and learn the importance of steady, persistent effort.

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Fun Oni (Demon) Games for Infant Classes

[Ages 0–2 (Infant Class)] “Oni Game (Let’s Enjoy Seasonal Play)” | Minami Senrioka Yuiku-en [Nursery/Kindergarten Event]

Fun Oni (Demon) Games for Infant Classes

Try fun oni-themed games that capture the Setsubun season: “Mame Korogashi,” where you roll up a newspaper into a ball and roll it around; “Mame-maki,” where you throw newspaper ‘beans’ at an oni face or its pants; “Pak-kun Oni Golf,” where you aim balls into a cardboard target; and “Oni Balloon Play,” using balloons decorated with many oni faces.

Do a warm-up with the Oni’s Pants dance, then start the games—pick whichever activities interest you.

Playing with toys made by you or by older students from other classes sparks curiosity and fosters a sense of achievement and self-esteem.

Feel free to use these ideas and bring Setsubun play into your activities.

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Roll it! Throw it! Demon-slaying

[Parent and Child Activity] Roll and Throw Toward the Target: Defeat the Oni with Movement Play!

Roll it! Throw it! Demon-slaying

Here’s an idea that lets kids move their bodies—throwing or rolling toward a target—while also enjoying a seasonal event.

Prepare five plastic bottles, some string, and origami paper, and make ogre (oni) faces with the origami.

It’s more fun with a variety of colors, so let them choose their favorites.

Encourage them to draw freely—smiling, angry, or crying faces—so their individuality can shine.

Attach string to each ogre face and secure it to a plastic bottle by fixing it under the cap, and you’re done.

Roll or throw a ball to knock down the plastic-bottle pins.

Making toys fosters imagination and gives a sense of accomplishment.

Above all, kids will feel attached to what they’ve made and learn to value their belongings.

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Balloon Whack Game

[Age 3] “Balloon Whack Game”

Balloon Whack Game

Here’s a game using balloons that kids love: the Balloon Smack Game.

It’s basically the summer watermelon-smashing game, but with a balloon instead of a watermelon.

One designated player wears a blindfold and swings a plastic bat toward the balloon.

Spectators should keep a safe distance and guide the player with their voices: “To the right!” “A little farther back!” and so on, helping them find the balloon.

It also works well as a warm-up when you’re planning to do a real watermelon-smashing activity at an overnight camp or summer festival.

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Rolling Dodgeball

@toiro_efilagroup
Do you know “Korokoro Dodgeball”?After-school day service #toiro #Kanagawa Prefecture Andante Childcare Worker
♪ Original song – toiro After-school Day – toiro After-school Day

Let me introduce Rolling Dodgeball, a game where you roll the ball instead of throwing it.

The rules are similar to regular dodgeball, but players are split into inside and outside groups, and the ball is rolled to keep the game going.

If an inside player is hit by a ball rolled by someone on the outside, they move to the outside and join their team’s attack from there.

It can also be fun to decide the winner by counting how many players remain inside at the end.

Unlike regular dodgeball, this version uses a soft ball, so you can play safely.

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Red Light, Green Light: the daruma who delivers the ball

Hula hoops are safe bases! Let me share an idea for a “Red Light, Green Light” style game where you deliver a ball.

You’ll need more hula hoops than the number of children playing, plus a ball.

You have to move forward to carry the ball, but if you step outside a hula hoop, you get caught! It’s a unique game that lets kids enjoy that thrilling tension.

Even if you’re thinking about which hula hoop to move to, you might end up choosing the same one as a friend.

It seems great for developing quick decision-making skills, too.

Give it a try!

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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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Balloon Carry Relay

https://www.tiktok.com/@bear_kids_official/video/7406297632772984081

Here’s a fun balloon-carrying relay where you work together with a friend.

Form pairs, hold a balloon between two paper cups so it doesn’t fall, and carry it to the goal—simple and enjoyable! If your strength and speed aren’t in sync, the balloon may drop along the way and you might not make it to the goal, so communicate with each other and aim for the finish.

If you drop the balloon, start again from where it fell.

Make sure you have plenty of space and be careful not to bump into friends.

Doing it in teams is also recommended.

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Paper Sumo (Tonton Paper Sumo)

Tonton Paper Sumo Wrestling

Paper Sumo (Tonton Paper Sumo)

Let’s play a nostalgic game: paper sumo! The video uses a ready-made paper sumo set, but you can also make one with origami.

Create wrestlers out of origami paper and use an empty box as the ring.

At the cue “Hakke-yooi, nokotta!” lightly tap the box to move your wrestler.

Depending on where and how hard you tap, the wrestlers may clash, topple over, or even go out of the ring.

The key to paper sumo is mastering the force and the way you move them—so gather everyone and give it a try!

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