Recreation for daycare centers and kindergartens: fun activities for children
Children in daycare and kindergarten are full of curiosity and energy! Still, some teachers might struggle to come up with play ideas.
There are also days when the weather keeps you indoors.
Here, we introduce a variety of activities that children in kindergarten and daycare can enjoy! We’ve gathered fun activities—from dance, exercise, and games to crafts—that are suitable for babies through toddlers.
Active, movement-based play is a big hit, too.
Let children and adults play together and enjoy a wonderful time!
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Recreation for nursery schools and kindergartens. Fun children's games (41–50)
Copycat Animals
Here’s a copycat animal game that kids of different ages can enjoy while moving their bodies.
Along with a piano melody, the teacher says the name of an animal and imitates it.
The children enjoy moving like the animal in their own way, at a level that suits their age.
You might even see the younger children copying the movements of the older ones.
It could also be fun to ask the children what animals they can think of as you go along.
This copycat animal play is a great way to get kids moving indoors—give it a try!
Mimic Animal Rock-Paper-Scissors
Here’s a game called “Copycat Animal Rock-Paper-Scissors” that helps children of different ages interact and become friends.
At the cue, “Copycat animal, rock-paper-scissors—go!” everyone strikes an animal pose.
If both partners choose the same animal pose, they earn 1 point; if they choose different poses, they spin around once on the spot.
It’s recommended that teachers and children decide the set of animal poses in advance.
You may see older children teaching the animal poses to younger ones.
Come up with lots of pose variations and have fun!
Mimic Rhythm Play
Here’s a follow-the-leader rhythm activity you can enjoy while copying movements.
As you hum the rhythm, the teacher demonstrates by clapping hands and gently tapping their own head or arms.
After watching the teacher’s example, the children play along with the rhythm by copying the movements they’ve learned.
During this time, the teacher should also move together with the children to serve as a model.
Younger children can participate within their abilities.
Older children, once they’re used to it, should try making their expressions bigger and more exaggerated.
Have fun by adjusting the tempo as you go.
Mickey Mouse March
A hand game that kids love.
There are all kinds, and even little ones who aren’t very good at singing can imitate the moves and have fun, which is nice.
Let’s sing and play one of these hand-game songs to the Mickey Mouse March.
You add one finger at a time, and from one to five they’re all Disney characters.
Kids love the characters, so it really gets them excited.
Rhythm Game ‘The Greengrocer’
“Yaoya-san” is a rhythm game where you clap only when you hear the name of something sold at a greengrocer.
It can be tricky to make a snap judgment about whether an item is sold at a greengrocer, but it’s fun once you try it.
To get the children to listen closely, you can add emphasis or accents to your words, and it also seems fun to say similar-sounding words that are easy to trip them up with.
