Recreation for daycare centers and kindergartens: fun activities for children

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.

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!

Recreation for nurseries and kindergartens: Fun children's games (71–80)

Tissue Paper Flower Crafts

@hoikushisatomi
[Montessori-Style] Tissue Paper Play Roundup!!Kids will love it Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Life with children #OuchiMonte Translation #EducationalPlay Educational
Oria – niKu

Play expands with your ideas! Let me share some fun ways to play with tissue paper flowers.

All you need to prepare is tissue paper in your favorite colors.

Tissue paper is light, soft, and comes in attractive, vibrant colors.

Some preschools and families may use it for crafts, but this time let’s try using it for activities.

You can throw it, tear it, crumple it, and play dynamically, or put it in a container, add water, and make a sensory bottle for a calm, soothing time.

It could also be fun to decide on the activities together with the children.

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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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mayumi

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Egg Quiz

https://www.tiktok.com/@popon_shop/video/7423011226772409608

What comes out of the egg…? Here’s a fun egg quiz that gets kids thinking! Make eggs out of construction paper or nonwoven fabric, and have the children imagine what kind of baby will hatch from inside.

Plain white shells can be hard to guess, so try expressing the baby’s characteristics on the shell itself.

For example, if it’s a baby zebra, give the shell stripes; if it’s a ladybug, make it red with black polka dots—hide clues on the shell.

Once everyone gets the hang of it, let the kids come up with ideas too, and you’ll end up with lots of clever egg shells to match each baby!

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Hiragana Collection Challenge

https://www.tiktok.com/@cocoskip/video/7286789916544044289

Here’s a Hiragana-collecting challenge that’s fun both solo and with friends.

Spread out cards on the floor, each with a single hiragana character.

Give a prompt, then collect the hiragana cards that fit the prompt to form words.

Get a stopwatch ready and time how many minutes it takes to complete each word.

Start with just one prompt at first, then gradually increase the number of prompt words to make it more exciting.

It’s also a great game for building concentration and critical thinking, so give it a try!

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mayumi

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cushion hula hoop

You’re only allowed to walk on the cushion strips or inside the hula hoops! Here’s a unique game.

You’ll need two hula hoops, pool noodles, scissors or a utility knife, and masking tape.

Cut the pool noodles or any cushioned material and tape them to the floor—prep done.

Use two hula hoops to make your way to the goal! When you reach the cushioned course, set down a hula hoop and walk on the cushion.

Keeping your balance is trickier than it looks, so give it a try!

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