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 nurseries and kindergartens. Fun children's games (161–170)
Fishing game
How about a fishing game? Make lots of fish out of origami and attach a paper clip to the mouth of each one.
For the fishing rod, tie a string to an easy-to-hold stick and attach a magnet to the end.
Lay out a vinyl sheet to represent water, place the fish on it, and catch them so the magnet snaps onto the clips.
It would be fun for everyone to make the fish together and draw illustrations or patterns on them.
Let’s also try making colorful, original fishing rods!
The Three Little Pigs
It’s a play song called “The Three Little Pigs.” It’s based on the famous Grimm fairy tale, and the story is set to music.
The houses the piglets build out of straw and wood are easily destroyed by the wolf.
But the brick house built by one of the three pigs cannot be destroyed.
The story is charming, and it’s become a play song that also incorporates rhythmic hand motions.
The “Come here, come here” game
The “Come Here” game starts with everyone lined up in a single row.
When the teacher says “Come here” (oide), everyone takes one step forward.
But if the teacher says a word that also starts with “o,” like “obake” (ghost), don’t move forward—run back quickly to your starting position.
Because the “obake” command is scary, no one rushes straight ahead; everyone creeps forward nervously, which makes the game even more fun.
Mix in other ‘o’ words like “okaasan” (mother) or “otousan” (father) to add feints and keep things exciting.
playing store
How about playing “store” at a shop the kids like? They can draw pictures and make props for an ice cream shop, a hamburger place, a sushi restaurant, and more, then act as the clerk or the customer! You’ll need to make some play money, too!
Circuit play
“Circuit asobi” refers to an obstacle course for children.
They enjoy jumping off platforms and crawling through tunnels.
After age two, their motor skills develop quite a bit, so definitely give it a try.
Kids love activities where they can move their bodies freely, so it’s highly recommended!