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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- [Parent-Child Rec] Recreational activities and games for parents and children to enjoy together—also great for sports days.
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- Indoor games for parents and children: fun activities that use the body and the mind
Recreation for Nursery Schools and Kindergartens: Fun Activities for Children (171–180)
Mukkuri Kuma-san
This is the play song “Mukkuri Kuma-san,” which even little kids can enjoy.
Everyone stands in a circle, and one child lies down in the middle.
While singing, they walk around in circles around the child.
When the song ends, they tickle the child who’s lying down to wake them up.
Kids who don’t like being tickled might not want to be in the middle—it’s a bit nerve-racking, isn’t it?
Fruits Basket
It’s a classic group game for children, a variation of musical chairs.
The children sit on chairs arranged in a circle facing inward, with one child standing in the middle.
Each child is assigned the name of a fruit, and the child in the middle calls out a fruit name.
The children with that fruit name must stand up and move to a different chair.
The child who can’t find a seat switches places and becomes the one standing in the middle.
The excitement peaks when the caller shouts “Fruit Basket!” and everyone has to stand up at once!
Imitation play
It’s a game of playing with and imitating simple rhythmic sounds.
You listen to chords on the piano, imagine a creature—like an animal or a monster—and express it on the spot using your body.
For example, what would a light, sprightly piano sound make you picture? A rabbit hopping about, or perhaps a chick waddling along? If the sound is heavy and weighty, it might evoke a slightly scary monster or a large elephant—this game sparks the imagination.
For small children, an adult can demonstrate first and then the child can imitate and play along.
Ball-passing game
The “Ball Passing Game” is a fun competitive activity played in teams.
Each team lines up in a single file, with the person at the front holding a ball.
At the starting signal, pass the ball back to the person behind you.
The team whose ball reaches the last person first wins.
It’s a classic indoor game that gets everyone excited no matter how many times you play!
Gesture Game
A game where you express a prompt using only body movements without saying it out loud, and others guess the prompt, is called a “gesture game.” It’s recommended for preschoolers in the middle to upper age range who know lots of words.
Watching how children freely come up with ways to express the prompts makes it an enjoyable recreation for observers as well.
In conclusion
Through play at daycare, children can enjoy a wonderful time where they can freely express their minds and bodies. In a variety of activities—such as Evolution Rock-Paper-Scissors, Newspaper Rock-Paper-Scissors, and ninja play—their motor skills and imagination are nurtured. Let’s create warm, joyful moments filled with children’s smiles as teachers join in the fun together.