Lovely childcare

Heartwarming surprise ideas that will excite kids at daycare and kindergarten

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.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

Surprises can really move your emotions—your heart races with the unusual, out-of-the-ordinary experience, and you feel warmth as someone’s feelings come through directly.

One of the charms of a surprise is that not only the person receiving it enjoys it, but the person planning it can have fun too, wondering, “How will they react?”

You might be thinking, “What should we do?” if you want to plan a surprise—something loved by both adults and children—for a nursery school or kindergarten event.

So this time, we’re introducing touching surprise ideas that will excite everyone at kindergartens and nursery schools.

Find the perfect idea to match the recipient and situation—whether it’s the children, parents, or teachers.

Let’s create impactful moments that stay in the heart!

Emotional surprise ideas that will thrill nursery and kindergarten (21–30)

Lift-the-flap panel: “Whose ears are these?”

Whose Ears Are These? An Interactive Panel for Use in Daycare and Birthday Parties

Lift-the-flap panel: “Whose ears are these?”

A peek-a-boo panel called “Whose Ears Are These?” where children imagine what animal it is from a glimpse of a picture through the gap in a bag.

It’s a fun activity that sparks kids’ curiosity and desire to explore as they wonder, “What’s hiding in there?” A piglet, raccoon dog (tanuki), fox, and cat appear in sequence, leading naturally into the song “Kobutanuki Kitsuneko.” Beyond animals, you can adapt the content to match your event—fruits, vehicles, characters, and more—for lots of different ways to enjoy it.

It gets even more exciting if you vary the speed of the quick peeks to suit the children’s reactions or add a few trick questions.

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In conclusion

We’ve introduced a variety of surprise ideas! Did you find any that you think everyone would love? Of course, a big, elaborate surprise will be appreciated, but even a small surprise can be memorable if it’s filled with heartfelt intention.

We hope your feelings come across to the person through your surprise.

Please use the ideas we shared as inspiration and try planning a surprise that will make everyone smile!