Lovely childcare

[Childcare / Physical Play] Fun Activities to Get Moving

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.
Nursery Teacher Mom Writertsukada moe
After working for five years at an after-school childcare club and three years at a nursery school, I began working as a freelance writer. I’m a mother of two children. Inspired by playing the flute in the school wind ensemble in elementary school, I joined a jazz club at university. I’ve also incorporated ukulele and piano performance into childcare. Playing, laughing, feeling sad, feeling frustrated—through all kinds of experiences, I want children to grow.

Physical activity play is essential in early childhood education, isn’t it?

Here, we introduce ideas for outdoor play and activities you can do indoors.

Use these examples to incorporate a variety of movement games and help children grow strong in both mind and body.

Many of the activities don’t require special equipment, so you can feel at ease even without preparation.

When adults join in the fun, everyone can enjoy a great time together.

Create joyful moments filled with laughter.

Let both children and adults move their bodies a lot and play with energy!

[Childcare & Physical Play] Fun Activities to Get Moving (51–60)

Ninja Game

@cocoro_ws ♪ Original Song – [Official] Kokoro Social Welfare Association [Gymnastics 🤸] – [Gymnastics Class] Social Welfare Corporation Kokoro Welfare Association [🤸]

Recommended for preschool classes! Here are some ninja game ideas.

These playful activities let children become ninjas and enjoy moving their bodies.

The teacher calls out moves like “Head Shuriken,” “Ninja Chop,” and “Foot Shuriken,” and the children dodge them by jumping or evading.

It’s great for building stamina and reflexes while moving swiftly like ninjas.

Pretending to be ninjas also sparks imagination, which is another plus.

It looks like a fun way to nurture concentration and flexibility through play!

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Moving House Game

[For toddlers, simple, movement play] Moving House Game

Moving House Game

Let’s move to a distant base! Here’s an idea for a “Moving House” game.

In this game, the cue word is “Moving House,” and children simply move from one mat to another.

Once they get used to it, teachers or guardians can try to interrupt them along the course.

The fun part is seeing whether they can complete the move while avoiding the teachers or guardians! It’s also a great idea for deepening bonds among the children by giving them a shared goal.

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Chestnut Ogre

'Chestnut Tag (Kuri-Oni)': Hugely popular with both preschoolers and elementary school kids! Introducing a tag game perfect for livening things up—also ideal as a warm-up!!

Chestnut Ogre

A tag game perfect for autumn! Here’s an idea called Chestnut Tag (Kuri Oni).

It’s similar to Freeze Tag, but the twist is that you transform into a chestnut! Choose one person to be ‘it’ (the oni), and everyone else runs to avoid being tagged.

If you’re about to be tagged, you can transform into a chestnut to create a barrier.

If a teammate touches you, you can start running again.

However, if you get tagged before transforming into a chestnut, move to the spectator area.

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Mukkuri Kuma-san

[Group Game] “Mukkuri Kuma-san” | How to Play “Mukkuri Kuma-san”

Mukkuri Kuma-san

Let’s enjoy traditional nursery rhymes! Here’s an idea using “Mukkuri Kuma-san.” Warabe-uta are traditional Japanese children’s songs that are fun because adults and kids can sing and play together.

They have a good rhythm, simple lyrics and melodies, and are easy for children to remember.

For Mukkuri Kuma-san, choose one child to be the bear, and have the other children hold hands and walk in a circle around the bear.

When the song ends, the bear chases everyone.

The person tagged by the bear becomes the next bear.

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Moguradon’s

November nursery rhyme “Mogura-don”

Moguradon’s

A children’s hand-play song to enjoy interacting with friends through singing and movement! Here’s an idea for the game “Mogura-don” (Mr.

Mole).

These traditional play songs are often used in children’s hand games and group activities.

Their lyrics and melodies are short and easy to remember, which is part of their charm.

In this simple game, everyone forms a circle and walks around the person playing the “mole,” who sits in the center, while singing.

When the song ends, the “mole” stands up and tries to catch the children.

Give it a try!

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