[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 Body-Moving Activities (71–80)

Hoop ball throwing

@omiyamichinoko ♪ Classical Medley 2019 (Cover) – Pianica Magician

Hula hoops become the targets! Here’s an idea for a game where you throw balls at hula hoops.

You’ll need two hula hoops, masking tape, and small colored balls.

First, stick masking tape onto the hula hoops to create targets.

Next, throw the colored balls at the hula hoop targets.

When the balls fly just right, they’ll stick to the masking tape with a satisfying plop—it’s really fun! Competing to see how many colored balls stick should make it even more exciting.

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Red Light, Green Light: the daruma who delivers the ball

Hula hoops are safe bases! Let me share an idea for a “Red Light, Green Light” style game where you deliver a ball.

You’ll need more hula hoops than the number of children playing, plus a ball.

You have to move forward to carry the ball, but if you step outside a hula hoop, you get caught! It’s a unique game that lets kids enjoy that thrilling tension.

Even if you’re thinking about which hula hoop to move to, you might end up choosing the same one as a friend.

It seems great for developing quick decision-making skills, too.

Give it a try!

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centipede ogre

@yokohama_rs
#Centipede Demon (Mukade Oni)Recreation Children's Play #Sports Childcare Nursery teacher / Childcare worker Technical college Yokohama #RizospoLet's give it a try!Agility Training
♬ Boom, Boom, Boom, Boom!! – Vengaboys

Move nimbly and avoid danger! Here’s an idea for a game called Centipede Tag.

You probably know there are many types of tag, like Freeze Tag and Color Tag.

Have you heard of Centipede Tag, where you work together with teammates to escape the tagger? Assign one person as the tagger, and everyone else is on the centipede team.

The centipede players place their hands on the shoulders of the person in front and stay connected without letting go.

When the last person in the centipede gets tagged, the tagger switches.

It’s tough to escape from a freely moving tagger, but by cooperating, the centipede team will build strong bonds.

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Alien Repatriation Game

https://www.tiktok.com/@asobiinlife/video/7304249524820708609

Let’s work together with friends to help the aliens! Here’s an idea for an Alien Return game.

You’ll need balloons, markers, and something to mark the start and finish lines.

In this simple game, you carry balloon “aliens” to the goal—but cooperating with friends is absolutely required.

That’s because you play in teams of four, holding hands, and the rule is that you can’t let go! Coordinate your moves using your linked hands, heads, shoulders, or hips, and call out to sync your timing.

Work together and save the aliens!

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Pull hoop play

@soramame.sensei
Super easy to set up! Perfect for cooperative play with friends, too! 🥰✨Kotoba no Kyoushitsu Soramame Kids #SoramameKids #KagoshimaRehabilitation # developmental support (ryōiku)Child Development Support After-school day service Let's play at home #Indoor Play #Indoor Play #IndoorPlay #HandmadeToys Focus Physical play (exercise)Cooperative Play
♬ The comedian’s gallop, a classic foot race song for athletic meet(1265442) – Kids Sound

Compassion is the key to winning! Here’s a fun idea for a Pull-the-Hoop game.

Prepare a hula hoop or a ring made from newspaper, some plastic ribbon (suzuran tape), and start and goal lines.

The person moving inside the hoop should walk in step with the moving hula hoop.

Be careful to keep your feet inside the hoop and maintain your balance! The person pulling the hoop should control the speed and the amount of force to guide their teammate to the goal.

Give it a try!

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