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 Body-Moving Activities (81–90)

circuit play

"Circuit Play" | Gakuenchō Yūiku-en [Nursery/Kindergarten Event]

circuit play

A circuit play activity that’s fun not only for sports day but also on rainy days.

As children go around tackling obstacles, their excitement is likely to keep rising.

If you set up a course and include several movement patterns—crawling and climbing over it, jumping, and crawling under—it can make it even more enjoyable.

It’s also nice that, as they keep going around, they start wanting to go faster.

For sports day, it’s a good idea to set a goal—such as how many laps to complete—and encourage them by saying things like, “Only a few more laps to go!”

Raise the rankinglower

Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

Report a problem

Crawling tail-chasing game

[Age 3] Crawling Tail Tag & Clothespin Relay

Crawling tail-chasing game

Let’s introduce a crawling tail-tag game that gets kids excited.

Give each child a “tail” made by braiding plastic ribbon (like florist’s raffia).

The teacher is “it” and chases the children.

At the start signal, the children crawl away to avoid being caught.

If a child gets their tail taken by “it,” they can rejoin the game after doing five jumps and putting the tail back on.

Try swapping who’s “it” or increasing the number of chasers to keep the game fun!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Exercise play using balloons

Exercise play using “Puchi Balloon”

Exercise play using balloons

Let’s try playing with a variety of movements using a parachute (paraballoon)! For example, place crumpled newspaper or paper balls on top of the parachute and shake it to bounce them around—this move is called “popcorn.” You can also dash under the parachute while the teacher lifts it up, or crawl under it when it’s laid flat on the ground—those sound fun too.

Rather than deciding on a specific activity, start by freely touching and exploring the parachute.

For these kinds of games, a mini-sized parachute is recommended.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Pyramid Rock-Paper-Scissors

Pyramid Rock-Paper-Scissors: Guaranteed to be a hit! A recreational activity

Pyramid Rock-Paper-Scissors

Guaranteed excitement! Let us introduce Pyramid Rock-Paper-Scissors! First, split into a defense team and an offense team.

Draw pyramid-shaped lines on the ground and place the defenders on the lines.

For example, if there are 15 defenders, place 5 on the longest line, then 4 on the next, and so on, ending with a single person at the top—that person is the King! The offense team can challenge anyone among the bottom row of 5 to rock-paper-scissors; if they win, they advance.

Finally, they play rock-paper-scissors against the King, and if they win, they clear the game.

If they lose at any point, they return to the start.

Even if you lose to the King, you go back to the start.

It’s a fun game where luck is put to the test.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Run Away from the Hula Hoop Game

[Group Play] Run Away from the Hula Hoop Game!

Run Away from the Hula Hoop Game

Great for group play! Here’s an idea for a “Run from the Hula Hoop” game.

All you need is a large hula hoop.

The rules are simple: children try not to get hit by a hula hoop that a parent or teacher rolls.

The key is to move while predicting the hoop’s speed and direction.

Once everyone gets used to the game, adding variations to how the hoop moves will keep kids engaged and prevent boredom.

Give it a try and include it in your activities!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem