[Childcare / Physical Play] Fun Activities to Get Moving
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!
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[Childcare/Physical Play] Fun Activities to Get Moving (31–40)
Copycat Animals
Here’s a copycat animal game that kids of different ages can enjoy while moving their bodies.
Along with a piano melody, the teacher says the name of an animal and imitates it.
The children enjoy moving like the animal in their own way, at a level that suits their age.
You might even see the younger children copying the movements of the older ones.
It could also be fun to ask the children what animals they can think of as you go along.
This copycat animal play is a great way to get kids moving indoors—give it a try!
Come-here game
Even though the rules are super simple, let’s try playing the “Come Here, Come Here Game,” which kids are guaranteed to love! Divide into a teacher and children.
The teacher gently beckons to the children, saying “Come here, come here.” While the teacher is saying it, the children move slowly toward the teacher without running.
When the teacher suddenly says, “Come here, come here…
It’s a ghost!” the children have to run away so they don’t get caught.
Once everyone gets used to it, you can make it even more exciting by faking them out with similar-sounding words to “ghost,” like “pot” or “mother.”
Seven Steps
Let’s have fun with a counting song fingerplay! Here are some ideas for Seven Steps.
This activity is a rhythm game that nurtures concentration by counting while moving the body.
Some children may find it a bit difficult until they get used to the rules, but sharing the sense of accomplishment with friends when they succeed will deepen their bonds.
If they make mistakes, don’t get discouraged—keep the atmosphere light and try again! This can help foster children’s perseverance and a mindset that doesn’t give up.
Exercise play with towels
With just one towel, you can incorporate a variety of movement-based play activities.
Why not give it a try when the weather is bad or when it’s too hot or cold to play outside? Simply rubbing the body as in dry brushing, or swinging it like a jump rope and stepping through it can become a full-body workout.
You can also use a towel for one-on-one tug-of-war.
It’s a valuable experience for children to learn skills like bracing themselves and shifting their weight backward.
Another plus is that you can do it anywhere as long as you have a towel and some open space.
Be sure to enjoy all kinds of active play with towels together with the children.
Banana-kun Exercise
A gymnastics number created by Toshihiko Shinzawa—an author of picture books and a singer-songwriter who continues to craft songs loved by children and adults alike, such as “Niji.” Set to a light, Latin-style rhythm, this simple piece uses the familiar theme of “bananas,” making it easy for young children to enjoy.
Watching the official video featuring Shinzawa himself, you can feel the message that it’s okay to dance freely.
We hope children will move openly and energetically, experiencing the joy that moving your body is “fun!”
[Childcare / Physical Play] Fun activities to move the body (41–50)
Balloon Shiritori
It’s a game where you pass a balloon around while playing shiritori, trying not to let the balloon fall.
When the previous person says a letter and passes the balloon, the next person must add a shiritori word before touching the balloon.
It may seem easy, but sometimes you can’t think of words when you’re focused on the balloon.
This game helps develop various skills in children—not only physical ability but also recognition skills and a sense of rhythm.
When playing indoors, trying it while seated offers a different kind of fun and is recommended! Feel free to adapt it to suit the age of the children.
Gymnastics ‘Yo-kai Exercise No. 1’
The game Yo-kai Watch, released in 2013, quickly became a hit among children at the time and was even adapted into an anime that became extremely popular.
The song Yo-kai Exercise No.
1 was the first ending theme of that anime.
The exercise routine, in which characters from the game and anime perform unique dances to the music, uses the whole body and can be thoroughly enjoyed as a physical activity.
It’s a routine that people of all ages can enjoy.
Teachers, join in and get moving with the kids to make it even more fun!
