[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 move the body (41–50)
Fruits Basket
By the time children are three years old, they’re able to play while following basic rules.
That’s when “Fruit Basket” is a great activity to introduce.
One of the charms of this game is that it can be enjoyed in a lively, large group.
The rules of Fruit Basket are very simple: the “it” player shouts the name of a specific fruit, and only the people sitting in chairs who belong to that fruit move to a different seat.
During this time, the “it” player tries to take a seat.
It’s ideal if the teacher can really set the mood so that children who are just learning the rules can have fun too!
Inside-out pots!
Let’s play “Nabe-nabe Soko-nuke” using a towel.
First, prepare a towel with some size and length, such as a sports towel or a bath towel.
An adult holds one end and a child holds the other.
While singing “Nabe-nabe,” shake the towel, and when you get to the lyrics “When the bottom falls out, let’s go back,” turn around in a spin while still holding the towel.
Be careful not to spin too fast or pull too hard, as it can strain the shoulders.
Once you’ve practiced and can turn smoothly, children can also enjoy trying it together with each other!
chimney game
Let’s work hard so we don’t lose to the chimney sweeper! Here’s an idea for a chimney-themed game.
It’s a unique game that uses balls and a mat.
If your center doesn’t have a mat, you can use connected cardboard pieces instead.
Inside the chimney, a teacher transformed into a chimney sweeper will go in.
The children will try to put balls into the chimney so they won’t lose to the sweeper.
They’ll develop their ability to strategize and be inventive by making plans and watching for the teacher’s openings.
Give it a try!
Bomb Game
A simple “Bomb Game” you can play with a rubber ball.
The rules are like a preschool version of dodgeball: set up areas in advance using tape lines or mats, and have the children move from mat to mat while avoiding the ball.
First, explain, “The ball is a bomb, so you mustn’t get hit.” Start by tossing the ball gently with an easy arc, then raise the difficulty as they get used to it by changing the ball’s trajectory or throwing faster shots off the wall or floor.
The kids will love the thrill—guaranteed excitement!
Rock-paper-scissors is fun even in the rain
Here are some rock-paper-scissors games you can enjoy indoors with kids even on rainy days.
“American Rock-Paper-Scissors” reverses winning and losing, so it makes you think.
“Body Rock-Paper-Scissors” is a game where you use your whole body to show rock, paper, or scissors.
It’s recommended to decide in advance what movements will represent rock, scissors, and paper before you start.
In “Newspaper Rock-Paper-Scissors,” you stand on a sheet of newspaper while playing; if you lose, you fold your newspaper once and make it smaller each time.
In “Rock-Paper-Scissors Train,” the loser lines up behind the winner, and the train of players gradually grows longer.
Try these and find your favorite rock-paper-scissors game!
Super Energetic ExerciseHiromichi Sato, Sugamo Children’s Choir
Let me introduce a super-energizing exercise that makes you feel lively when you move your body.
To the rhythm of the song, become a crow or a sparrow—spread your arms wide and do big jumps and small jumps.
Become a little monkey and move both hands, copying up, down, left, and right motions to get your whole body moving.
Make a ghost pose, look back over your shoulder, and twist your body.
For the dinosaur moves, swing both arms and legs wide as you move forward, and practice balancing by hopping on one foot.
It’s a super exciting exercise that lets kids have fun while moving their hands, feet, and whole bodies!
Scarf Dance: The Wind Is CallingKazuto Ozawa
Singer-songwriter and play-writer Kazuto Ozawa’s scarf dance “The Wind Is Calling” features choreography that expresses many kinds of wind.
Some moves are as simple as gently swinging the arms forward and back, while others use the whole body as if flailing about.
The clear variation in tempo makes it easy for children to learn, and simply moving their bodies with a big “whoosh” is likely great fun for them.
It’s also recommended as a performance piece for sports days and school recitals.
