Lovely Play & Recreation

Get moving and have a blast! A collection of safe play ideas

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.

Many of you are surely looking for safe activities that bring out children’s smiles and energy.

Here, we introduce ideas for safe and fun activities that toddlers through elementary school kids will love.

We’ve gathered recreations that require few props and can be enjoyed both at home and in larger spaces.

Moving freely also nurtures children’s hearts.

Kids and adults alike—use your voices, move your bodies, and create fun, memorable times together with the children!

Get moving and have a blast! A collection of safe play ideas (11–20)

Big Game Hunting

Let's go hunt wild beasts! ヽ(*´∀｀)ノ

Big Game Hunting

“Let’s Go on a Beast Hunt” is a recreation activity that not only gets kids moving but also strengthens their sense of unity.

The game consists of two elements.

The first is everyone singing and dancing together while imitating the teacher.

The second is forming groups based on the number of syllables in the animal name the teacher calls out.

In the latter, it’s important for children to think about others and cooperate.

That said, depending on the prompt, some children may be left out, so the teacher should carefully calculate the syllable counts to make it work smoothly.

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Indoor play that even infants can enjoy!

@nexus_official5 ♬ Cute heartwarming BGM(1490583) – sanusagi

We’d like to introduce four types of activities that kids can enjoy energetically indoors, even on cold days.

First is the “Crawling Race,” where parents and children cheer each other on as they aim for the goal.

It’s simple, but full of smiles and lots of excitement.

Next is the “Animal Imitation Game.” Move your body to the fullest by hopping like a bunny or mimicking an elephant’s trunk.

“Balance Play” involves placing a string on the floor and walking along it.

Stepping over and hopping without touching the string helps build leg strength.

Lastly, there’s “Newspaper and Flyer Play.” Tear the paper using your fingertips, crumple it into balls, and use them for other games.

All of these are easy to prepare and perfect for cozy days at home when it’s cold outside.

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In conclusion

Safe play is filled not only with the joy of moving the body, but also with countless opportunities to expand children’s ideas.

Through safe play that overflows with adults’ ingenuity and children’s smiles, please create happy memories.

We hope that, as the children grow, you will continue to broaden the world of play even further.