Get kids excited for September! A collection of ideas to enjoy autumn events and activities

Autumn wreath

With the arrival of autumn, how about making a wreath filled with fall motifs? Cut cardboard, thick paper, or a paper plate into a ring, then attach acorns, pinecones, fallen leaves, and other autumn-inspired pieces.

For leaf shapes, use the half-fold technique: draw a template on origami or wrapping paper folded in half and cut along the line to create a clean, symmetrical shape.

After getting into the autumn spirit by crafting your wreath, why not head to a park to collect real fallen leaves and acorns?

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yuri

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[Dance] We Are Grapes

[Dance/Childcare] We Are Grapes / Tsubasa Suzuki & Sho Fukuda [Exercise/Kindergarten/Toddlers/Infants/Fruit/Autumn/Parenting/Children’s Songs]

When you think of delicious autumn fruits, many people probably picture grapes.

Round and sweet, grapes are a favorite among children too.

Let’s become grapes ourselves and dance along to “We Are Grapes.” You can form a big circle with your hands and sway, or shake your hips while saying “bu-bu-bu.” The choreography and melody are easy for kids to pick up, so they’ll learn it in no time.

Teachers looking for a fun dance that captures the feeling of autumn, please give this a try.

[Panel Theatre] What was that thing you decorate for the moon-viewing festival?

[September] What do we offer for Moon Viewing? Panel Theater [Full Moon Night/Mid-Autumn Festival]

Moon-viewing is the tradition of admiring the beautiful moon floating in the autumn night sky.

This panel theater, “Otsukimi Kazaru no Nandakke,” teaches in a fun and playful way about the offerings made for moon-viewing.

Many children know that rice dumplings (dango) are offered, but quite a few may not know about decorating with pampas grass (susuki).

With its catchy, memorable melody and familiar, repetitive lyrics, children can get excited and deepen their interest in moon-viewing.

It’s also recommended to use before moon-viewing crafts or pretend play related to the festival.

Making ohagi for the equinoctial week

Ohigan: Various ways to make Ohagi (sweet rice balls)

Speaking of holidays in September, there’s the Autumnal Equinox Day.

It’s the day when daylight and nighttime are equal, and in Buddhism it’s believed to be a time when our feelings reach our ancestors more easily.

People make offerings using red beans harvested in autumn.

Red azuki beans are said to ward off evil, and by offering them to our ancestors, people prayed for everyone’s health and happiness.

While regular azuki bean ohagi are the most common, if you’re making a lot, it might be nice to add some variety in flavors.

Please try making them together with everyone.

Swaying Tsukimi craft

Cute paper-plate craft for the Mid-Autumn Moon Viewing, with kid-friendly facts to share with preschool and kindergarten children!

Why not try making a cute, gently swaying decoration for the Moon Viewing festival? First, prepare a piece of construction paper cut into a circle to represent the moon, then paste on pictures with a moon-viewing theme made from origami or construction paper.

Rabbits, rice cakes—any design is fine! Next, get a paper plate folded in half, apply glue to about half of your finished picture, and stick it onto the plate.

In the unused space on the paper plate, decorate by pasting small pieces of origami or drawing designs, and you’re done! If you give the paper plate a little push, it will sway back and forth.

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SAKI

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Moon viewing with tampos

[Nursery/Kindergarten] Tsukimi Craft 🌝 Pom-Pom Stamping [Target Age & Introduction]

Let’s work on a Moon-Viewing (Otsukimi) craft using tampo stampers.

For the inside of the tampo, use absorbent cotton or a sponge.

Wrap the filling with a towel or gauze and secure it with a rubber band.

If you also wrap rubber bands around the handle, it will be easier for children to hold.

Next, cut brown construction paper into the shape of a sanpo (offering stand) and paste it onto navy or black construction paper.

Draw pampas grass around it with crayons, and now it’s time for the tampo! Use white paint to stamp on top of the sanpo to represent rice dumplings (dango).

Many children may not know what stacked dango look like, so showing a sample beforehand helps things go smoothly.

Once the dango are done, use yellow paint and the tampo to create a full moon.

Your uniquely expressive Moon-Viewing craft is complete!

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tsukada moe

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Hand play “Jūgoya-san no Mochitsuki”

“Jūgoya-san’s Mochi Pounding (with gestures) – ‘Jūgoya-san no Mochitsuki wa…’ [Japanese Song / Shōka]”

Speaking of the September harvest moon (Jugoya), it’s famous for looking like a rabbit pounding mochi on the moon.

Here’s a perfect hand game for Jugoya with a mochi-pounding theme.

Pair up: one person claps steadily up and down, while the other adds interjections on the off-beats.

It’s like playing the role of the catcher during mochi pounding.

Speeding up the tempo makes it more challenging and even more fun.

It also works well as a rhythm-training activity for children.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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