[Childcare] Fun February Indoor Play Ideas That Work for Both Small and Large Groups
As Setsubun approaches, many people at nursery schools and kindergartens may be looking for games and activities to enjoy with the children.
From lively group recreations to simple hand-play activities that even little ones can join, here are some perfect games for Setsubun.
You can adapt classic games into oni (ogre) versions, pretend to do bean throwing using balls as beans, and come up with endless ways to play depending on your ideas.
Teachers, please join the children in creating happy, laughter-filled memories of Setsubun!
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[Childcare] Fun Indoor Play Ideas for February That Work for Small or Large Groups (1–10)
Oni Target-Throwing Game
For Setsubun in February, why not make a demon target game? A roly-poly-style demon target is fun to hit, and it’s also fun to watch it spring back upright.
Since it rights itself on its own, you can play over and over—this is the key appeal of the game! Prepare a capsule from a capsule toy, oil-based clay, a bamboo skewer, and two copies of a demon illustration.
Pack the oil-based clay into the clear half of the capsule.
Make a hole in the lid, pass the bamboo skewer through it, and attach the demon illustration.
You can print an illustration or draw your own.
Combine three thinly cut pieces of paper tube to make beans, and your “ball” is ready.
Enjoy February with this indoor, absorbing demon target game!
Demon-slaying pretend play
Wouldn’t it be great to enjoy a demon-slaying pretend play using familiar scrap materials? This time, let’s play with toilet paper rolls.
Make balls by crumpling newspaper.
Secure any parts that stick out with tape.
Cover the toilet paper rolls with construction paper to resemble oni (demons).
Use any color you like for the face, and of course make the pants yellow! Attach hair and horns, then draw patterns on the face and pants to finish.
Enjoy “Oni Bowling” by throwing the newspaper balls to knock them down.
Making lots of oni and stacking them up is fun too.
There are also ideas using cardboard and balloon-based demon-slaying games, so be sure to check those out for inspiration.
Production that can also create a demon-slaying game
Here’s a two-in-one idea that’s fun for both crafting and play: an oni (ogre) bean-throwing game for Setsubun.
Cut solid-color or patterned origami paper and glue it onto a paper tube.
Using various patterns and colors will make it bright and cute.
Make horns with gold origami, and crumple tissue paper to create hair and attach it.
Draw the face with colored pens, and make “beans” from tissue paper to finish.
Both the crafting process and playing with your own creation will make wonderful memories.
It’s also great that you can make it with items from a 100-yen shop or with recycled materials—give it a try!
[Childcare] For small or large groups! A collection of indoor play ideas for February that will liven things up (11–20)
Thunder Game
This is an indoor game called the “Thunder Game,” where children lie down and roll around playfully.
The children lie on their backs on the spot.
One child plays the role of thunder, approaching the others while saying “rumble, rumble, rumble…” Then, at the cue “BOOM!” everyone must flip onto their stomachs and hide their belly buttons.
If they fail to hide their belly button in time, the thunder steals it and they get caught.
To make it even more exciting, the thunder can fake them out by making big gestures without saying “BOOM!”, or mix in other words that start with a “do” sound in Japanese, like “doboon!” (splash!) or “dosun!” (thud!).
Flag-Raising Game: Setsubun Edition
A classic among classic games: the Flag-Raising Game.
If you tweak “Raise red!” to “Raise the red ogre!” it might give it a Setsubun vibe and liven things up.
Add a penalty like having the ogre in front of you take a step closer whenever someone makes a mistake, and it becomes really thrilling!
Oni-Slaying Game
This is a “target-shooting game” for defeating ogres using paper cups.
Draw ogre faces on the paper cups and stick them on.
Roll up newspaper into a tube and use a toilet paper roll to make a toy gun.
Set up the ogre paper cups so children can play easily—stack them like a mountain or place just one on the edge of a table.
Also, make sure the newspaper gun is not aimed at people.
Fingerplay: ‘Mr. Thunder Has Come’
Let’s liven up Setsubun with hand-play songs that kids love! With hand-play songs, even little ones can join in the fun.
“Kaminari-don ga Yatte Kita” is a fun and cute hand-play activity that uses not only the hands but also the upper body.
Based on the saying that “when thunder roars, you have to hide your belly button or the thunder god will take it,” you hide parts of your body in time with the song.
The rule is that with each verse—first, second, and so on—one more body part is added to hide.
Let’s name body parts like belly button, bottom, ears, mouth, and knees.
Speeding it up would make it even more fun!