[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] 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!
Tag
When you think of tag, isn’t it a game you often played as a child? Around Setsubun, if you have someone dress up as a more realistic-looking oni (demon), it makes the usual game of tag even scarier and the kids get even more excited.
If the children seem too scared, be considerate by removing the scary demon mask or shifting it to show the eyes or nose to reassure them.
Let’s all enjoy a game of tag with a different atmosphere than usual.
