[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] Great for small or large groups! A collection of indoor play ideas for February (21–30)
Sketchbook Theater
In this sketchbook theater, a transparent clear file is attached over the page, with a white sheet of paper inside.
What you first show the children is a simple illustration drawn in black pen on the clear file.
As the story progresses, remove the white paper from inside the clear file and let them see the picture of the ogre drawn behind it.
Characters like the crying “Waa-waa Ogre” and the “I-don’t-want-to-clean-up Ogre” make an appearance.
It’s wonderful content that not only drives away the ogres with bean-throwing, but also helps with guidance and reminders about good behavior.
Exciting tag game
Let us introduce “Three-Color Tag,” a game you can enjoy in red, blue, and green groups! Participants split into three groups—red, blue, and green—and everyone is “it.” Each group has its own base, which is a safe zone.
However, once you leave your base, you’ll be targeted by players from other groups, and if you’re tagged, you’ll be captured by that group.
You can call for help from a member of your own group; if they tag you, you can return to your base.
Those are the basic rules, but in the Setsubun version, the teacher beats a drum and calls out “Demons out!” When this signal is given, all the “it” players must leave their bases.
Anyone caught after the signal must sit down where they are and call for help from their teammates.
Fun snow play in your room!
How about enjoying some snow play indoors? You can make “snow” by cutting thin paper like tissue or flower paper into small pieces.
The floor will turn completely white, and every movement will send fluffy flakes dancing—kids are sure to be thrilled! You can even make snowmen: stick double-sided tape on crumpled newspaper and roll it over the paper snow to collect it.
Add round stickers for eyes, and attach a construction-paper carrot nose and a bucket, and you’ll have a row of cute, wintry snowmen decorating the room.
Pack in lots of ideas that kids will love and have a blast with plenty of snow play!
Let’s enjoy the bean-throwing game!
@mammybear_ Last week during Setsubun bean-throwing, the children at each class enjoyed various games.#Nursery schoolBean-throwing (Setsubun)Demons out, fortune in.Recommended
♬ Red Ogre and Blue Ogre Tango (Kids Song Cover) [from “NHK Educational TV E Tele - Okaasan to Issho”] – UtaSTAR
A heart-pounding event in February! How about trying some games perfect for Setsubun? You can pull a ring filled with beans to carry them, or throw beans at an oni target to defeat the ogre—plenty of Setsubun atmosphere to enjoy.
Let the children also have fun making masks and beans, and use the games to help them learn about the Setsubun tradition.
Feel free to adapt the rules to suit different ages! When older preschoolers carry the beans, turning it into a team competition will likely get everyone excited.
3 hand-play activities for Setsubun bean-throwing
We’d like to introduce some fun hand-play activities for Setsubun, a traditional event to drive away evil spirits that appear during seasonal transitions! The first is the classic “Oni no Pantsu” (The Ogre’s Underpants).
It’s a song about the ogre’s sturdy underpants that never tear, even after many years, and you express “pants” with handclaps and a peace-sign gesture.
The second is a song called “Mame-maki” (Bean Throwing), where you use your hands to mimic tossing beans and inviting in good fortune, just like the real bean-throwing ritual.
The third, “Oni no Oyako” (Ogre Parent and Child), is enjoyed by changing your voice and facial expressions to match the characters: the father ogre, mother ogre, and child ogre.
When the “Pika!” lightning part comes, energetically thrust both hands forward!