[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 February Indoor Play Ideas That Work for Small or Large Groups (41–50)
Rock-Paper-Scissors Bean Throwing
It’s a game for Setsubun bean throwing where you play rock-paper-scissors with the oni, and if you win, you get to throw beans.
The oni stays put and plays rock-paper-scissors with the children.
If a child loses, they go to the back of the line.
At parties with lots of kids, a single adult playing the oni can get tired, but if you have the children play rock-paper-scissors before throwing beans, you can enjoy two games at once.
Playing Momotaro
It’s a pretend play based on the literal story of Momotaro going to defeat ogres with his companions.
An adult will play the ogre, and after the battle, be vanquished! If the adult dresses up as a full-fledged ogre, the kids are sure to be delighted!
Sinking Game
This is a game called “Sinking Game” for daycare and kindergarten.
In this game, the whole room becomes the sea, the mats are the ships, and the players try to escape so they won’t be eaten by sharks.
As long as you’re on a ship, you won’t get eaten.
However, when the person playing the shark shouts “It’s sinking!”, everyone has to move to a different mat, so be careful not to get caught by the shark as you move.
If you play this on Setsubun, you can make the shark into an oni (ogre) to fit the mood.
You could also add your own rules—for example, not only running away but rescuing captured children by defeating the oni with beans.
Ball-toss game
Let’s play by tossing beans into the ogre’s mouth you made in a craft project using a cardboard box.
You can also use small balls or ping-pong balls instead.
It’s fun to change the points depending on where you place the box.
Enjoy a seasonal game and have a great time with the kids!
Spot the Differences — Setsubun Edition
Spot-the-difference puzzles are popular with both adults and children.
Here, you can enjoy a Setsubun-themed spot-the-difference puzzle in video form.
Even a familiar game becomes more fun when you add a seasonal touch, right? Since the pictures move, it might be a bit tricky to find the differences.
Look closely at the screen and try to spot them.