[Kindergarten/Daycare] Games and Performances for Fun Events
At kindergartens and daycare centers, fun parties and birthday celebrations are held for the children.
Games and performances are essential for these events.
While many teachers are brainstorming ideas to delight the kids who eagerly look forward to them, some may be struggling with a lack of ideas.
In this article, we introduce games and performances that are perfect for such parties.
We’ve gathered a wide variety, from activities led by teachers to ones where children participate and have fun.
They’re all engaging ideas that spark children’s curiosity! Many of these games and performances are actually used in kindergartens and daycare centers, so feel free to use them as a reference.
[Kindergartens and Nursery Schools] Games and Performances for Fun Parties (61–70)
Rock-paper-scissors tail tag
Pretend that headbands or ribbons are tails, and tuck them into your pants.
Then pair up and play rock-paper-scissors.
The winner runs away and the loser gives chase.
If the winner makes it to the cone, they win.
You don’t have to play only with a fixed partner; it’s fine to play rock-paper-scissors with anyone nearby you haven’t played with yet.
This tail-chase game is fun even without a large space, so it’s recommended for events like thank-you parties where space is limited.
Set a time limit and enjoy!
Dancing Stop Game
The Dancing Stop game is easy to picture if you imagine a musical version of “Daruma-san ga koronda” (red light, green light).
While the music is playing, everyone dances with whatever moves they like, and when the music stops, they freeze.
Anyone who doesn’t freeze is out.
The last person remaining wins.
It’s exciting to see how everyone dances, and depending on the choreography, the frozen pose can end up looking pretty funny.
It’s a game that both kids and adults can enjoy, so gather everyone and have a great time together!
The musical ‘The Wizard of Oz’
Children’s literature classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz is surely a book many people have read at least once.
It’s a popular work that’s been adapted for the stage many times and has long been loved in Japan as well.
So how about trying a musical version of The Wizard of Oz as a performance for your thank-you party? To make it work as a production, everyone will need to combine their strengths, and I’m sure it will become an unforgettable memory.
If it’s a success, it can also boost your confidence for the next step—elementary school—so please consider giving it a try.
Shadow puppets are fun! Silhouette Quiz
How about playing a silhouette quiz—always a big hit with kids—during game time at the thank-you party? You could make silhouettes using familiar items the children used at the preschool, or have them guess the silhouettes of the teachers who’ve taken care of them.
Kids love quizzes, so it’s sure to be a fun time.
You can easily create silhouette shadows by adjusting how you shine light with a smartphone, so feel free to use this as a reference and give it a try.
Newspaper Rock-Paper-Scissors & Balance Relay
Let’s have fun with a rock-paper-scissors game and a balance relay using newspaper.
The rock-paper-scissors game is played in pairs: after each round, the loser folds their sheet of newspaper.
The player who can no longer stand on their folded newspaper loses.
In the balance relay, you place a sheet of newspaper on your head and move along the course without dropping it.
Be careful—noticing that you want to pass the baton quickly and start running will make the newspaper fall.
Both are exciting ideas, so please enjoy them at the thank-you party.
- A collection of ideas for infant/toddler play, recreation, and games
- Fun for parents and kids! A collection of recreation and game ideas you can use for sports days too
- Indoor recreation for children: A roundup of exciting games
- [Elementary School Rec] Recommended Games and Performances for a Fun Party
Rhythm Play
“Rhythm play” is a game where you change how you clap to match the words and keep time with handclaps.
Put things like food names or animal names to a fun beat and keep going while clapping.
Words with about three syllables are easy, but as the number of syllables increases or you include small pauses like the glottal stop (the small ‘tsu’), the rhythm shifts a bit and the difficulty goes up.
Once you get used to it, try adding gestures—like not clapping on the last one and instead touching your cheek or balancing your hands on your head.
Try adding variety by speeding up and changing the tempo!
Cat and Mouse
Cat and Mouse is a game where players split into cat and mouse roles.
It’s simple to play: the children playing cats hold hands to form a circle around the child playing the mouse.
The mouse tries to escape to the outside of the circle, while the cats use their linked arms to stop them.
If there are many players, you can divide into several groups and have the team with the most mice who manage to escape within the time limit win.
It’s fun for kids to play together, and it would also be lively if the teacher played the cat and the children played the mice.
Play: The Big Turnip
When it comes to party activities, a play is a classic choice, isn’t it? How about performing “The Gigantic Turnip,” a story everyone from children to adults knows? It’s the one where the turnip Grandpa planted grows so big he can’t pull it out by himself, so Grandma, their grandchild, and even the dog and cat all pitch in to pull it out together.
It could be fun to add some original elements, too, don’t you think? For example, instead of just Grandpa, Grandma, the dog, and the cat, you could keep adding more characters—like their son or daughter, or forest animals—and make it even more entertaining.
[Magic] The Mysterious Paper Bag
![[Magic] The Mysterious Paper Bag](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/dhYfMqLG3Wk/sddefault.jpg)
Magic that makes communicating with children fun! Here’s a mysterious paper bag idea.
How about putting on a curious and delightful act that makes it look like the teacher has turned into a magician? Put a card with an apple illustration into a paper bag, do a countdown, and then—surprise!—a real apple appears from the bag.
The children will be fascinated by the magic and the teacher’s movements.
You can almost hear them asking, “How did you make the apple appear?”
Paper Plate Theater
It’s like a handmade animation where the picture changes as you move the paper plate.
First, you show a silhouette illustration and have people guess what it is.
Then you gradually transform it until the true image is revealed.
The paper plate has slits cut into it, and you make the illustration appear by sliding it through those gaps.
By revealing the answer bit by bit and prompting them to respond as soon as they figure it out, you can encourage them to keep thinking carefully about what the illustration might be without giving up.
[Kindergarten/Nursery] Games and Performances for Fun Events (71–80)
Balloon Relay
How about planning a balloon game for the thank-you party where everyone cooperates and has fun? Form pairs, each person holding one end of a face towel pulled tight, and place an inflated balloon on top.
At the start signal, go around a cone without dropping the balloon, then pass it to the next pair.
If you go too slowly, you’ll lose, but if you go too fast, the balloon will fall.
It’s important to keep in step with your partner.
Making it a team competition really ramps up the excitement, so why not try it as a class-versus-class event?
Sketchbook Quiz
Let’s flip through a few pages and take a peek! Here are some sketchbook quiz ideas.
They’re fun prompts that spark kids’ imaginations based on the visible clues.
Use the drawings and colors in the sketchbook as hints and give the quiz a try! Asking “What is it?” or “I wonder what this could be?” will surely deepen communication with friends and classmates.
Quizzes that incorporate visual elements are memorable and exciting.
Give them a try!
The answer formed by stacking three pictures!
@omiyamichinoko The answer is a stack of three pictures!Birthday partyHappy BirthdayDrawing QuizNursery teacher / Childcare workerBirthday#BirthdayPartyPerformance#Omiya Michinoko Nursery School#Chiikawa
♪ Pajama Parties Song – Pajama Parties
Stimulate your imagination! This is a quiz where you stack three pictures.
You draw illustrations on transparent sheets like vinyl, and when you layer them, a single answer appears.
For example, the first sheet has the outline, the second has the eyes and mouth, and the third has the ears—stack them, and an animal emerges.
You can also create quizzes with vehicles, buildings, and many other themes.
If you can’t find the ideal transparent sheets, using clear ziplock bags is a good substitute.
The opening can act as a handle, making them easy to use.
Trick Quiz
https://www.tiktok.com/@odango.support/video/7339056189742812434Here are some playful trick quiz ideas that are irresistibly misleading but super exciting! They’re funny because you answer with confidence, only to find out the reality is different.
Let’s try a quiz game like that.
For example, show an illustration that looks like rabbit ears and ask, “What do you think this is?” Once most kids answer “a rabbit,” flip open the part of the illustration that was hidden.
Out comes a picture of a flower.
You can almost hear the kids say, “What?!” and “Why?!” Embrace those reactions and keep the quiz going.
Their responses are absolutely adorable!
What does this look like?
@omiyamichinoko Let's think outside the box! What does this look like? I suddenly gave the teachers a prompt to try!#Omiya Michinoko Nursery School#Nursery schoolNursery teacher / Childcare workerNursery school teacherTranslationChildcare studentFun workplace
♬ NETTAIYA – RIP SLYME
Show them the prompt and have them guess what it looks like.
A stuffed animal works well as the prompt, too.
With the call, “What do you think this is?”, the children will think hard and give lots of answers.
Once many answers are out, reveal the correct answer.
Knowing the answer will likely make the children even more excited.
There is a correct answer, but it’s also fine to treat all of their answers as correct.
Let’s use the quiz to bring out the children’s rich imaginative thinking.
Watermelon splitting
https://www.tiktok.com/@hoikushi_bank/video/7257835514336644360It’s great that you can play it over and over! Here’s an idea for a watermelon-splitting game.
Many people have probably experienced traditional watermelon splitting at the beach, river, or a barbecue in summer.
This time, let’s enjoy a pretend version using milk cartons.
What you’ll need: milk cartons, scissors, paper plates, thumbtacks, newspaper, permanent markers, colored construction paper, glue or double-sided tape, and so on.
It’s a wonderful idea that will let children feel a sense of achievement and fulfillment—like “I did it!” Be sure to give it a try.
Lion apron theater
https://www.tiktok.com/@hannah1000c/video/7065958459879066882Make it with felt! Here are some ideas for a lion-themed apron theater.
An apron theater is a puppet show where the apron serves as the stage, and you perform by taking out or sticking on puppets and props.
This time, let’s create a nutrition-themed apron theater featuring a lion.
Using sticker felt and fabric adhesive makes it easy to complete, but if you’re skilled at crafts, you can finish it by hand-sewing or using a sewing machine.
A lion with a big open mouth gobbling up food is sure to become a good friend to the children.
Make-and-play goldfish scooping
https://www.tiktok.com/@hoiku.labo/video/7389083244798643474Scoop up goldfish while keeping your balance! Here are some fun, DIY goldfish scooping ideas you can make and play with.
Many of you have probably seen goldfish scooping at summer festival stalls, right? This time, let’s try a homemade goldfish scooping game.
You’ll need a milk carton, a compass, scissors, a drain/net bag, a stapler, vinyl tape, plastic bottle caps, and a container to hold water.
It’s great that you can make it using recycled materials.
Give it a try!
Treasure Hunt Game
https://www.tiktok.com/@kichijyo/video/7355463702692252936Let’s go on a hunt for a special treasure! Here are some treasure hunt game ideas.
These ideas will give kids an exciting, heart-pounding adventure! Follow clues to find the hidden treasure while exploring the playground or the room.
It’s so much fun to team up with friends and search, thinking, “Maybe it’s hidden over there!” As a variation, you can hide treasures and give out stickers or small gifts each time a treasure is found to make it feel extra special.
It’s a wonderful game to play with friends and teachers, enjoying the sense of accomplishment together!
Handmade Sweets Scoop
@niconico_mama What treat should I put in it tomorrow, I wonder?#Nursery schoolChildcareHandmadeSummer FestivalChildcareParentingEducationalLife with childrenworkProduction
♬ POKÉDANCE – Pokémon [Official]
Enjoy the festive vibes of a Japanese fair! Here are some ideas for a DIY candy scooping game.
These ideas are perfect for anyone who wants to create an exciting corner that will thrill kids, just like at a festival.
You’ll need empty capsules, pipe cleaners, tape, masking tape, glitter origami paper, handkerchiefs or scarves, and cushioning material.
If using candy is difficult, try putting origami creations or illustrations inside the capsules instead.