No prep needed! Indoor activities for 3-year-olds, including movement play and group games.
Here are some fun indoor activities to get three-year-olds moving, even on rainy days! There are lots of games you can start right away with almost no preparation, including variations on rock-paper-scissors, balloon play, and balance exercises.
We’ve also included group activities tailored to the developmental stage of three-year-olds, so their interactions with friends will naturally grow.
Get creative and enjoy the time with the children while helping them develop their motor skills and imagination!
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Physical movement play (1–10)
Rock-Paper-Scissors Balance Game
Here’s a rock-paper-scissors balance game that gets your whole body moving.
Play rock-paper-scissors with your friends.
If you win, do a one-legged balance for 5 seconds.
If it’s a tie, spin around twice and then do a one-legged balance for 5 seconds.
If you lose, spin around three times and then do a one-legged balance for 5 seconds.
For children who find one-legged balancing difficult, it’s recommended to hold onto something while balancing.
When playing the rock-paper-scissors balance game, secure a spacious area and keep a safe distance from one another to ensure safety.
Chick Sumo
Fun for everyone from toddlers to adults! Here’s an idea for a “Chick Sumo” game.
In this game, players transform into little chicks—it’s a unique and exciting way to play.
Participants walk around the space in a squatting position, and if their hands or bottom touch the floor, they lose.
While walking and keeping their balance, they’ll have fun and also build core strength and concentration.
The rules are simple, yet it’s enjoyable for all ages, so it’s sure to get competitive! Teachers and parents are encouraged to join in too.
Clapping game until you drop
It’s a game you can play casually in a compact space, with no special preparations or large area required.
The rules are simple: first, each person takes a sheet of tissue paper and holds it.
Next, raise your hand above your head, drop the tissue, and compete to see how many times you can clap before it falls.
You’ll stretch your body to drop it from as high as possible and move quickly to pick it up, so it becomes a full-body exercise.
The lively clapping sounds fill the room, and it’s great to see everyone smiling and having fun!
Physical activity play (11–20)
Butt-walking showdown
Let’s try racing by walking on our bottoms! Walking on your butt? It kind of feels like walking…
or hopping—such a strange movement.
Sit on the floor with your knees up, lift your feet, and move using only your butt.
It seems pretty tricky, right? Kids might be able to glide along more easily.
Set a finish line and see who can reach it the fastest! If adults do it, they might end up with sore muscles…
(lol).
Seated tag
“We can’t play outside because of the rain, but I still want to move my body as much as possible today!” In times like these, here’s a childcare-friendly game we recommend: “Seated Tag.” First, the children start in a seated position.
The rule is that they must keep their bottoms on the floor at all times.
Set a time limit, then play tag while staying seated.
Since it doesn’t involve running, it’s safe and fun to play indoors.
It also helps build leg strength as kids move using their legs and bottoms, so be sure to add it to your play repertoire!
Handkerchief-snatching game
The classic indoor game you can play even on rainy days, the “Handkerchief Grab,” has lots of fun variations depending on the rules.
In this version, players sit on chairs facing each other with their knees touching, place a handkerchief in the middle, and grab it when the whistle blows.
It works well with a larger group, or you can do head-to-head matches and make it a tournament.
There’s also a high-level version where someone keeps chatting to distract players, then blows the whistle when their attention slips.
It’s a recommended game that everyone can enjoy while training reflexes and coordination!
Bomb Game
A simple “Bomb Game” you can play with a rubber ball.
The rules are like a preschool version of dodgeball: set up areas in advance using tape lines or mats, and have the children move from mat to mat while avoiding the ball.
First, explain, “The ball is a bomb, so you mustn’t get hit.” Start by tossing the ball gently with an easy arc, then raise the difficulty as they get used to it by changing the ball’s trajectory or throwing faster shots off the wall or floor.
The kids will love the thrill—guaranteed excitement!