For 4-year-olds! Introducing recommended indoor activities, group games, and crafts
At age four, children’s vocabulary grows, they start expressing their feelings and thoughts in words, and they can find their own favorite play activities and things they want to try.
This time, we’ve gathered play ideas that are perfect for the development of four-year-olds.
In addition to easy-to-implement indoor physical activities and group games, we also introduce many DIY toy-making ideas that let children freely enjoy expressing themselves while expanding their imagination.
We’ve collected many activities that, through playing with friends, help children experience the importance of following rules and the joy of sharing feelings.
Use these as a reference to find play ideas that match the children’s interests.
- [For 4-Year-Olds] A Collection of Indoor Play and Game Ideas That Get Everyone Excited
- [For 4-year-olds] Ideas for group games and craft activities that can be done indoors
- For 4-year-olds! A collection of indoor home play ideas that make time inside fun
- Craft activity ideas for 4-year-olds
- Age 4: Simple and Fun! Handmade Toy Ideas
- For 3-Year-Olds! Indoor & Outdoor Physical Play and Game Ideas
- Ideas for indoor activities, games, and group play that 5-year-olds enjoy
- Games and activities everyone can enjoy together. A collection of fun play ideas.
- [Childcare] Recommended for 3-year-olds! Play ideas everyone can enjoy
- [Age 5] Exciting and fun! A special feature on ideas for at-home play
- [Childcare] Recommended for March! A Collection of Craft Ideas to Enjoy with 4-Year-Olds
- Exciting for 4-year-olds! A collection of sports day event ideas for preschoolers (middle class)
- [Childcare] Fun for October! Craft ideas recommended for 4-year-olds
For 4-year-olds! Introducing recommended indoor activities, group games, and crafts (81–90)
Copycat game
Let’s have fun with body mimicry! Here are some ideas for a copycat game that’s sure to make everyone smile.
While copying the teacher’s movements, strike unique poses like animals or heroes and play together.
You’ll find yourselves laughing and saying, “What is this?!” as you move your bodies.
While playing, kids build flexibility and balance, and the best part is learning through fun—“Can you really do this pose?” You might even discover some unexpected moves!
Rolling Dodgeball
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Let me introduce Rolling Dodgeball, a game where you roll the ball instead of throwing it.
The rules are similar to regular dodgeball, but players are split into inside and outside groups, and the ball is rolled to keep the game going.
If an inside player is hit by a ball rolled by someone on the outside, they move to the outside and join their team’s attack from there.
It can also be fun to decide the winner by counting how many players remain inside at the end.
Unlike regular dodgeball, this version uses a soft ball, so you can play safely.
shopping relay
Let’s play the Shopping Relay! It’s an exciting game kids really want to try once they’re old enough for team competitions.
First, split the children into two teams and have the first runner wear a basket on their back.
At the starting signal, they run, pick up one ball (pretending it’s a product) from the far side of the room and put it into the basket, then return to the starting point.
They pass the basket to the next child and switch.
Repeat this, and the team whose anchor finishes shopping first wins! Because the basket is on their back, putting the ball in is a bit tricky—but that’s part of the fun.
Kuru-Kuru Touch
Kurukuru Touch is a game played in pairs with a friend.
One person stands in place, and the other stands facing them.
Decide in advance who will wait and who will run.
At the signal “Ready, go!” the runner circles around the waiting person and, when they come to the front, they touch both hands! That’s the only rule.
The runner can go around as many times as you like, but decide the number beforehand.
It’s also a game that helps practice following the rule of “Touch after running X times,” making it perfect for 4-year-olds!
Churippu sharippu
Hold hands with your friends and play while calling each other’s names! Let me share the idea for “Churippu Sharippu.” There’s nothing to prepare, so just hum the song together and play.
There are moments in the song where you call out names, which makes it great for learning your friends’ names.
It’s especially recommended for classes with new or transferring children! You can adapt the way you play, so it’s an idea that children from infants to preschoolers can enjoy.
Be sure to try it in your activities.
Boo Foo Woo Game
In this game, the caregiver assigns each child one of the names: “Boo,” “Foo,” or “Woo.” Once given a name, the child can only say that word.
At the signal, the children tell those around them their names and form groups with others who have the same name.
When everyone has gathered together, you’ve succeeded! “Foo” and “Woo” sound especially similar, so they’re easy to confuse.
Listen carefully to what your friends are saying, communicate, and decide accordingly.
When you find someone on the same team, hold hands or gather together, and make it easy for teammates who haven’t found the group yet to recognize you.
For 4-year-olds! Introducing recommended indoor activities, group games, and crafts (91–100)
Sorting Game
Let me introduce a sorting game.
Prepare three colors of balls—red, blue, and yellow—and one red box and one blue box.
Catch the ball that the teacher throws, then put red balls into the red box and blue balls into the blue box, while avoiding (not catching) yellow balls.
By repeating these movements continuously, you can train reaction ability.
Start with slow throwing speed at first, and as you get used to it, it’s recommended to increase the speed to make it more fun.