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.
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- Age 4: Simple and Fun! Handmade Toy Ideas
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- Ideas for indoor activities, games, and group play that 5-year-olds enjoy
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- [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
- Exciting for 4-year-olds! A collection of sports day event ideas for preschoolers (middle class)
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For 4-Year-Olds! Introducing Recommended Indoor Activities, Group Games, and Crafts (21–30)
Ball tag
Let me introduce a tag game using a soft ball, called “Ball Oni.” Once the tagger (oni) is chosen, the tagger chases the others while holding the ball.
The tagger throws the ball at the players who are running away.
The player who gets hit by the ball becomes the next tagger and they switch roles.
Running and throwing the ball provide full-body exercise.
When playing Ball Oni, be sure to use a soft ball and explain safety rules beforehand, such as not aiming at the head or face.
If you’re in a large area, it might also be good to set boundaries for where players can run.
sensory play
Sensory play is a recommended activity that stimulates children’s five senses.
When you put a cooling sheet in water, it swells and feels like slime.
For play with shaving cream, try putting the cream into a paper cup and mixing it, or adding color to the cream and applying it.
Doing this alongside crafts helps nurture their imagination.
For scratch art, draw a picture underneath with crayons, then layer black crayon on top and scratch it away.
It’s exciting to see the black crayon scrape off and the colors underneath appear.
It’s also great to mix water with flour or potato starch, knead it, and enjoy the gooey texture.
Using pulp clay to create shapes from one’s imagination also sounds like a lot of fun.
For 4-year-olds! Introducing recommended indoor activities, group games, and crafts (31–40)
Handmade microphone
Let me introduce a cute original microphone craft.
Prepare a plastic wrap tube, a capsule toy container, origami paper, and yarn, and let’s make it.
Wrap the origami paper around the plastic wrap tube so that a bit of the paper sticks out on either the left or right side.
On the side where the paper sticks out, tape on the yarn, crumple the extra paper to make it small, and tuck it into the center of the wrap tube—this completes the microphone handle.
Next, place the capsule toy container on top of the wrap tube and tape it so it won’t fall off, and your microphone is complete! Draw a switch on the handle, and add illustrations or stickers as you like to create your very own original microphone.
A game using clothespins
Let me introduce a game that uses everyday clothespins.
Get a cardboard tube from plastic wrap, a paper plate, and some clothespins, and give it a try.
Place the paper plate on top of the cardboard tube, then gently place clothespins on the plate one by one.
The key is to place them carefully so they don’t fall.
The player who drops a clothespin loses.
It also sounds fun to clip the clothespins onto the edge of the paper plate! Drawing on the cardboard tube or the paper plate might make the game even more exciting.
Give it a try!
Balloon Play
Balloons floating softly in the air are very safe, so kids can play with them with peace of mind.
Here are some indoor games using balloons.
The “keep it off the floor” game naturally encourages kids to cooperate, calling out to each other to keep the balloon from touching the floor and getting excited together.
In the balloon passing game, form groups of about six and split into teams.
Enjoy sending the balloon from front to back, or passing it under the knees.
The team that can pass the balloon the fastest wins.
You can also stick a strip of plastic tape across the middle of the room and enjoy balloon volleyball or soccer.
Please choose and enjoy games suited to the children’s ages.
Inside-Outside Game
@kyojifukushikai_staff Inside-Outside Game! Train your judgment and concentration!ExercisePlayChildcare#Nursery schoolNursery teacher / Childcare workerchild
♬ familie – Mrs. GREEN APPLE
Listen carefully to the instructions and get moving! Here are some ideas for Inside-Outside games.
The great thing is that people of all ages, from kids to adults, can enjoy them! It’s unique and fun to have children move around while following instructions.
Since you can play both indoors and outdoors, the weather won’t get in the way.
These games help develop reflexes, concentration, and teamwork while you play! The rules are simple and easy to understand, so take this opportunity to give them a try.
Ninja Game
https://www.tiktok.com/@cocoro_ws/video/7387295680869518610Recommended for preschool classes! Here are some ninja game ideas.
These playful activities let children become ninjas and enjoy moving their bodies.
The teacher calls out moves like “Head Shuriken,” “Ninja Chop,” and “Foot Shuriken,” and the children dodge them by jumping or evading.
It’s great for building stamina and reflexes while moving swiftly like ninjas.
Pretending to be ninjas also sparks imagination, which is another plus.
It looks like a fun way to nurture concentration and flexibility through play!