[For 4-Year-Olds] A Collection of Indoor Play and Game Ideas That Get Everyone Excited

Ninja Play

[Exercise & Gymnastics for Kids] Recommended Rule-Based Game for 4- and 5-Year-Olds: 'Ninja Play' / Rule-based active games, exercises, and gymnastics educational videos to improve motor skills together with Mom

“Ninja play” is a very popular indoor activity for children.

They have fun becoming ninjas by tiptoeing quietly without making a sound, incorporating games like “Red Light, Green Light,” and striking poses to protect themselves from shuriken.

Another appeal is the element of challenge—both moving their bodies and using their minds.

As the play progresses, you can increase the difficulty of the movements or introduce new instructions, offering plenty of variety.

Try out different versions!

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hiyori

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chimney game

Chimney Game! Ball Play (4- and 5-Year-Olds)

You’ll need a bit of open space to play this game, but I think the kids will love it—so give it a try! For preparation, stand a mat (or something similar) upright and roll it into a cylinder to make a “chimney.” An adult goes inside the chimney while the children wait around it.

At the starting signal, the children throw balls, aiming to get them into the chimney.

The adult should block the balls so they don’t go in, and push any that do get in back out.

It’s a fun active game that will warm up your whole body if you play it in winter.

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sasashina

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Butt-walking race

[Nursery/Kindergarten] No Prep Needed! 10 Indoor Activities Kids Will Love [At-Home Play]

The “butt-walking race” is exactly what it sounds like: you walk toward the finish line with your butt on the floor.

How do you walk? You move forward by alternately shifting your legs stretched out in front of you left and right.

Think of it as pushing your pelvis forward bit by bit.

Beginners might feel unsure at first, so adults should demonstrate.

It looks very simple, but it’s tough enough that adults work up a sweat, so it’s a great chance for kids to use their whole bodies! Another nice point is that you can do this even in a small space, and there’s no risk of falling!

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sasashina

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Marumaru Animal

[Physical Expression] Four Indoor Games That Allow Social Distancing [Nursery School/Kindergarten]

“Marumaru Animal” is a game where you become various animals using different ideas.

At first, teachers or caregivers say things like “Mr.

Rabbit” or “Mr.

Crab” and strike a pose to guide the children.

Once they get used to it, it’s fine to let a child who wants to try take the lead.

Rabbits, elephants, and monkeys are classics with easy-to-understand poses, but you can also intentionally choose animals without standard poses to spark the children’s imagination.

It’ll be fun to see what kinds of animal ideas they come up with.

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sasashina

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Body Rock-Paper-Scissors

[Childcare] 5 Indoor Games and Activities for Hot Days [Nursery/Kindergarten]

Normally, when you play rock-paper-scissors, you use your hands, right? This version lets you play using your whole body.

Let’s start by checking the poses.

For Rock, make your body small like a stone.

For Scissors, turn to the side and spread your arms with your right hand pointing down and your left hand pointing up.

For Paper, spread out both arms and legs to make a big X shape.

The rules are the same as regular rock-paper-scissors, so try playing with a friend to the call of “Jan-ken-pon!” Be sure to play carefully so you don’t bump others with your hands or feet.

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sasashina

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pa pi pu pe po

[In Your Spare Moments!] 6 Easy Indoor Games for Kids Ages 3–5 [Preschool/Kindergarten]

The word “pa-pi-pu-pe-po” can be pretty hard for children to say.

But don’t worry.

This activity is a quiz game where you guess what word someone is saying using “pa-pi-pu-pe-po.” The adults—teachers or guardians—create the words with “pa-pi-pu-pe-po,” and the children try to guess the correct answers.

You can choose any words, but pick ones the children already know—ideally things they see in their daily lives.

For example, turn “toilet paper” (toiretto pêpâ) into “popipeppo paper,” or “dandelion” (tanpopo) into “papipopo.” Words that contain several “pa-pi-pu-pe-po” sounds might make it easier for the children to guess.

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sasashina

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