Ideas for indoor activities, games, and group play that 5-year-olds enjoy

Clapping game until you drop

Let's all compete together! [Applaud 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!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

hiyori

Report a problem

Rock-paper-scissors is fun even in the rain

[Play] Rock-Paper-Scissors & Recommended Activities [Nursery/Kindergarten]

Here are some rock-paper-scissors games you can enjoy indoors with kids even on rainy days.

“American Rock-Paper-Scissors” reverses winning and losing, so it makes you think.

“Body Rock-Paper-Scissors” is a game where you use your whole body to show rock, paper, or scissors.

It’s recommended to decide in advance what movements will represent rock, scissors, and paper before you start.

In “Newspaper Rock-Paper-Scissors,” you stand on a sheet of newspaper while playing; if you lose, you fold your newspaper once and make it smaller each time.

In “Rock-Paper-Scissors Train,” the loser lines up behind the winner, and the train of players gradually grows longer.

Try these and find your favorite rock-paper-scissors game!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

mayumi

Report a problem

Rolling Dodgeball

@toiro_efilagroup

Do you know “Korokoro Dodgeball”?After-school day service#toiro#Kanagawa PrefectureAndanteChildcare Worker

♪ Original song – toiro After-school Day – toiro After-school Day

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.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

mayumi

Report a problem

Hiragana Collection Challenge

Here’s a Hiragana-collecting challenge that’s fun both solo and with friends.

Spread out cards on the floor, each with a single hiragana character.

Give a prompt, then collect the hiragana cards that fit the prompt to form words.

Get a stopwatch ready and time how many minutes it takes to complete each word.

Start with just one prompt at first, then gradually increase the number of prompt words to make it more exciting.

It’s also a great game for building concentration and critical thinking, so give it a try!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

mayumi

Report a problem

stop ball throw

@secondhouseayumu

“Stop Ball Throw!” devised by an occupational therapist. As practice for stopping actions, it helps children develop the ability to look at letters and make decisions 💪🏻 ̖́- We design activities so that the children can enjoy playing every day while also receiving therapeutic support ✨Second House SaiyuyuAfter-school Day Service (for children with disabilities)Child Development SupportFun workplaceNow hiring / Looking for people who want to workRecreationSpeech-Language-Hearing TherapistOccupational therapistPhysical therapistNursery teacher / Childcare workerChildcare WorkerFun Play# developmental support (ryōiku)Shall we work together?

♪ Original song – Second House Saiyu-Yui – Second House Saiyu-Yui

Thinking while moving is fun! Let me introduce a stop-ball throwing activity.

You’ll need colored balls and cards with signs on them.

Place the colored balls on the floor and throw them into a basket.

When a “Stop” card is shown, everyone must freeze—even if they’re in the middle of throwing a ball.

Once kids get used to the rules, it’s fun to add similar-sounding words like “tomato” along with “stop.” Try adapting it while observing the children’s responses.

Touch-in game

@bear_kids_official

Group therapy: Touch-in Game. Purpose: - Develop the ability to track with the eyes. - Learn to control the strength of movements. Everyone had fun challenging themselves while cheering each other on 👏Child Development SupportAfter-school day service# developmental support (ryōiku)#Nursery school#KindergartenElementary school

♪ Original Song – BEAR KIDS – BEAR KIDS 🧸 Child Development Support / After-School Day Service

Let’s develop tracking skills and a sense of force! Here are some ideas for a touch-in game.

These are perfect for nurturing visual concentration and control of force.

Children can aim to improve their physical abilities while having fun by keeping a balloon from falling and collecting colored balls from the floor into a basket.

Simple yet effective for building concentration, this idea lets kids play by controlling balloons and colored balls—making it a fun game that can be used in after-school day services!

Stick-pulling sumo

@cocoskip

Hello! This is Cocoskip. In today’s video, we’re playing tug-of-war with a stick. It looks like a simple game, but even adults ended up in a pretty heated match 😂#cocoskipSkip hereChild Development SupportAfter-school day serviceExercise Therapy#After-school day service#Child Development Support (Japan)#CocoSkipChallenge#Indoor PlaysimulationPlayShowdownStaff’s Daily LifeTug-of-war sumo#IWantToBeOnTheRecommendationsI love the admins.

Idol – YOASOBI

Here’s an idea for a sumo-style game using a stick.

You’ll need a pool cue, a mat, and a platform.

It’s a fun game that builds strength and balance! Two players hold a single pool cue and pull against each other, trying to either make the opponent step off the platform or let go of the stick.

It also helps develop patience through focused, physical competition.

Since the game starts with the mat and platform setup, it’s a great activity for after-school day services.

Kids can have fun while boosting their fitness and competitive spirit.