[Age 5] Exciting and fun! A special feature on ideas for at-home play
By the age of five, more children can enjoy games with rules and have fun competing in games with friends and adults.
In this article, we’ll introduce at-home activities that are perfect for five-year-olds.
We’ve gathered a variety of ideas—from games with easy-to-understand rules, to activities that get kids moving indoors, to crafts that are fun to make—so feel free to use them as a reference and give them a try.
Not only for times when you can’t play outside, but also for those moments when you just feel like staying in, we hope you’ll enjoy these with your family and siblings.
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- Ideas for indoor activities, games, and group play that 5-year-olds enjoy
- [Childcare] Playful craft ideas to enjoy with 5-year-olds
- [For 5-Year-Olds] Recommended Indoor Play! A Collection of Exciting Games
- Ideas for indoor activities and group games that 5-year-olds like
- For 4-year-olds! A collection of indoor home play ideas that make time inside fun
- For 3-Year-Olds! Indoor & Outdoor Physical Play and Game Ideas
- [For 4-Year-Olds] A Collection of Indoor Play and Game Ideas That Get Everyone Excited
- For 5-Year-Olds: Let’s Make It! A Collection of Craft Ideas to Feel the Spring
- [For 4-year-olds] Ideas for group games and craft activities that can be done indoors
- Recommended for 3-year-olds! Fun indoor activities and group game ideas
- [Kindergarten] Let’s Play with Quizzes! A Collection of Recommended Quizzes for Older Kindergarteners
- Indoor activities that 2-year-olds can enjoy. Recommended at-home games that will keep them engaged.
[Age 5] Exciting and Fun! A Collection of At-Home Play Ideas (21–30)
Indoor ice play
Put small toys and water into an ice tray and freeze to make ice.
Once the ice is ready, transfer the cubes to another container and try pouring water over them or rubbing them with your hands to rescue the toys.
You can use plain water, or add paint or food coloring—it’s highly recommended.
As the ice melts, you’ll get colored water, and it’s also fun to see how the colors mix and change into new ones.
Wanting to get the toys out will inspire kids to think in different ways.
It’ll be exciting to see what ideas they come up with.
Easy colored-water play at home
No paints or food coloring needed! Here are some easy ideas for colored-water play you can try at home.
When your child asks to “play with colored water,” you might not have paints or food coloring on hand.
This time, let’s try a simple colored-water activity using washable markers! You’ll need water, washable markers, copy paper cut into strips, and plastic cups.
Color the paper strips with the washable markers, then gently swish the paper in a plastic cup filled with water—the color will transfer into the water!
Play with tissue paper flowers
Here’s a rainy-day activity using tissue paper that kids can enjoy.
Prepare light-colored construction paper, tissue paper, and a spray mister.
Tear the tissue paper by hand.
Let the children choose their favorite colors.
Tearing the tissue into thinner pieces helps the colors bleed more easily and makes the tissue fluffy—highly recommended.
Gather the torn tissue pieces on the construction paper, then mist them with water.
As the tissue becomes damp, the colors blend together so kids can enjoy the color changes, as well as the tactile sensation of the paper transforming.
Once it’s completely dry, the tissue pieces stick together, creating a single, very colorful sheet.
It’s an activity with tissue paper that’s fun right to the end.
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.
Balloon Catch
These are games using balloons, which are used in a wide range of settings such as interior decor and toys.
The first is Balloon Catch, where you grab a balloon that floats upward at just the right moment—perfect for enjoying the lively motion of a fast-rising balloon.
The second is Balloon Hitting, played with your palm, a fan, or a towel.
It helps children adjust their strength and learn how to handle different objects.
The third is Balloon Basket, where you throw a balloon into a designated spot—timing is key.
Why not try these at-home play ideas that work well from small to large groups?
