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[Age 5] Exciting and fun! A special feature on ideas for at-home play

[Age 5] Exciting and fun! A special feature on ideas for at-home play

Last updated:2025/6/19

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

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.

[Age 5] Exciting and Fun! A Collection of At-Home Play Ideas (1–10)

Funny Slinky

[At-home play] Kids get hooked with almost zero prep!! Fun slinky #AtHomePlay #IndoorPlay #DIYToy

Funny Slinky

Let’s make a toy with sticky notes that will captivate kids! Here’s a fun slinky idea.

A slinky is typically a springy toy made of metal or plastic with a distinctive spiral shape.

When you hold and tilt it, it’s mesmerizing to watch it descend steps or a slope as it rolls.

This time, we’ll make a slinky using sticky notes.

Preparation is simple: just stick together a set of three-color sticky notes you can find at a 100-yen shop, and you’re ready to go! Give it a try.

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Sorting Game

Sorting Game with Three Colored Balls That Rapidly Boosts Reaction Skills | After-School Day Service in Morioka City

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 the teacher throws, and move your body as follows: put red balls in the red box, blue balls in the blue box, and do not catch yellow balls—dodge them instead.

Repeating this movement continuously helps develop reaction skills.

Start with slow throwing speed, and as you get used to it, it’s recommended to increase the speed to make it more fun.

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Shape imitation game

[Therapeutic Play Introduction] Let's train concentration ♪ #AfterSchoolDayService #NurseryTeacher #ChildInstructor #Kanagawa

Shape imitation game

I’d like to introduce a shape imitation game using cotton swabs.

Stick a strip of tape on the table and create a shape with cotton swabs on one side.

Children look at the completed shape and use cotton swabs to make the same shape on the opposite side of the tape.

If they get stuck, it’s good to offer hints and guide them so they can reproduce the same shape while working together.

As they get used to it, try making the shapes a bit more challenging or increasing the number of cotton swabs to add variety.

For the tape on the table, colored tape is recommended because it’s easier to see and work with.

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Swirling Balloon

@mamatastv
Is there an at-home activity this fun? Spinning with a hair dryer!? Trying the Whirling Balloon. Reference: Yonemura Denjiro Science Production, “Whirling Balloon Experiment.”Mamatase #MoreFreedomForMoms #ReiwaMom #ReiwaParenting #ReiwaHousework #Indoor Play
♪ Original Song – mamatas (MAMATAS) – mamatas (MAMATAS)

A unique game using a hair dryer! Here’s a fun idea for a spinning balloon ring.

Balloons are exciting and enjoyable for kids, right? Their colorful, lightweight movement makes them irresistible, and part of the charm is how play expands as children touch, toss, and chase them.

This time, let’s connect balloons to make a spinning balloon ring.

You’ll need balloons, tape, and a hair dryer.

Inflate the balloons, connect them with tape to form a loop, and you’re ready! Blow air with the hair dryer, and the balloon loop will spin round and round—it’s super fun!

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Jump play

@renamama_asobi ♬ Athletic Meet “Heaven and Hell” (No Introduction) – Shinonome

Let’s get moving and play using colored construction paper! Here’s a jump-play idea.

It’s a unique activity that lets you use your brain while having fun moving your body.

All you need is a space where you can see the TV—tape four colors of construction paper to the floor, and you’re ready! Search for “tapete de movimiento” on YouTube.

Kids jump onto the color that appears on the screen one after another, so they won’t get bored.

Give it a try!

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