Lovely childcare

[For 5-Year-Olds] Recommended Indoor Play! A Collection of Exciting Games

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.
9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

On days when the weather or temperature keeps you from going outside, you end up spending more time indoors, right?

If you’re a teacher looking to incorporate activities that kids can enjoy indoors, this is a must-read.

Here are some recommended indoor play and game ideas for five-year-olds.

From activities that let them move their bodies to ones that make them think, and ones that deepen their interactions with friends—this is a roundup of perfect games for five-year-olds, a time when language skills, motor skills, and social skills grow rapidly!

No special preparation is needed—there are plenty of games you can enjoy right away.

If you add arrangements to suit the children, it will be even more exciting.

Be sure to try playing together!

[For 5-Year-Olds] Recommended Indoor Play! Exciting Game Picks (81–90)

Paper airplane throwing

[Boost Coordination] 5 Paper Airplane Play Ideas

Paper airplane throwing

Here’s a paper-airplane throwing game that kids and adults alike can enjoy.

Let’s fold paper airplanes using origami paper or flyers.

The size of the paper you fold with also matters.

One of the fun aspects of a paper-airplane contest is that the flight distance changes depending on how you fold and throw it! If your distance plateaus, you might discover ways to improve by trying again and again.

Try various paper-airplane games such as a high-score challenge, cup-knockdown challenge, dog-run catch, and pair catch!

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Picture shiritori

Animal drawing shiritori♪ Drawing animals shiritori cheetah, raccoon dog, giraffe, pig, woodpecker, crayon, Sansan, Kumorin, toys, anime

Picture shiritori

Here’s a drawing Shiritori game that really gets everyone excited.

The drawing Shiritori game can be enjoyed with two or more people.

First, decide on a theme for the drawings.

The first person draws a picture on paper based on the theme.

The next person looks at the previous drawing and draws something that starts with the last letter of the previous item’s name.

Take turns repeating this.

It gets even more fun if you set final rules in advance, such as what happens if someone ends with an “n” (which would normally end the game) or if someone can’t draw something.

Have fun and give it a try!

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Color Search Game

[Color Hunt Game!!] Let's Play at Home with the Kids!!

Color Search Game

Let’s look for what colors are hiding around the room! Here are some ideas for a color-finding game.

This activity is appealing thanks to its simple and easy-to-understand rules.

Just color some paper with markers, put the pieces into a paper cup, and you’re ready to play! It feels exciting, like drawing lots.

As you play, it helps improve color recognition, making it a fun and educational activity.

Once you get used to the game, try drawing two pieces of paper and combining the two colors—that sounds fun too.

Give it a try!

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The ‘It fell, it fell’ game

[Nursery/Kindergarten] The “It Fell, It Fell” Game [How to Play, Target Age, Variations]

The 'It fell, it fell' game

Let me introduce a quick-reaction game called “It Fell, It Fell.” The teacher says, “It fell, it fell,” and the children ask, “What fell?” The teacher names what fell.

For example, if the teacher says “an apple,” the children should pose as if they’re catching an apple.

If the teacher says “a fist,” the children should protect their heads with their hands so they don’t get bonked.

If it’s “thunder,” they should hide their belly button with their hands.

It might be more fun if you teach the poses to the children beforehand and then start the game so they can join in easily.

Once they get used to it, it’s also recommended to have fun by changing up what “falls.”

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Reverse hide-and-seek

Reverse hide-and-seek: When you spot the ‘it’ (the tagger), hide immediately! Who will be the last one remaining...?

Reverse hide-and-seek

The idea of adding a little twist to the usual game of hide-and-seek—reverse hide-and-seek—is really fun and highly recommended.

The rules are flipped: the seeker is the one who hides! Everyone else tries to find the hiding seeker.

If you’re lucky enough to find them, you then go hide somewhere yourself! The person who can’t find the last remaining hider loses.

You might feel like shouting “Found you!” when you spot them, but if you do, everyone else will rush over.

So in reverse hide-and-seek, even if you find the seeker, quietly go hide yourself.

It’s a thrilling game where you keep the joy of discovery to yourself.

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Rock-paper-scissors is fun even in the rain

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

Rock-paper-scissors is fun even in the rain

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!

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[For 5-year-olds] Recommended Indoor Play! Exciting Game Collection (91–100)

Balloon Play

Balloon Play for 4-Year-Olds

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.

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