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 Showcase (71–80)

Daikon Game

[Exercise & Gymnastics Kids Love] The “Daikon Game,” recommended from age 3 / Rule-based movement play and exercise-gymnastics educational video to improve motor skills together with Mom

Daikon Game

Do your best not to get pulled out! This is the “Daikon Game” that everyone can enjoy.

First, a few people lie face down on the floor and hold hands.

The remaining people grab the legs of those lying down and pull as if they’re uprooting a radish.

If you let go of hands or get pulled out, you lose.

Usually there’s one person doing the pulling, but if it’s among preschoolers, having multiple pullers could make it even more fun.

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Rock-Paper-Scissors Train

Buu’s Visit to the Nursery School (Rock-Paper-Scissors Train)

Rock-Paper-Scissors Train

A classic kids’ game: the “Rock-Paper-Scissors Train.” Here’s how to play.

First, play some music and have everyone walk freely around the room.

When the music stops, find a nearby friend and play rock-paper-scissors.

The person who loses stands behind the winner and places both hands on the winner’s shoulders.

Repeat this, and the person who ends up at the front at the end is the winner! It’s a simple game, but before you know it, everyone’s hooked—great fun as a recreation activity.

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Pun Quiz

[Quiz & Riddles] Pun Quiz / Take on the challenge with Mom! Quiz and riddle videos that 3-, 4-, and 5-year-olds will love

Pun Quiz

It’s like a riddle and so much fun! Here are some ideas for pun quizzes.

Using puns, you can learn words while sharing a laugh—such a unique approach.

For example, for the question “What card game is a tiger playing?” the answer would be “toranpu” (a pun on ‘tiger’ and the Japanese word for playing cards, ‘trump’), so try coming up with punny answers like that.

By twisting words to produce funny answers, kids can develop their creativity.

You can enjoy the charm of wordplay with family and friends while building vocabulary and a sense of humor! Try thinking together from easy questions to slightly tricky ones, and find the answers while laughing.

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Handkerchief-snatching game

🧡No.2 [Parent-Child Play / Improve Athletic Ability] “Handkerchief Grab Game” Boosts Reflexes‼️ So fun 😄

Handkerchief-snatching game

Even the classic “handkerchief snatch” game—perfect for playing indoors on rainy days—can be enjoyed in many variations depending on the rules.

In this version, players sit on chairs facing each other with their knees almost touching, place a handkerchief in the middle, and grab it when the whistle blows.

You can play with many people or run it as a two-person tournament.

There’s also an advanced variation where someone keeps chatting to distract the players and blows the whistle when their attention drifts.

It’s a highly recommended game that lets everyone have fun while training reflexes and motor skills!

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Run Away from the Hula Hoop Game

[Group Play] Run Away from the Hula Hoop Game!

Run Away from the Hula Hoop Game

Great for group play! Here’s an idea for a “Run from the Hula Hoop” game.

All you need is a large hula hoop.

The rules are simple: children try not to get hit by a hula hoop that a parent or teacher rolls.

The key is to predict the hoop’s speed and direction and move accordingly.

Once everyone gets used to the game, adding variations to how the hoop moves will keep kids engaged and prevent boredom.

Give it a try in your activities!

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