Ideas for indoor activities and group games that 5-year-olds like
For teachers looking for play ideas on days when the weather or temperature keeps you indoors and you’re wondering, “What should I play with the children today?”, this is a must-read.
This time, we’re sharing plenty of indoor play ideas recommended for 5-year-olds.
From group activities that let children move their bodies to the fullest while enjoying interactions with friends, to games that encourage deep focus and thinking, to make-and-play toy crafts suited to the fine-motor skills of 5-year-olds—there’s a wide variety of indoor activities that deliver a sense of satisfaction!
Add your own twists to match the children’s moods and needs, and it will be even more exciting.
Use these ideas as inspiration and have fun together!
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Indoor play and group game ideas that 5-year-olds love (91–100)
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!
Copycat game
Let’s have fun with body mimicry! Here are some ideas for a copycat game that’s sure to make everyone smile.
While copying the teacher’s movements, strike unique poses like animals or heroes and play together.
You’ll find yourselves laughing and saying, “What is this?!” as you move your bodies.
While playing, kids build flexibility and balance, and the best part is learning through fun—“Can you really do this pose?” You might even discover some unexpected moves!
UFO Tag
@kidschallengeclub♬ UFO – Pink Lady
Spin around and protect the captain! Here’s an idea for a UFO tag game.
It’s a unique game that really tests teamwork! Form teams of three, hold hands, and dodge the tagger so your captain doesn’t get caught.
Choose a captain among the three and have them wear a bib number so the tagger can easily tell who it is—highly recommended.
The key is to hold hands firmly so no one lets go!
giant ball
@nacchi_asobi Super excited! 😍 We played for another whole hour!!! ▫️Giant Ball▫️ ▷▷Materials • Trash bags (This time we used 45L and 30L 🫶🏻) • Vinyl tape ▷▷How to make it 1) Inflate the trash bag. Tip: Fill it up until it’s nice and firm with air! 2) Wrap 3–4 strips of tape all the way around. That’s it! 💓 ▷▷Tips for fun Throw it, roll it, kick it—when you toss it high, it floats down slowly and everyone gets super excited!! 😍 Please give it a try! ♡♡ ⚠️Safety Note Be careful to prevent accidental swallowing. Always have an adult supervising. Put it away out of reach after playtime. Please be mindful of choking and ingestion hazards! 𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃𓂃🎨 Thank you so much for viewing ♡♡ This account shares: / Play-at-home ideas for 1-year-olds from a childcare-worker mom 🎈 \ I hope this helps when you’re wondering, “What should we play today?” and need ideas for at-home time 🥰#AtHomePlaySimple PlayParentingStruggling with parenting1 year old#1-year-old play#BoyMomBalloon Play100-yen shop toy#HandmadeToys#DaisoPurchases#Seria purchases
♬ Turkish march 8bit game sound(910193) – KAN TAKEUCHI
Let me introduce a giant ball that kids will be super excited about.
The method is very simple: inflate a garbage bag and tie it off to make a large ball shape.
Wrap duct tape around it, and you’re done.
If you change the colors of the tape as you stick it on, it becomes a visually fun ball as well.
Hold it, throw it—use your whole body and play freely with the giant ball.
Another plus is that, since it’s made of plastic, it won’t hurt even if it hits your head or body.
It might also be fun to make several of the same kind and play with them like a maze.
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.
Party-gathering game
https://www.tiktok.com/@homeltd/video/7367298557474311441No talking to friends allowed! Here’s an idea for a game where you gather teammates.
It’s a fun activity using cards with animal pictures on them.
However, you’re not allowed to talk to your friends during the game! Rely only on the animal sounds depicted on the cards handed out by the teacher or guardian to find others with matching cards.
The tricky part is calling out to your teammates while carefully distinguishing their calls.
Once everyone gets used to the rules, adding a time limit could make it even more exciting!
Newspaper Game
@soramame.sensei #SoramameKids#SoramameKids#Therapy Time# developmental support (ryōiku)#HandmadeToys#Indoor Play#KagoshimaRehabilitation#StayHomeTimeLet's play at home#IndoorPlayCorenewspaper (newsprint)Newspaper#Nursery school child
♬ March-style BGM ideal for athletic meet march – harryfaoki
You only need two things to prepare! Here’s an idea for a newspaper sheet game.
It’s also a great option when you have to switch activities indoors due to sudden bad weather.
With just newspaper and tape, you can start playing right away! Set up a long chain of connected newspaper sheets under a chair.
While sitting on the chair, move both feet left and right to store the newspaper under the chair.
The key is to use the entire sole of your feet, which also makes it perfect for strengthening your core.