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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Ideas for indoor activities and group games that 5-year-olds like (21–30)
Treasure-Grabbing Game
Let’s play with excitement! Here’s an idea for a treasure-grabbing game.
This unique activity can be enjoyed by both kids and adults, so teachers and guardians should join in with the children and have fun together.
It’s a simple game where you spread two colors of hula hoops around the room and move markers into the hula hoops of your team color.
The key rule is that only one marker can be placed inside each hula hoop! Give it a try!
drawing relay
Here’s a drawing relay that everyone can get excited about.
Split into teams, and only the first person looks at the prompt.
The first person draws the prompt and passes it on to the next player.
The next player interprets the drawing and conveys it to the following player with another drawing.
The team whose final player’s drawing matches the original prompt the fastest wins.
It’s best to use simple prompts that are easy for kids to understand.
You can enjoy this game indoors or outdoors, so grab some paper and felt-tip pens and give it a try!
Indoor play and group game ideas that 5-year-olds love (31–40)
Churippu sharippu
Hold hands with your friends and play while calling each other’s names! Let me share the idea for “Churippu Sharippu.” There’s nothing to prepare, so just hum the song together and play.
There are moments in the song where you call out names, which makes it great for learning your friends’ names.
It’s especially recommended for classes with new or transferring children! You can adapt the way you play, so it’s an idea that children from infants to preschoolers can enjoy.
Be sure to try it in your activities.
Bomb game
The excitement just won’t stop! Here’s a fun idea for a bomb game.
It’s a great way to build concentration and decision-making skills while playing.
All you need is a device that can play music and a ball or balloon.
Have the participants stand in a circle facing each other.
While the music is playing, pass the ball to the person next to you.
When the music stops, whoever is holding the ball loses—simple as that.
It’s sure to be a hit with preschool classes!
big-game hunting
Get the fun going! Here are some ideas for the game “Mōjūgari” (Wild Beast Hunt).
It’s a great way to explore number concepts while playing, so we highly recommend it! The call-and-response is done by having children repeat the teacher’s or caregiver’s lines, so keeping it simple and easy to understand is key.
Rules: The teacher or caregiver tells the children the name of an animal.
The children then form groups and sit down in numbers that match the number of letters in the animal’s name specified by the teacher or caregiver.
Start with animals that have fewer letters, and once they get used to it, switch to animals with more letters so they won’t get bored.
Lick of ice cream
Aim for the goal while keeping your balance! Here’s an idea for “Ice Cream Lick.” It’s a fun relay perfect for a 5-year-old’s sports day, featuring a quirky, eye-catching ice cream with lots of impact.
Place a large ice cream made from colored plastic bags on a giant cone, and carry it to the finish while maintaining balance! Kids can enjoy it as a relay on their own, or you can adapt it into a parent-child event.
Work together and head for the goal!
Pun Quiz
It’s like a riddle and really fun! Here are some ideas for pun quizzes.
By using puns, you can create laughter while learning words—a unique idea.
For example, for the question “What card game is a tiger playing?” the answer would be “toranpu” (trump), a play on words in Japanese.
Try coming up with answers that work like puns.
Children will develop creativity by twisting words to produce funny answers.
It’s something you can enjoy with family and friends while experiencing the fun of wordplay, and it helps build vocabulary and a sense of humor too! Let’s think up questions together, from easy to a bit challenging, and find the answers while laughing.