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 (41–50)
Rolling Dodgeball
@toiro_efilagroup Do you know “Korokoro Dodgeball”?After-school day service#toiro#Kanagawa PrefectureAndanteChildcare Worker
♪ Original song – toiro After-school Day – toiro After-school Day
Let me introduce Rolling Dodgeball, a game where you roll the ball instead of throwing it.
The rules are similar to regular dodgeball, but players are split into inside and outside groups, and the ball is rolled to keep the game going.
If an inside player is hit by a ball rolled by someone on the outside, they move to the outside and join their team’s attack from there.
It can also be fun to decide the winner by counting how many players remain inside at the end.
Unlike regular dodgeball, this version uses a soft ball, so you can play safely.
Rock-Paper-Scissors Sugoroku
@kidschallengeclub♬ EMA – go!go!vanillas
Turn your room into a sugoroku board! Here’s an idea for a Rock-Paper-Scissors Sugoroku game.
Sugoroku is a traditional Japanese board game where you advance squares using dice.
However, in this version, you don’t use dice—you move forward by playing rock-paper-scissors.
The rules are simple: win to advance, lose and go back to the start.
Kids can join in easily.
Set up items like mats, balance beams, or vaulting boxes in the room to represent the squares.
Inside-Outside Game
@kyojifukushikai_staff Inside-Outside Game! Train your judgment and concentration!ExercisePlayChildcare#Nursery schoolNursery teacher / Childcare workerchild
♬ familie – Mrs. GREEN APPLE
Listen carefully to the instructions and get moving! Here are some ideas for Inside-Outside games.
The great thing is that people of all ages, from kids to adults, can enjoy them! It’s unique and fun to have children move around while following instructions.
Since you can play both indoors and outdoors, the weather won’t get in the way.
These games help develop reflexes, concentration, and teamwork while you play! The rules are simple and easy to understand, so take this opportunity to give them a try.
Hiragana Collection Challenge
@cocoskip Hello! This is Cocoskip. In today’s video, we’re doing a Hiragana Collection Challenge. How many words that fit the theme can we gather? 🧐#cocoskipSkip hereChild Development SupportAfter-school day service#Child Development Support (Japan)#After-school day serviceExercise Therapy#Indoor Play#CocoSkipChallengesimulationPlayHiragana PlayI love the admins.#IWantToBeOnTheRecommendations
♬ Comical lively cute sports day – SOUND BANK
Here’s a Hiragana-collecting challenge that’s fun both solo and with friends.
Spread out cards on the floor, each with a single hiragana character.
Give a prompt, then collect the hiragana cards that fit the prompt to form words.
Get a stopwatch ready and time how many minutes it takes to complete each word.
Start with just one prompt at first, then gradually increase the number of prompt words to make it more exciting.
It’s also a great game for building concentration and critical thinking, so give it a try!
Cup Game
@.vs9086 This time it’s a “cooperation-required cup game”! Materials: • 4 strings • 1 rubber band • Paper or plastic cups How to play: • Attach the 4 strings to the rubber band. • Line up the paper cups. • Tug the rubber band from four directions to grip the cup and stack them into a pyramid. This game builds fine hand control and concentration. Plus, one person can take the lead by giving instructions, and the other listens and responds. You can’t do it unless the two of you work together. My second son isn’t very cooperative and hasn’t really had experiences of accomplishing something together with friends, so I hope that, even through play, he can gradually gain experiences of achieving something with someone else. If you have paper cups, you can also branch out into other games like: • Sport stacking • Bowling ————— We share fun brain-boosting activities that elementary schoolers will get more absorbed in than a Switch—and that help grow their talents! Check out the other posts, too! —————Elementary school kids' playBrain-boosting playSTEAM education
♬ Cheap and cute athletic meet classic song(1085557) – Kids Sound
A mission you can’t clear without teaming up! Here’s a cup game idea.
Cooperation is a very important skill for 5-year-olds.
Through everyday interactions with friends and family, they begin to learn what cooperation means and why it matters.
By playing cooperatively with friends, children can develop the ability to understand others’ feelings and take turns.
The key to this game is that you cannot complete it without your teammates’ help.
You’ll need paper or plastic cups, rubber bands, and string.
Achieve the mission together with your friends and strengthen your bonds!
Touch-in game
@bear_kids_official Group therapy: Touch-in Game. Purpose: - Develop the ability to track with the eyes. - Learn to control the strength of movements. Everyone had fun challenging themselves while cheering each other on 👏Child Development SupportAfter-school day service# developmental support (ryōiku)#Nursery school#KindergartenElementary school
♪ Original Song – BEAR KIDS – BEAR KIDS 🧸 Child Development Support / After-School Day Service
Let’s develop tracking skills and a sense of force! Here are some ideas for a touch-in game.
These are perfect for nurturing visual concentration and control of force.
Children can aim to improve their physical abilities while having fun by keeping a balloon from falling and collecting colored balls from the floor into a basket.
Simple yet effective for building concentration, this idea lets kids play by controlling balloons and colored balls—making it a fun game that can be used in after-school day services!
Talking Game
@soramame.sensei How can I get it across?Talking Gameword# developmental support (ryōiku)Let's play together as parent and child#StayHomeTime
♬ Athletic Meet “Heaven and Hell” (No Introduction) – Shinonome
Build thinking and communication skills! Here are some ideas for a talking game.
Talking games are fun activities that use words to strengthen communication and creativity.
Have two people sit facing each other, and place a divider between them so they can’t see what the other is doing.
Once both have the same type and number of blocks in front of them, you’re ready to start! One person assembles the blocks while clearly explaining what they’re doing using only words.
The other listens carefully, thinks through the instructions, and assembles the blocks accordingly.
Give it a try!