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 enjoy (1–10)
Sinking Game
Everyone is a crew member on a ship, and the teacher is the shark.
While you’re on the ship, the shark won’t attack, but when the command “We’re sinking!” is given, the ship sinks and you have to run away to avoid being caught by the shark.
The kids know it isn’t a real shark, but they love this kind of thrilling game and really get excited.
The person calling the commands shouldn’t say “sinking” right away—start with “chi, chi, chi,” and mix in other words that start with “chi,” like “chingensai” (bok choy) or “cheese,” to fake them out.
Monster Hunter Game
This is a singing game called “Mōjū-gari Game” (Wild Animal Hunt Game) that you can play while singing.
You sing along, repeating after the leader to the song “Let’s go on a wild animal hunt.” Then the leader calls out the name of a wild animal—like tiger, lion, or giraffe.
Players must quickly form groups with the same number of people as the number of syllables in that animal’s name and crouch to be safe.
For example, for “raion” (lion), you make a group of four.
If you can’t form a group with the correct number, you get eaten by the wild animal.
Word Search Game
A word-search activity that helps children learn the Japanese syllabary while also supporting their development.
It’s a game you can learn through play and that also builds the basics of reading and writing.
First, write characters on colored construction paper with circles drawn on it, then cut them out.
Once all the characters are cut, scatter them randomly.
Divide into a few teams, then find and assemble characters from the syllabary to form words.
You can set various victory conditions, such as making as many words as possible or making the longest word.
It’s a game that can help five-year-olds become familiar with characters and also foster cooperation with friends and family—why not give it a try?
Ball-passing game
The “Ball Passing Game” is a fun competitive activity played in teams.
Each team lines up in a single file, with the person at the front holding a ball.
At the starting signal, pass the ball back to the person behind you.
The team whose ball reaches the last person first wins.
It’s a classic indoor game that gets everyone excited no matter how many times you play!
Ninja play
Kids love to imitate ninjas, don’t they? In this ninja game, let the children fully become ninjas! An adult or teacher walks in front, and the children follow behind in stealth like ninjas.
When the adult suddenly turns around and says, “Who goes there?!” the children must freeze, crouch down, or follow other simple rules you set.
It’s very simple, but role-playing games like this are a big hit with kids!
Card flipping
“Card Flipping” is becoming a staple event at nursery and kindergarten sports days.
It’s a game where children flip double-sided cards—each side a different color—to their own team’s color within a time limit.
The rules are very simple, but it’s one of those games kids get completely absorbed in.
Once you make the cards, you can enjoy it over and over, so it’s highly recommended! It’s also great because kids can really move their bodies to the fullest.
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.