[For Kids] Fun Indoor Game Ideas for After-School Day Services

6 Easy Indoor Activities You Can Enjoy

[Make the Most of Spare Moments] 6 Easy Indoor Games Kids Can Enjoy [For Elementary Schoolers]

When rainy weather continues or the heat keeps you indoors, kids can’t move their bodies as much and may start to feel stressed.

Here are some recommended indoor activities that get them moving.

Try simple seated games like “Tonton Surisuri” or finger-play exercises to combine light gymnastics with brain training.

For example, with Tonton Surisuri, sit down and lightly pat one thigh with one hand while you make a fist with the other hand and rub the other thigh.

Doing two different actions at the same time is said to help build attention and provide brain-training benefits.

Give these easy exercises a try and have fun staying active indoors.

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

Nakajima Junko

Report a problem

A recreational activity incorporating parkour

Olympic host city! A unique after-school program that incorporates France-born parkour—jumping, running, vaulting, balancing—learning through play!

Let’s work on improving children’s athletic abilities! Here are some ideas for activities that incorporate parkour.

Parkour is a culture originating in France; by integrating movements like running, jumping, and climbing, it trains the mind and body and aims for artistic movement.

In recent years, we’ve been seeing it more often on social media, haven’t we? This time, let’s create a course using boxes and mats made of soft materials and try parkour.

It’s a wonderful idea that helps children understand weight transfer and how to use their bodies.

Stop game

Blue Class Stop Game on 2018-09-13

A light, get-your-body-moving game: the Stop Game.

The rules are very simple.

Once the music starts, move freely around the room.

Then, when the music stops, freeze right where you are! When the music starts again, start moving.

Keep repeating this.

If you speed the music up or slow it down, it gets a bit more challenging and exciting.

It’s also fun to add a rule where, just before stopping, the teacher or leader calls out something like “rabbit” or “elephant,” and everyone has to freeze while imitating that animal.

It’s perfect for filling a short break, so give it a try!

expand_lessRaise the rankingexpand_morelower

SAKI

Report a problem

Aiue ball

@soramame.sensei

This is Kotoba Classroom Soramame Kids! This time, we’re having fun with a Hiragana game! Just write hiragana on a ball and you can start right away! ▶️▶️ It’s easy to set up, so you can enjoy doing it together with your child! ✨ Be sure to give it a try! ❤️Speech and Language Classroom#SoramameKidsAfter-school day service#After-school day serviceChild Development Support#Child Development Support (Japan)Speech-Language-Hearing TherapistOccupational therapistNursery teacher / Childcare worker#KagoshimaRehabilitation# developmental support (ryōiku)Recreation#Indoor PlayAt-home play#IndoorPlayChildcareHiragana practiceHiragana MatchingEasy to prepare#HandmadeToys

♬ Mario like action game 2 – Jun Takahashi

Play with letters! Here’s an idea for “A-I-U-E Balls.” It’s a letter-play activity perfect for anyone planning a game with colored balls.

You’ll need a large basket, colored balls, masking tape, a permanent marker, and a smaller basket for collecting the balls.

First, write each of the 50 Japanese syllables on pieces of masking tape—one character per piece—and stick them onto the colored balls.

Once you put the balls into the large basket, you’re ready to go! Give the kids a prompt, then have them search the large basket to find the letters one by one.

It’s a thrilling, heart-pounding activity that’s lots of fun.

Tissue Catch

@soramame.sensei

Hello! This is Kotoba no Kyoushitsu Soramame Kids 🌟 The video we’re introducing today is “Tissue Catch”! It’s a very simple game where you catch a tissue falling from above using your hands or tools 😊 As you track the falling tissue with your eyes and catch it, eye–hand teamwork becomes very important 🎵 Let’s play a lot and help your eyes 👀 and hands 👋🏻 become best friends! ♡♡#SoramameKidsKotoba no Kyoushitsu Soramame Kids# developmental support (ryōiku)#KagoshimaRehabilitationChild Development SupportAfter-school day service#Indoor Play#TissueRecreation

♬ happy(1291154) – KIE

Have fun in pairs! Here are some ideas for a Tissue Catch game.

As the name suggests, it’s a game where you catch a tissue.

Catching a tissue as it gently floats downward is surprisingly tricky.

One person drops a tissue from a high position, and the other tries to catch it.

Once you get the hang of it, you can make it more challenging—and exciting—by using tools like tongs or chopsticks.

Give it a try!

Plastic bottle balancing game

@soramame.sensei

Hello! This is Kotoba no Kyōshitsu Soramame Kids! This time, it’s a balance game you can play with a plastic bottle♪ You don’t need a cap—use things you already have at home★ Give it a try! 😊#SoramameKidsChild Development SupportAfter-school day service#KagoshimaRehabilitation# developmental support (ryōiku)Easy to preparetranslation#StayHomeTime#HandmadeToys#Indoor PlayParent-child time

♬ Cute and fun marimba pops(1164847) – zomap

Here’s an idea for a plastic-bottle balance game that’s perfect for small-group icebreakers! On party days or recreation days, kids tend to be extra excited, right? This game is great to use at those times.

You’ll need a large plastic bottle, a utility knife, vinyl tape, and about 20 plastic bottle caps.

Cut off the top portion of the large bottle and wrap the cut edge with vinyl tape—that’s all the prep! Players take turns dropping bottle caps into the bottle; the person who knocks the bottle over loses.

It’s a simple game that also lets you see different aspects of the kids’ personalities, making it extra fun.

A game using paper and a ball

@soramame.sensei

This is Kotoba Classroom Soramame Kids! Today we’re introducing a super easy game you can play with just paper and a ball. ✨ The activity aims to: • Improve hand-eye coordination • Promote bilateral hand use Preparation is simple, so you can enjoy doing it together with your child! ✨Speech and Language Classroom#SoramameKidsAfter-school day service#After-school day serviceChild Development Support#Child Development Support (Japan)Speech-Language-Hearing TherapistOccupational therapistNursery teacher / Childcare worker#KagoshimaRehabilitation# developmental support (ryōiku)Recreation#Indoor PlayAt-home play#IndoorPlayChildcareEasy to prepare#CapCut

♬ Go and Be Miserable – Rururu

Finger control matters! Here’s a game idea using paper and balls.

It’s a seated game that uses paper and balls.

Prepare A4 sheets with large printed shapes or motifs, and some colored balls.

To start, it’s best to demonstrate with simple straight lines or squares.

The rule is simple: trace the shapes by controlling the colored ball with your fingertips, making sure not to go off the line.

Once you get the hang of it, try more challenging motifs like hearts, stars, and curves.