[Childcare] Recommended indoor activities and recreation games for April
April marks the start of a new chapter.
Children who are entering or moving up a grade may feel excited about their new environment, or a little anxious—there are many different reactions.
Many teachers are probably wondering, “What should we do?” as they look for ideas that everyone can enjoy and that naturally help children make friends through play.
So this time, we’re introducing recommended games and activities for April.
We’ve focused on games you can start right away indoors, so please give them a try.
You’ll find yourself with more wonderful moments filled with smiles!
- [Childcare] Recommended games to play in the warm month of April
- Indoor Games for Small Groups: Exciting Recreational Activities
- Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for daycare and kindergarten
- [Childcare] Play Right Now! Recommended No-Prep Games
- [Childcare / Physical Play] Fun Activities to Get Moving
- [For Age 3] Let’s make it in April! A collection of craft ideas to feel spring events and nature
- [Childcare] Enjoy March! A collection of ideas for event-related activities and nature play
- [Kindergarten/Daycare] Games and Performances for Fun Events
- [For Kids] Indoor Fun! Large-Group Recreational Activities and Games
- Indoor games that different ages can enjoy! Ideas for fun everyone can get excited about together
- [Childcare] April Events and Food Quiz | Learn with the Kids
- For 4-year-olds! Introducing recommended indoor activities, group games, and crafts
- [Childcare] Recommended for April activities! A collection of helpful ideas for events and festivities
[Childcare] Recommended Indoor Activities and Recreation Games for April (21–30)
chimney game
Let’s do our best not to lose to the chimney sweeper! Here’s an idea for a chimney game.
This is a unique game that uses balls and mats.
If your center doesn’t have mats, connected cardboard pieces will also work.
A teacher, transformed into a chimney sweeper, goes inside the chimney.
The children try to toss balls into the chimney so they won’t lose to the sweeper.
They can build skills by making strategies and watching for moments when the teacher lets their guard down.
Give it a try! If you have a large group, a key tip is to prepare more balls than the number of participants.
Color water play with spring flowers
Spring is a season when all kinds of flowers are in bloom, and just looking at them is delightful, isn’t it? How about using those colorful flowers to play with flower-dyed water? Crush the petals finely with a pestle and mix them with water to make colored water.
You can enjoy mixing the colors to see how they change, soak white paper or fabric to watch the colors spread and create patterns, or use a dropper on water-repellent materials to draw like a painting.
With a bit of creativity and imagination, there are all sorts of ways to play with colored water.
Putting it in cups and pretending to run a juice shop sounds fun, too!
[Childcare] Recommended Indoor Activities and Recreation Games for April (31–40)
after-the-fact rock-paper-scissors
This is a reverse version of rock-paper-scissors called “late-response rock-paper-scissors,” where you must play after your opponent and follow the given instruction.
For example, if the instruction is “Please lose,” and your opponent plays scissors, you must respond with paper.
Since we usually focus on trying to win at rock-paper-scissors, you might instinctively throw rock without thinking.
If you don’t respond quickly and keep the rhythm, you’re out!
Balloon Play
Balloons floating softly in the air are very safe, so kids can play with them with peace of mind.
Here are some indoor games using balloons.
The “keep it off the floor” game naturally encourages kids to cooperate, calling out to each other to keep the balloon from touching the floor and getting excited together.
In the balloon passing game, form groups of about six and split into teams.
Enjoy sending the balloon from front to back, or passing it under the knees.
The team that can pass the balloon the fastest wins.
You can also stick a strip of plastic tape across the middle of the room and enjoy balloon volleyball or soccer.
Please choose and enjoy games suited to the children’s ages.
Hana Ichi Monme
Its history is long, and even your grandparents likely played it when they were children: “Hanaiichimonme.” The players split into two teams, each forming a straight horizontal line, holding hands and facing the other team.
While singing the Hanaiichimonme song, each side names someone from the opposing team that they want.
Then the team leaders play rock-paper-scissors, and the winner gets the child they nominated.
The team that loses a member loses that round, but you can repeat the game several times; another way to play is that the team with more players remaining at the end wins.
Handkerchief-snatching game
The classic indoor game you can play even on rainy days, the “Handkerchief Grab,” has lots of fun variations depending on the rules.
In this version, players sit on chairs facing each other with their knees touching, place a handkerchief in the middle, and grab it when the whistle blows.
It works well with a larger group, or you can do head-to-head matches and make it a tournament.
There’s also a high-level version where someone keeps chatting to distract players, then blows the whistle when their attention slips.
It’s a recommended game that everyone can enjoy while training reflexes and coordination!
Bomb Game
A simple “Bomb Game” you can play with a rubber ball.
The rules are like a preschool version of dodgeball: set up areas in advance using tape lines or mats, and have the children move from mat to mat while avoiding the ball.
First, explain, “The ball is a bomb, so you mustn’t get hit.” Start by tossing the ball gently with an easy arc, then raise the difficulty as they get used to it by changing the ball’s trajectory or throwing faster shots off the wall or floor.
The kids will love the thrill—guaranteed excitement!