Fun Activities and Recreation Games for Boys

Experiment: “Let’s Make Carryable Water”

Portable water even though it’s water: “Ooho!” I tried making it!

When you think of water, you think of a liquid—but this mysterious “portable water” behaves almost like a solid.

If you’re a boy, doesn’t it make you want to try making it at least once? The ingredients, calcium chloride and sodium alginate, aren’t dangerous, but since they’re chemicals, prepare them together with an adult.

I think it’s perfect for an independent research project, too.

Ninja Play

[Exercise & Gymnastics for Kids] Recommended Rule-Based Game for 4- and 5-Year-Olds: 'Ninja Play' / Rule-based active games, exercises, and gymnastics educational videos to improve motor skills together with Mom

There have always been manga and anime featuring ninja and samurai, haven’t there? That feeling boys get of longing for helmets and swords—it might be embedded in us at the DNA level.

The game I’m introducing today is “Ninja Play,” which is similar to “Daruma-san ga Koronda” (the Japanese version of Red Light, Green Light).

In the regular game, the person saying “Daruma-san ga koronda” faces a wall or tree.

In “Ninja Play,” however, the person who says “Is anyone there?” is allowed to move freely.

The rules are the same as in Daruma-san ga Koronda: if you’re seen moving, you lose.

Simple, but a really fun game!

Instrument performance

I just collaborated with 8- and 6-year-old brother musicians who play Yngwie!

I’ve heard that musical instruments sell well when the economy is in a slump.

Since people can’t spend much on entertainment and don’t go out as much, they end up staying home more—and that apparently leads to more people playing instruments.

Lots of boys might dream of playing the guitar! Even if you just treat it like a bit of fun at first, why not try playing an instrument? A cheap guitar is fine, or the piano or electronic organ you already have at home.

Just touching an instrument and making sounds can turn into a really enjoyable time.

And who knows—some people might end up getting into it seriously after starting for fun!

Making mud dumplings

How to Make a Super Shiny Mud Dumpling (16:9 Version)

If you search for “mud balls,” you’ll find tons of photos of gleaming spheres that make you wonder, “Are these really made of mud?” Seeing those makes you want to try making one yourself, right? They have a kind of shine that boys especially seem to love! Let’s all try making glossy mud balls together.

The key, above all, is to find a spot with very fine-grained soil.

Fundamentally, the quality of the soil determines everything about how shiny your mud ball will be! It’s also fun to gather soil from different places and blend it to your liking.

stilts

Ride a pair of stilts in five minutes (animation)

Many people might think that stilts are originally Japanese, but similar things exist all around the world.

It’s said that even pottery excavated from Greek ruins dating to around 550 BCE depicts people on stilts.

More recently, some schools have incorporated stilts into physical education, as they’re good for developing balance and stimulating the toes, which is considered beneficial for the brain.

Setting the technicalities aside, playing on stilts looks like a lot of fun! Try challenges like standing on one leg or skipping!

playing train

Pretend Play Train

Playing doctor, playing princess—children learn so much from pretend play.

Let’s use trains that boys love and play “train pretend.” The train can be as simple as a large rope made into a loop, or you can make a more elaborate one out of cardboard—it all sounds fun.

Doing pretend announcements like “Next stop, Tokyo, Tokyo” is enjoyable too.

While riding in the train you made, kids can even learn all the stations on the local railway.

It’s amazing how children memorize station names in order of the stops, isn’t it?

kickbase

Recommended for upper elementary PE and recreation! Narabikko Kickbase

Kickbase isn’t just a physical game.

Kicking the ball, running, defending—every part is filled with children’s creativity and teamwork.

You’ll hear them calling out, “Who’s up next?” “How should we defend?” as they communicate and share roles.

Because it’s played with the feet, differences in strength matter less, making it fun for kids of different ages to play together on the same field.

They laugh when things don’t go well and high-five when they succeed.

Those small moments build confidence and cooperation.

Kickbase, which nurtures relationships while letting kids move their bodies to the fullest, is a perfect collaborative play activity for after-school programs.

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