Simple recreational activities that children with disabilities can enjoy! A collection of ideas you can play right away
Fun playtime with children with disabilities can actually be simple and easy to start right away—there are many kinds of recreational activities! From physical activities to seated games, we introduce easy recreations on various themes that you can choose based on each child’s interests and characteristics.
These activities are full of ways to spend heartwarming time while promoting the development of motor and cognitive skills.
They’re packed with ideas that let children make the most of what they’re good at while gently encouraging them to try things they find challenging.
Please enjoy them at your child’s own pace!
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Simple Recreational Activities That Children with Disabilities Can Enjoy! A Collection of Ready-to-Play Ideas (1–10)
paper plate castanets
@welbe.co.jp Easy Craft Series: Paper Plate Castanets#NeurodevelopmentalDisordersParenting# developmental support (ryōiku)Habi
Akuma Night Disco (feat. Nozomi Sato) – The Ghost's Strange Tale
This is a sound-play item that you can easily make with familiar materials.
First, fold a paper plate in half and attach a plastic bottle cap.
Make a hole in the middle of the fold, thread a rubber band through it, and tie it so it won’t come out.
Decorate it, and you’re done! When you tap it lightly, it produces a fun sound that helps develop hand movement and a sense of rhythm.
By varying the volume and rhythm, it can also boost concentration and promote emotional stability.
The time spent making it with your child becomes a wonderful opportunity for communication filled with smiles.
Be sure to include it in your playtime with your child.
Group therapy treasure hunt
@bear_kids_official Group Therapy: Treasure Hunt Game. Everyone searched for the treasure using clues! We had fun while nurturing: the ability to act with foresight, comprehension of instructions and memory, and cooperation and social skills.After-school day serviceChild Development Support# developmental support (ryōiku)#ADHD#Indoor Play
♬ Original Song – BEAR KIDS 🧸 Child Development Support & After-School Day Service – BEAR KIDS 🧸 Child Development Support & After-School Day Service
A game where you search for hidden treasures in a room.
As children naturally build concentration and observation skills—and if you turn it into a team game suited to their developmental stage—they also develop communication skills by cooperating with friends.
The sense of accomplishment when they find the treasure boosts their confidence and self-esteem! It’s easy to prepare and not affected by the weather, so you can put it into practice right away.
Since both kids and adults can enjoy it together, it’s the perfect activity for creating time filled with children’s smiles.
Tips for using scissors for the first time
Perfect for kids just starting to use scissors! This is a simple craft game where children use scissors vertically to make their own toys and play with them.
First, cut construction paper into long, thin vertical strips with scissors to make a ball.
Next, use another sheet of construction paper to make a goal.
It’s great for developing wrist and fingertip movements! Since you only need to stand the paper upright and cut straight down, you can apply this method to all kinds of crafts.
While having fun, kids naturally learn how to control their strength and movements.
It’s a quiet, focused activity that works well indoors and gives a real sense of accomplishment.
Grown-ups can enjoy it together, too!
Simple Recreational Activities That Children with Disabilities Can Enjoy! A Collection of Ready-to-Play Ideas (11–20)
Creative play with colored water and droppers
This is an art activity where you drip colored water onto washi paper using a dropper.
We recommend using a stronger type of washi than regular calligraphy paper.
It’s helpful to prepare a backing board in advance by wrapping a piece of cardboard with plastic.
Put paint in an egg carton, then use the dropper to drip the paint onto the washi paper.
Fold it into a size that’s easy for children to hold, then unfold it to finish! You can fold the paper into a square or a triangle—either is fine.
Some children may feel uneasy about the colors mixing, so show them a sample and reassure them by saying, “It’s okay if the colors mix!”
Toys at 100-yen stores that promote development
First is the “Blow-Up Basket.” Playing blowing games engages the muscles around the mouth and stimulates the abdominal muscles.
Tracking the ball with the eyes also helps practice eye control.
Next, the “Takoyaki” toy is perfect for developing fine motor skills.
It can also lead into pretend play.
Lastly, there are the “Soft Color Blocks.” They’re simple, safe, and highly versatile—the key points.
They’re great for activities like gripping and pinching.
All of these toys are available at 100-yen shops, so if you see them, be sure to give them a try!
Handmade triangle puzzle
This is an indoor activity where you use colorful construction paper to make triangles of various sizes and combine them to complete pictures and shapes.
Children can work at their own pace and freely, which helps them enjoyably develop concentration, spatial awareness, and creativity.
Because there are few chances to fail and it’s easy to experience success, it’s also effective for boosting self-esteem.
The materials are simple and you can start right away, which is a big plus.
With a little ingenuity, kids can create their favorite animals, vehicles, or even story worlds—so adults, too, should dive in and enjoy it together!
Handmade therapy tools recommended for developing fine motor skills
“Put-in” is a simple homemade toy where children insert parts of different colors and shapes into holes.
By playing with finger movements, kids naturally develop concentration, cognition, and fine motor skills.
For children with disabilities in particular, the experience of accomplishing tasks on their own can build confidence.
It’s easy to make, and the materials—like a storage box, marbles, small game counters, and tapioca/boba straws—are everyday items.
It’s perfect for indoor play, and as you play together, communication with children deepens.
Give it a try and make it part of your everyday routine.