Lovely Play & Recreation

Recreation Activities That Excite Kids’ Clubs! Plans and Ideas Children Will Love

Composition nerdmutō
Started performing in bands in junior high school. Influenced by Japanese rock and UK rock, spent over 10 years continuing band activities while creating original songs. Later began producing Vocaloid tracks using Hatsune Miku, with total plays of released songs surpassing 10,000. Has five years of experience writing for music magazines. Currently works as a music writer, director, and composer, keeping a ground-level perspective on the scene by attending live shows across Japan. Now performs at live houses in Tokyo, showcasing guitar playing centered on acoustic guitar and informed by knowledge of chord analysis and guitar scales. Also writes leveraging a broad knowledge of music genres.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

We’re introducing fun recreation activities that will get any kids’ club excited!

If you organize a community or school kids’ club, you probably struggle each time to find recreation activities that can involve a large group.

When you factor in the venue, number of participants, and children’s ages, it’s hard to decide what’s best.

In this article, we’ll share ideas and activities that kids will love—perfect for times like these.

We’ve gathered lots of options, including activities that let kids move their bodies to the fullest, games that children of different ages can enjoy together, and recreation ideas that work both indoors and outdoors.

Use them as a handy reference!

Recreation Activities That Excite Kids’ Clubs! Plans and Ideas Kids Will Love (1–10)

Bomb Game

[Indoor Play] A Game Enjoyable Across Ages [Bomb Game]

Bomb Game

A classic recreation activity: the “Bomb Game.” Players sit in a circle and pass a ball around; when the music stops, the person holding the ball is out.

If you can’t prepare music, you can have the person who’s out stand in the middle of the circle, cover their eyes, and say “Don!” out loud as an alternative.

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Murakami Shinpei

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Tail tag

[Basketball] A tail-catching game to improve your steals! Skill-up techniques! Challenge!

Tail tag

A game sometimes used to develop agility in basketball is “tail tag.” It’s a game where each player wears a towel or sash tucked behind them, and both sides try to grab the other’s “tail.” Don’t grab your opponent’s hands or push their body—only take the towel.

The basic format is one-on-one, but you can also play team matches.

Protecting your own sides while attacking behind your opponent is surprisingly tricky, making it a game that’s sure to get everyone excited.

Another advantage is that it requires no preparation as long as you have enough space.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Drop the Handkerchief

Cosplayers playing an all-out game of Drop the Handkerchief

Drop the Handkerchief

Handkerchief Drop is on its way to becoming a traditional Japanese game.

It’s simple, yet somehow exciting and great fun.

Choose one person to be “it,” and have everyone else sit facing inward in a circle.

The person who is “it” walks around behind the circle and secretly drops a handkerchief behind someone.

The person who has the handkerchief dropped behind them picks it up and chases “it.” If “it” manages to sit down in the spot of the person who was dropped on before being caught, “it” wins.

If the person doesn’t notice the drop and “it” completes a full lap and tags them, that person becomes the next “it.”

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Recreation Activities That Excite Kids’ Clubs! Plans and Ideas Kids Will Love (11–20)

Target shooting

Best bang for your buck! A shooting-gallery game and recreation that will absolutely excite everyone from kids to seniors — how to make the setup and how to play

Target shooting

Shooting games at children’s clubs make for a fun activity that offers a fresh experience.

Despite the simple setup, the tension of aiming and the sense of accomplishment when you hit the target are part of the appeal.

If you incorporate variations using balloons, the sight of colorful balloons flying around will surely fill the kids’ faces with smiles.

Winning prizes would make it even more exciting.

Sparkling targets and balloons add a festive touch to the venue.

Because target shooting can be enjoyed by a wide range of ages, it’s likely to provide a fun time that brings everyone together.

Why not include it in your children’s club event?

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Bingo Relay

[Recreation] Bingo Relay

Bingo Relay

This is a relay-style game where players take turns placing cones on a grid, aiming to complete a line before the opposing team.

Each team can have only up to three cones on the grid at a time; after that, the game proceeds by moving cones that are already placed.

It’s important not only to focus on completing your own line, but also to place cones in ways that prevent the other team from forming theirs.

Use creative placement, speed in reaching the cones, and each player’s strengths to take on the game.

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Challenge the bamboo dance

I tried bamboo dancing!

Challenge the bamboo dance

Why not try your hand at a bamboo dance that uses long bamboo poles? It originated as a traditional dance in places like the Philippines, but in Japan it’s also well known as a children’s activity.

The operators open and close four bamboo poles to a waltz-like three-beat rhythm, while the dancers step nimbly to avoid getting caught by the poles.

Because coordination between the operators and dancers is crucial, it’s a great recommendation for those looking for a party trick to perform with close friends or classmates.

Start by practicing with two poles, then increase the number once you’ve got the rhythm down.

Having multiple dancers raises the difficulty, but it also adds to the performance’s color and impact.

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Quiz tournament

The quiz tournament’s host is a school teacher — A new challenge from “Kid Ocean Quiz King Project” produced by Quiz Champion Yohei Furukawa | Social Innovation News

Quiz tournament

A quiz tournament that’s sure to get everyone excited at the kids’ club event! Prepare a wide variety of questions, from general knowledge to riddles.

If you make it a team competition, everyone can enjoy it together without worrying about age differences.

Interactive quizzes using images and videos are also recommended, as they capture children’s interest.

Have small prizes ready for those who answer correctly to boost motivation! Use playful quizzes to make your kids’ club even more fun.

It’s a perfect plan for creating wonderful memories that will put smiles on everyone’s faces.

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