Games to Play on Children’s Day: A Collection of Family-Friendly Ideas
Children’s Day is a day to celebrate and wish for children’s healthy growth.
There are many ways to spend it, such as displaying carp streamers and samurai helmets, or eating kashiwa-mochi.
But since it’s a special occasion, why not try incorporating games that everyone—family and friends—can enjoy together? In this article, we’ve gathered a wide range of game ideas perfect for Children’s Day.
From activities themed around carp streamers and kashiwa-mochi to ones you can enjoy with minimal preparation, they’re all games you can play excitedly indoors.
These are games that both kids and adults can get absorbed in, so be sure to check them out!
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Games to Play on Children’s Day: A Collection of Ideas to Hype Up the Whole Family (11–20)
Bomb game
The “Bomb Game” is a game where you pretend the ball is a bomb.
First, everyone sits in a circle and one person holds the ball.
Play music on a smartphone or boombox, and while the music is playing, keep passing the ball to the next person.
Whoever is holding the ball when the music stops loses.
If someone loses three times, they have to do a penalty! You can adjust the rules and penalties, so try tailoring them to the children’s ages.
Play songs the kids like for the music!
Piñata
A piñata is a “kusudama doll” that became widely known after being featured on the hugely popular TV show “Itte Q! (The Quest to the Ends of the World).” In the show, when Imoto smashed the kusudama, it burst open with toy bugs and lizards she dislikes, which made everyone laugh.
Even today, in many Latin American countries, it’s considered an essential event at children’s festivals.
The game involves hanging a candy-filled ball from the ceiling and having a blindfolded child break it—basically the kusudama version of watermelon splitting.
It could also be fun to make kusudama for each other, exchange them, and take turns breaking them.
Fishing showdown
Speaking of Children’s Day, some of you are right in the middle of Golden Week.
If you’re feeling down thinking, “I want to strengthen family bonds, but it’s hard to go out this time of year…,” try making a fishing game at home and have a fun competition! You can make it with things you already have at home—scissors, laminating sheets, clear tape, paper clips, magnets, chopsticks, yarn, and more—so excitement is guaranteed.
Plus, you can print out fish illustrations and laminate them together with your child, making the crafting process fun too.
If you turn the fish into colorful carp streamers, it’ll be perfect for Children’s Day!
Gesture Game
Back in the 1950s and ’60s, when television was still in its infancy, NHK’s variety show “Gesture” became hugely popular.
Come to think of it, we still often see gesture games as segments on TV shows today.
Their simple, instantly exciting nature is probably why they’re so widely used.
This Children’s Day, let both adults and kids have fun and liven things up with a gesture game.
Prepare prompts in advance by writing them on slips of paper.
To make it even more exciting, you can give kids a handicap, like allowing onomatopoeia such as “wan-wan” (woof-woof) or “zaa-zaa” (the sound of heavy rain).
Try working in characters from kids’ favorite anime as prompts, too!
Target shooting game
Let’s make it using balloons and paper cups! Here’s an idea for a target-throwing game.
When the weather is bad or someone in the family isn’t feeling well, it’s hard to go play outside, right? This target game is perfect for making and playing at times like that! What you need: paper cups, balloons, pens or colored pencils, tape, balls made by crumpling paper, and scissors.
Draw your favorite illustrations on the paper cups to complete the targets! Then tape the paper cups and balloons together, and enjoy your target game!
Human Spot-the-Difference Game
It’s a game where you try a human version of “spot the differences,” like comparing two pictures.
The presenter appears with prepared outfits or accessories, and the players memorize their appearance.
Then the presenter returns with changes to their outfit, accessories, or pose, and the players have to identify the differences.
You won’t get it unless you look closely and remember well! It’s a game that works with small or large groups.
Try switching roles between presenter and player, using a point system to compete, and experimenting with different ways to play!
Games to play on Children’s Day: A collection of ideas to enjoy with the family (21–30)
Cracker Game
@renamama_asobi Parent and child get totally hooked 🎉 Cracker Game#AtHomePlayParent-child play# Simple play#Indoor Playtranslation
♬ Children pets athletic meet lively lively – SOUND BANK
The cracker game with a satisfying pop is an activity the whole family can enjoy.
It’s easy to make, so the crafting time is fun for parents and kids, too.
Cover a cylindrical snack box with origami paper and use an awl to make a hole in the center of the bottom.
Thread a rubber band through the hole from inside the box, then secure it with a toothpick.
Wrap aluminum foil around the other end of the rubber band.
Make a total of eight evenly spaced holes near the top of the box, and insert bamboo skewers through them to finish.
Be sure to thread the rubber band onto one of those skewers.
Turn the box upside down, place a pom-pom on top, and the game begins! It’s fun to guess which skewer to pull to make the pom-pom pop.
