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 we want to play on Children's Day: A collection of family-friendly ideas (31–40)
umbrella-bag koinoboriNEW!
Umbrella bags that come in handy on rainy days are actually great as play materials too! The umbrella-bag koi nobori is an activity perfect for Children’s Day and a fun idea that lets kids move their bodies a lot indoors.
Inflate the umbrella bag with air and twist and tie the opening.
Secure it firmly with tape as well.
Using round stickers for the eyes and scales makes it adorable.
Once you attach a rolled piece of tape to the tip of the finished koi nobori, you’re done—try tossing it at a target on the wall! Kids will love the fluffy feel of the inflated umbrella bag.
It’s very easy to make, so give it a try.
Hand Play Song: “The Carp Streamer Swallowed It”NEW!
Let’s have fun on Children’s Day with the fingerplay song “The Carp Streamer Sucked It In.” This song isn’t just for hand motions—you can turn it into a quiz, too.
In the song, the carp streamer sucks in various things—sometimes a lion, sometimes a cat.
Each time it sucks something in, its voice changes, so listen carefully and guess what it swallowed! You can also customize what it sucks in, so why not switch it to things the kids love and enjoy it even more?
Koinobori airplane throwingNEW!
The spinning “koinobori airplane” is perfect for Children’s Day play.
All you need are three paper cups and a marble.
Place the marble in a paper cup, then attach another cup over the opening to close it, and secure with tape.
Attach the third cup to the bottom on one side, and for the tail fin, cut the mouth side into eight equal sections.
The trick to making it spin and fly well is to fold these eight tail fins slightly diagonally in the same direction.
Add tail fins and eyes to create your original koinobori.
It’s a fun activity that sparks curiosity with the question, “Why does it spin?”
A quick-reaction game that’s fun for both kids and adults
Choose one representative from the participants, and have everyone else close their eyes.
The representative will instruct, “Raise your hand when you hear a cat’s meow,” so those with their eyes closed should raise their hand immediately when they hear the cat sound.
If animal sounds are difficult, using instrument sounds or saying a specific word is fine too.
It’s a simple game, but you can make it more challenging and exciting by adding feints, like using a dog’s bark instead of a cat’s meow.
Relying solely on sound with your vision blocked is surprisingly difficult, so it seems like a good brain-training activity.
Do-Re-Mi Song Game
We’re going to sing the famous “Do-Re-Mi” song, but after each person sings one phrase, the singer will randomly call out which note the next person has to sing.
For example, if the first person sings the “Do” phrase and then calls “Mi,” the next person must sing the “Mi” phrase with the correct pitch.
If someone gets the lyrics wrong or goes off pitch, they’re out.
It’s a game that tests your ear and always gets everyone excited, even when mistakes happen!
Jump into a rock-paper-scissors game!
The “Rock-Paper-Scissors Jump Game,” which combines rock-paper-scissors with jumping, is a playful activity that helps children learn how to use their bodies while potentially improving their athletic ability.
Create waiting spots on the left and right, and have participants play rock-paper-scissors with the person next to them.
The winner then jumps while moving from their current waiting spot to the one on the opposite side.
It’s a simple game that repeats this process, so any child old enough to play rock-paper-scissors can join.
For the jumping styles, start with a “rock” jump keeping both feet together, then move to a “scissors” jump.
After that, switch to a gallop and finally to a “paper” jump.
5 Board Games Where Rolling the Dice Is the Most Fun
Since you can have fun just by rolling dice, why not try a game that groups of all ages—from kids to adults—can enjoy? In the video, games like Sengoku Jidai, where you assault castles, and Camel Up, where you bet on a camel race, are introduced.
Others include Dice Forge, where you collect fragments of the sun and moon; Space Base, where you acquire a variety of starships; and Stone Age, great for those who want a longer play session.
Try choosing based on difficulty level and your interests.
Outdoor activities: fun games everyone can play together!
This is a game called “Catch.” Choose one person to be the leader, and have the other participants form a circle.
Hold out your right hand with the palm facing up toward the person on your right, and place your left index finger on the palm of the person to your left.
When the leader says “Catch,” quickly close your right hand, and with your left hand, try to pull your index finger away so it doesn’t get caught.
The leader should vary the timing by stretching out “Ca, ca, caaaatch…” or throw in feints by saying something like “Cat!” instead.
It’s a simple game that helps break the ice and get everyone excited, even with people you’re meeting for the first time.
A rhythm game that toddlers can enjoy
Moving your body to songs and rhythms can really lift your spirits, right? It introduces games that are fun even with large groups, like “Kaminari-don,” “Yakiimo Goo Choki Paa,” “Anpan Shokupan,” and “The Greengrocer’s Shop.” The rhythm game “The Greengrocer’s Shop” is a unique activity that fosters memory, concentration, and the ability to recall familiar items based on a theme.
How about trying it at events with preschoolers? It’s full of fun ideas that people of all ages can enjoy.
A dice game anyone can enjoy
Match the numbers without touching the dice! A product called “Jumping Dice” is being introduced, but it seems you could substitute colorful dice, cards, and even empty capsules from capsule toys.
How about enjoying a handmade dice game? The rules are: put three different-colored dice into separate capsules, then shake the capsules to match the colors and numbers shown on a card drawn from the deck.
Once you’ve matched them, press the bell placed in the center of the table with your palm.
It’s a simple but exciting game.