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 Family-Fun Ideas (1–10)
Tsum Tsum Koinobori
@roi_mama.asobi Playable Koinobori made from that thing you were going to throw away! 🎏Children's DayKoinobori (carp streamers)workProduction#AtHomePlayHow to spend time at home#StayHomeTime#HandmadeToysToilet paper roll core
♬ Cartoon-style piano solo jazz(853970) – motofuji
Here’s an idea for making carp streamers using toilet paper rolls.
After making them, you can also enjoy a stacking game to see how many you can pile up! Cut slits in the sides of the toilet paper roll, then trim away a small section at the slit to create a gap.
Next, cover the roll with your favorite origami paper, and cut one end on one side to make the tail fin.
Finish by layering round stickers to create the eyes.
Use the gap to stack them up and enjoy the game.
Another nice point is that they nest together for compact storage when stacked!
Paku! Kashiwa-mochi
@ht_okaba Hello! This is Happy Terrace Okaba Classroom 🌱 Today, for Children’s Day on 5/5, we did “Chomp the Kashiwa Mochi” using kashiwa mochi 🎶 We rolled or tossed them into the wide-open mouths of a rabbit, a panda, and a dinosaur‼️ Controlling strength and staying focused are super important 👍🏻✨ We tried standing and throwing, gently rolling—lots of creative variations. We had fun right until the end＾＾ If you’re interested, feel free to call or DM us 🫧 Monday–Saturday Business hours: 10:30–18:00 Inquiries: 9:30–18:30 📞 078-907-6935 ✉️ okaba@happy-terrace.comAfter-school day serviceChild Development Support# developmental support (ryōiku)Exercise Therapy#Indoor PlayKita Ward, Kobe CityKobe Electric RailwayChildren's DayForce/pressure controlImpulse ControlKashiwa mochiAnimalsKashiwa mochiFocusUpper gradesTranslationmixed-ageChildcareinfantInfantstranslationCommunicationtranslationtranslation#Social Skills TrainingTranslation#WelfareWelfare facilityGo viral#IWantToGoViral
♬ Everyday BGM – hidekazu
This is a game where you make balls that look like kashiwa-mochi and try to get them into the mouths of target animals like pandas and rabbits.
You can throw the balls or slide them along the floor.
Just be sure to set a clear throwing line and enjoy the game.
You can simply have fun putting the balls in, or assign scores to boxes and compete on total points.
You could also make it a team match and play like a beanbag toss, seeing how many you can get in within a time limit.
You can make the animal targets out of cardboard.
For the balls, crumple up newspaper and decorate it with colored paper, etc.
“Children’s Day” Quiz
How about doing a quiz with Children’s Day-themed content that both kids and adults can enjoy? For example, have them fill in the blanks of the lyrics to the “Koinobori” song, or ask simple, cross-age questions like “What do we eat on Children’s Day?”, “When you think of Children’s Day, besides koinobori, what else comes to mind?”, and “What’s another way to say Children’s Day?” Choose questions that are easy to understand and fun for different age groups.
If you read a picture book beforehand that explains Children’s Day well, it might spark their interest and help them enjoy it even more.
Flag-raising game
It’s a game where you raise and lower the flags you’re holding according to commands like “Raise red! Raise white!” You can easily make the flags with chopsticks and colored paper.
If you go slowly, even small children can enjoy playing along.
As the tempo speeds up, the difficulty increases!
Going through a tunnel of carp streamers
Let’s make use of those carp streamers swaying in the wind indoors! Here’s an idea for a carp streamer tunnel activity.
When you take down the koinobori you’ve hung outside, they’re really big, right? Use that big koinobori to create a tunnel for play.
Crawling through the tunnel lets kids move their bodies while having fun, which is a great way to play energetically and joyfully.
It’s sure to become a special memory.
Since it’s an activity you can do inside, give it a try at home!
Koinobori Tag
This is a game of tag themed around koinobori (carp streamers), which are displayed in gardens and elsewhere when May arrives.
It’s best to try it in a large space like a kindergarten or nursery school yard or a sports field.
First, draw lines on the ground to create a pattern that suggests the silhouette of a koinobori.
Then place the “it” (oni) and the runners on the lines and have them chase each other along them.
If you’re tagged by the oni, crouch down inside the koinobori drawing and become a “scale.” If another child touches a child who’s become a scale, they can come back into the game! If you manage to avoid being caught until the end, you win.
It’s a game that encourages communication as children help one another.
Give this tag game a try to experience the seasonal feeling of May while enjoying the warm spring weather.
Chugai Game
Sharpen your judgment and concentration! Here’s an idea for a “inside-outside” game you can play.
Many people find it hard to run at full speed or move vigorously indoors at home, right? This is a great idea for those times.
First, stand in a circle.
Choose a leader, and follow the leader’s instructions with a simple rule: jump between the inside and outside of your standing position.
If you mark each spot with masking tape, it’s easier for children to understand—give it a try!