Indoor games that different ages can enjoy! Ideas for fun everyone can get excited about together
Games that children of different ages can enjoy together, creating opportunities for interaction between older and younger kids.
Here, we introduce games that make everyone smile, even when there’s an age gap.
With thoughtful handicaps and rule adjustments, these activities will captivate both little ones and their older peers.
From easy-to-understand balance games that get everyone excited, to cooperative team activities like hoop relays, there are plenty of safe indoor games to enjoy.
Through play that makes the most of the unique benefits of mixed-age care, help nurture warm relationships among the children!
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Classic indoor games (1–10)
Wolf, what time is it now?
Let’s try to escape from the hungry wolf! Split into one wolf and the rest as children.
The children ask, “Mr.
Wolf, what time is it?” If the wolf says “Two o’clock” or “Six o’clock,” the children reply, “Phew, that’s a relief.” But if the wolf says “Three o’clock,” which is snack time, the wolf starts chasing them.
Anyone caught becomes the next wolf.
There’s also a variation where you split into a wolf and little goats, ask “Mr.
Wolf, what will you eat?” and when the wolf answers “Little goats!” everyone runs away.
It’s a highly recommended game that people of all ages can enjoy in a big group.
Group shiritori
Group Shiritori is a more challenging game than playing Shiritori one-on-one.
Its appeal is that anyone can join regardless of grade level, and you can play it indoors! The key to this game is how quickly the members of a group can communicate with each other.
If the group is too large, communication becomes difficult, so forming groups of two or three is ideal.
Because it tests how well the team can work together, it can also help foster strong bonds among the children.
Flag-raising game
The flag-raising game, known for the chant “Raise red, lower white,” is a game even little kids who don’t know right from left can play as long as they can recognize colors.
When older kids play, speed it up a bit to raise the difficulty and make it more exciting.
Making the flags together by hand would also be a lot of fun.
Even if you go slowly, your head starts to get tangled up partway through, you know? (lol)
Classic indoor games (11–20)
Red Light, Green Light
Let me introduce a traditional game called “Daruma-san ga Koronda,” a classic recreation where children of various ages can play together harmoniously.
First, choose one person to be “It” (the oni) and the others as players.
The oni stands at a fixed spot, covers their eyes, and chants “Daruma-san ga koronda.” When the chant ends, the oni turns to face everyone.
Anyone who moves at any time other than while the oni is chanting is out.
While the oni’s eyes are covered, players sneak closer, and if someone manages to touch the oni, the oni loses.
It’s a highly engaging group game that’s great for large numbers of players.
nervous breakdown
A classic playing card game: Concentration (Memory).
Shuffle the cards and lay them face down on the table.
Flip over two cards; if the numbers match, you keep them.
The game ends when all cards have been turned over, and the player with the most cards wins.
It’s a simple game, but matches can be hard to find and it gets very exciting.
greengrocer’s shop
This is a “learn while you play” activity that also helps children remember the names of various vegetables.
It’s best if the quizmaster is an adult or an older child in the upper grades.
The quizmaster says a series of names of vegetables in sequence, but intentionally slips in some items that aren’t vegetables.
The children compete to see if they can correctly respond with “O” for vegetables and “X” for non-vegetables.
For older kids, try including slightly tricky vegetable names like “parsley” or “arugula.” This “greengrocer’s shop” game could also be adapted for other themes, such as a “bakery shop”!
Come-here game
Even though the rules are super simple, let’s try playing the “Come Here, Come Here Game,” which kids are guaranteed to love! Divide into a teacher and children.
The teacher gently beckons to the children, saying “Come here, come here.” While the teacher is saying it, the children move slowly toward the teacher without running.
When the teacher suddenly says, “Come here, come here…
It’s a ghost!” the children have to run away so they don’t get caught.
Once everyone gets used to it, you can make it even more exciting by faking them out with similar-sounding words to “ghost,” like “pot” or “mother.”