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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Physical movement play (1–10)
Rolling Dodgeball
Let me introduce a safe recreational game that gets large groups excited: Rolling Dodgeball.
First, draw a large circle and split into an infield and an outfield.
The infield stands inside the circle, and the outfield positions themselves outside it.
One person in the outfield holds a ball, and at the signal to start, they roll the ball aiming at the infield.
The infield players try to avoid getting hit.
If you’re hit, you move to the outfield.
Even if you end up in the outfield, you can return to the infield if you hit someone with the ball.
When the game ends, the side with more players remaining wins.
Sinking Game
Recommended when you want to be active and play indoors! Here are some ideas for a “Sinking Game.” The Sinking Game is a fun activity that gets everyone excited while enjoying communication.
Pretend the room is the ocean and create islands using mats and vaulting boxes.
Teachers or guardians play the role of sharks, and the unique rule is that the children run away so they don’t get caught by the sharks! As they play, children can develop listening and decision-making skills, so be sure to incorporate it into your activities!
Chick Sumo
Fun for everyone from toddlers to adults! Here’s an idea for a “Chick Sumo” game.
In this game, players transform into little chicks—it’s a unique and exciting way to play.
Participants walk around the space in a squatting position, and if their hands or bottom touch the floor, they lose.
While walking and keeping their balance, they’ll have fun and also build core strength and concentration.
The rules are simple, yet it’s enjoyable for all ages, so it’s sure to get competitive! Teachers and parents are encouraged to join in too.
Tail tag
It’s a game that kids of all ages and even adults can enjoy.
You often see it at junior high and high school sports festivals, too.
The rules are very simple! All you need is a headband to use as a tail— a towel works as a substitute.
Tuck it into the back of your pants at the lower back.
Decide in advance on an area where you can run around, and at the starting signal, try to grab each other’s tails.
You can balance differences in age by adjusting the length or number of tails.
With a small group, it’s fun even in a confined indoor space!
Hula hoop relay
A single hula hoop passes over a line of children holding hands.
Since the rule is that they must not let go, it can help to have a referee to make sure everyone keeps holding hands.
To balance age differences, you can adjust the number of people holding hands—say, five for the younger kids’ team and eight for the older kids’ team.
If there aren’t many participants, you can also adjust the difficulty by changing the size of the hula hoop.
This activity is also used in corporate group training as a recreation that fosters unity and team spirit.
It’s a recommended activity that helps everyone become friendly with one another.
Range ogre
Here’s an introduction to “Range Oni,” a variation of the familiar kids’ game freeze tag.
“Range” refers to a microwave oven, and this version turns the classic freeze tag into a cooperative game.
The rule is the same up to the point where a player tagged by the chaser freezes on the spot.
In Range Oni, when you find a frozen friend, two teammates surround them and hold hands.
While saying “Range de chin” (like the microwave’s beep), they lower their joined hands, and the frozen friend is “defrosted” and can move again.
Of course, if the chaser tags them before the defrost is complete, everyone freezes—making it a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat game of tag!
Ball-passing game
It’s a game you can play with just one ball.
Since you don’t throw or kick the ball, it’s fine even in a small indoor space! Here’s how to play: first, have the children line up in a single file.
Give the ball to the child at the front.
At the start signal, they pass the ball over their heads to the child behind them, and it keeps going down the line.
When the last child receives the ball, they pass it back over their head toward the front.
The game ends when the ball returns to the original first child.
You can balance out age differences by adjusting how many children are in the line.
It might also be fun to time each round and compete in a time attack format.