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 (11–20)
Rhythm Play
A rhythm activity where you move your body to music or instrument playing.
It’s easy to start right away, from simple on-the-spot movements of hands and feet to full-body movements everyone can do in place, and even walking around—how you play can be adapted to the space and group size.
Match your stride and walking speed to the piano’s rhythm as it speeds up or slows down, and add upper-body movements like “Let’s make big circles with our arms!” or “Let’s clap our hands!” You can also choose familiar children’s songs that the kids already know.
Balloon Play
Balloons floating softly in the air are very safe, so kids can play with them with peace of mind.
Here are some indoor games using balloons.
The “keep it off the floor” game naturally encourages kids to cooperate, calling out to each other to keep the balloon from touching the floor and getting excited together.
In the balloon passing game, form groups of about six and split into teams.
Enjoy sending the balloon from front to back, or passing it under the knees.
The team that can pass the balloon the fastest wins.
You can also stick a strip of plastic tape across the middle of the room and enjoy balloon volleyball or soccer.
Please choose and enjoy games suited to the children’s ages.
Musical chairs
Musical chairs is a classic game that everyone can play together—from little kids to adults.
While the music is playing, you walk around the chairs, and when the music stops, you sit in a chair nearby.
There is always one fewer chair than the number of people, so anyone who can’t find a seat is out, and the last person remaining wins.
Rock-Paper-Scissors Train
Let’s play “Rock-Paper-Scissors Train,” a game where we make a long train! At first, everyone moves around freely while the music is playing.
When the music stops, you play rock-paper-scissors with the person in front of you.
If you lose, you connect by standing behind the winner.
The winner becomes (or stays) the train’s front and moves around with everyone attached behind.
Repeat this until there’s no one left without a partner.
The person who remains at the front until the very end wins.
Since the line will keep getting longer, play in as large a space as possible.
Hana Ichi Monme
Many people probably remember playing with older kids in the neighborhood when they were little, right? “Hana Ichi Monme,” a traditional children’s game often accompanied by a nursery rhyme, has long been loved by kids.
The rules are very simple: First, split into two groups.
Then hold hands and sing the song.
When the song reaches a break, each team chooses one person from the other team that they want to come over.
The two chosen people play rock-paper-scissors, and the loser joins the opposing team.
The team that ends up with only one person loses.
It’s a game that gets really exciting with a large group! Adults can join in too, so give it a try!
