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)
Thunder Game
Speaking of thunder, there’s a saying that it will steal your belly button.
The person playing the thunder comes closer while saying “goro goro goro” (rumbling).
When they shout “DO-KAAN!” (boom), the thunder strikes and your belly button will be taken, so everyone should lie face down to hide their belly buttons.
The thunder will also try to fake you out with words that start with the syllable “do.” It gets even more exciting if you gradually increase the tempo.
Bomb game
In time with the music, everyone passes a ball rhythmically to the person next to them.
Music with an easy-to-follow tempo works best.
Then the music suddenly stops.
The person holding the ball when the music stops loses—this is the “bomb game.” Since it’s just passing a ball, younger children can play together with older kids.
What happens to the loser? A penalty game! Have them do an impression to liven things up!
Morning Noon Night game
Here’s an introduction to the Morning-Afternoon-Night game.
You can play it anytime, anywhere, with any number of people, so it’s perfect for filling small gaps of time! When the teacher says “morning,” the children stand up.
For “afternoon,” they sit in seiza (kneel with legs folded under).
For “night,” they lie down right where they are.
The fun is in doing each action as quickly as possible.
Once they get used to it, try adding twists like “duck” or “monkey.” How will the children respond? Will they imitate the animals, get confused, or tell you, “Teacher, that’s wrong!”? That uncertainty is part of the fun of this game.
Big search! Where is the goldfish?
Let’s all search for the goldfish that escaped from the aquarium! Show the children a picture of the aquarium without the goldfish and ask them to help with the search.
Then have everyone look for the goldfish you’ve hidden around the classroom and return them to the tank.
If you tell them a specific number, like “Nine fish got away!”, the children will count the fish they find as they search, turning playtime into a chance to learn numbers.
Make sure to supervise so they don’t bump into each other while running around or get hurt opening and closing drawers.
Jump together
Join hands to form a circle, and everyone jumps together with energy! It’s a game where you hop forward, backward, left, and right on the cue “All together!” Hold hands and jump in time with the teacher’s calls of “forward” and “back.” Once they can follow the instructions correctly, increase the difficulty by having them jump in the opposite direction of the command.
By holding hands, children can have fun while also growing closer to one another.
Since jump distances can vary depending on body size and physical ability, supervise to ensure the children don’t step on each other’s feet while playing.