Games and activities everyone can enjoy together. A collection of fun play ideas.

kickbase

Recommended for upper elementary PE and recreation! Narabikko Kickbase

Kickbase isn’t just a physical game.

Kicking the ball, running, defending—every part is filled with children’s creativity and teamwork.

You’ll hear them calling out, “Who’s up next?” “How should we defend?” as they communicate and share roles.

Because it’s played with the feet, differences in strength matter less, making it fun for kids of different ages to play together on the same field.

They laugh when things don’t go well and high-five when they succeed.

Those small moments build confidence and cooperation.

Kickbase, which nurtures relationships while letting kids move their bodies to the fullest, is a perfect collaborative play activity for after-school programs.

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kojifumi

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straw airplane

"Straw Airplane" Flies Like Crazy Outdoors! — From a Magazine by Play Experts in After‑School Care

Popular in after-school care, the “straw airplane” is a fun craft that’s easy to make with a straw and construction paper—and it flies really well.

First, cut off the bendy part of the straw with scissors so it’s straight.

Next, cut two long, narrow strips from the construction paper, roll each into a ring, and tape them to the front and back of the straw.

Using a smaller ring in front and a larger ring in back makes it stable and helps it fly surprisingly far.

Kids are amazed at how it flies differently from a regular paper airplane! You can compete to see whose airplane flies the farthest, try different throwing techniques, and enjoy playing over and over.

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Reflex Game

[Hand Game Fun for Elementary Kids] Quick Reaction Game

We’d like to introduce an idea for a group game called the “Quick-Reaction Game,” perfect for after-school programs because the rules are simple and you can adapt it freely.

The basic rule is: when the leader meows like a cat (“meow”), the children must immediately raise their hands.

That alone is simple, but by mixing in feints—like a dog’s bark or a wolf’s howl—you add just the right amount of thrill and laughter.

You can also use instruments instead of animal sounds.

For example, the bell sound means correct, while castanets or a tambourine indicate a trick.

Using familiar instruments makes it fun while building focus and reaction speed.

It’s a highly adaptable, recommended game that you can play over and over, adjusting for different ages and group sizes.

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20 indoor activities you can enjoy even on rainy days

After-school teachers recommend: 20 indoor activities kids can enjoy even on rainy days

Let me introduce a brain-teasing rule game.

The key point for the kids is to tell them, “Watch carefully.” Then the teacher shows numbers with their fingers, saying, “This is 1, this is 2,” and so on, which naturally makes the children focus on the finger movements.

But here’s the twist! They should also pay close attention to what the teacher says.

The level of excitement changes depending on the themes or rules the teacher sets.

Be sure to have fun playing it together with the kids! It’s also great because you can play it anywhere, like at camp or on a field trip.

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mayumi

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Birdcage play

Birdcage Game — Using Ringbee and Dodgebee (After-School Care Recreation)

Birdcage Play is a group game for after-school programs that uses flying-disc toys.

The rules are simple: One child plays the “bird” in the center, while the surrounding children form the “cage.” Players outside the cage throw the disc to one another, keeping the passes going while taking care not to hit the bird in the middle.

The bird moves around trying to catch the incoming disc; if they make a catch, they swap places with the thrower.

The game tests reflexes and throwing accuracy, and the possibility of switching roles adds a fun sense of tension.

You can freely adapt it to the number of players and discs available.

By using soft flying discs and other safety measures, kids can enjoy both the thrill and the physical activity of this game.

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kojifumi

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Magical Banana

The result of playing Magical Banana with people who can’t make associations, lol

Word games are great because you can play them anywhere with ease.

If you’re looking for a game like that, I recommend “Magical Banana.” The rules are basically the same as a word association game.

For example: “Banana makes you think of yellow,” “Yellow makes you think of lemon,” and so on—keep linking new words that are associated with the word the previous person said.

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Saitō Ayumu

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A shiritori game where you take the last two characters of the word

Let me introduce a shiritori-style game that uses the last two characters.

You take the final two characters of the previous person’s word, and the next person connects a new word starting from those two characters.

If you can’t connect a word, you lose.

Keeping a clapping rhythm while you play makes it really lively.

Once you get used to the game, try increasing the speed or setting a time limit to make it more exciting.

It’s also fun to limit the theme—like animals or fruits.

It’s a game everyone can enjoy together!

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mayumi

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