Indoor games for parents and children: fun activities that use the body and the mind
We’ve gathered indoor games that parents and children can enjoy together.
These include traditional hand-play songs and play rhymes you can do without any equipment, as well as active movement games that let kids use their whole bodies.
It’s a rich collection perfect for parent–child activities in preschools and elementary schools, and for everyday play at home!
If you’re looking for “simple activities that help kids and adults connect,” please feel free to use this as a reference.
Have a blast—kids will be thrilled!
And for adults, it’s a great way to get some much-needed exercise!
- [Parent-Child Rec] Recreational activities and games for parents and children to enjoy together—also great for sports days.
- [Children’s Club] Easy and fun indoor games. Exciting party games
- [Elementary School] Quick and Easy! Indoor Recreational Activities Perfect for Lower Grades
- Fun Indoor Games for Elementary School Kids Without Any Equipment
- [For Kids] Indoor Fun! Large-Group Recreational Activities and Games
- Parent–child interactive play. Fun activities popular in childcare settings and at parent–child observation days.
- [For Kids] Exciting Class-vs-Class Games: Team Competition Activities
- Play ideas kids can enjoy from 1st to 6th grade [indoors & outdoors]
- Elementary School Fun Day a Big Hit! Indoor Game Idea Collection
- A collection of simple indoor recreational games
- Recommended for upper elementary grades! Exciting indoor recreation and games
- Games that liven up social and networking gatherings
- [Kindergarten/Daycare] Games and Performances for Fun Events
Indoor Games for Parents and Children: Fun Activities Using Body and Mind (21–30)
Indoor play that even infants can enjoy!
@nexus_official5♬ Cute heartwarming BGM(1490583) – sanusagi
We’d like to introduce four types of activities that kids can enjoy energetically indoors, even on cold days.
First is the “Crawling Race,” where parents and children cheer each other on as they aim for the goal.
It’s simple, but full of smiles and lots of excitement.
Next is the “Animal Imitation Game.” Move your body to the fullest by hopping like a bunny or mimicking an elephant’s trunk.
“Balance Play” involves placing a string on the floor and walking along it.
Stepping over and hopping without touching the string helps build leg strength.
Lastly, there’s “Newspaper and Flyer Play.” Tear the paper using your fingertips, crumple it into balls, and use them for other games.
All of these are easy to prepare and perfect for cozy days at home when it’s cold outside.
Blox
This is an introduction to Blokus, a strategic board game where you place colorful pieces on a board to expand your territory.
The rules are simple: place pieces of the same color so that they touch at the corners, and expand your area while anticipating other players’ moves.
A single placement can change your entire strategy, so both kids and adults can enjoy using their brains.
By getting creative with the shapes and placements of the pieces, you can secure the spaces you want or block your opponents’ progress, leading to exciting tactical battles.
Because it can be played in a short time, it’s easy to enjoy with family and friends—give it a try!
Pose Matching Game
Here’s a pose-matching game that parents and kids can enjoy together.
Decide on a prompt, and at the cue of “Ready, go!” strike the pose for that prompt.
If the parent and child match poses, the challenge is a success! If they don’t match, trying the same prompt again can be just as exciting.
It’s a humorous game that tests how in sync you are with each other.
It might be fun with more people, too.
Enjoy clearing each prompt while boosting your imagination!
Recommended for elementary school kids! 5 games that make you work up a sweat
“Touch and Dash,” “Feint Tag,” “Marker Tag,” “Math Relay,” and “Rock-Paper-Scissors Race.” All five of these active games involve running and let kids get plenty of movement even indoors.
They also include elements that exercise the mind: for example, in a relay format, players pick up a pinnie and add the number written on it, and once the total reaches 20 or more, they finish; or they use markers to cleverly lure opponents and dash through gaps.
Even children who get bored with simple movements are sure to get hooked.
Rhythm play with words
Word Rhythm Play is a game you can enjoy while moving your body, building vocabulary and a sense of rhythm, and training skills like quick thinking and problem-solving.
Listen to the beat and match your words to it.
Any words are fine, but the key is to stay on rhythm.
Start with an easy beat and gradually increase the difficulty.
Once you get used to it, adding handclaps while playing can make it even more exciting.
A number-guessing game that everyone can enjoy, from children to adults
The number-guessing game, where communication skills and powers of observation are key, is a game that large groups can enjoy.
The rules are simple: on the cue of “Ready, go!”, players take turns calling out the next number.
Each person also decides, at that same cue, whether to stand or sit.
If the number called does not match the number of people standing, the game ends there.
Because you have to observe others and decide which number to call while watching your opponents, the key is not to succumb to tension or pressure.
Give it a try!
Exercise play you can enjoy at home
Even when you can’t play outside, you still want to move your body! In times like that, let’s enjoy some active play at home.
For infants and toddlers, try baby massage or touch-and-play activities.
For preschoolers through elementary school kids, how about a spy game with a treasure hunt or a round of table tennis on the table? For the spy game, setting up obstacles around the room and preparing a treasure map can really liven things up.
For table tennis, you can substitute household items: a tissue box for the net, a pot lid for the paddle, and a super ball for the ball.