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!
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Indoor Games for Parents and Children: Fun Activities Using the Body and Mind (41–50)
Animal Matching (Cards)
It’s an animal-matching card game for toddlers where you combine two cards to complete a picture of an animal.
Each pair splits the animal into an upper half and a lower half, and you find the matching halves to complete the animal.
The cards come in different styles, from cute illustrations to realistic photos.
For younger children, the illustrated versions may be easier and more enjoyable to play with.
Fruit Concentration
These are felt cards you can use to play Concentration (Memory)! You can choose any motifs you like—fruits, vehicles, animals, anything is fine.
However, since Concentration is a game where you match pairs of identical cards, be sure to make two cards of each design.
Cut felt into card shapes and either glue or sew the motifs onto them.
If you’re making everything out of felt, it’s efficient to layer the same fabric and cut two identical pieces at once to save time.
If you want to keep things simple, you could also use store-bought appliqués and just stick them on.
Interactive Play Song: “Pop! Popcorn”
This is a bonding play activity for infants and their parents.
To the song “Poppin’ Popcorn,” have the parent sit with legs outstretched, place the baby on their shins, and gently rock them in rhythm.
During the chorus, lift the baby up—they’ll be delighted.
It’s upbeat and short, so parents can enjoy it without getting too tired.
One-bridge tickle-tickle
This is the hand-play song “Ipponbashi Kocho-Kocho.” You pretend the child’s hand is a bridge, and the other person’s hand pinches, taps, and tickles as it goes across.
In the end, after crossing the bridge, you tickle not just the arm but the whole body.
Kids are so sensitive to tickling, aren’t they? Some even start laughing just from hearing the word “kocho-kocho.”
Beef Tongue Game
No tools or prep needed! Here’s an idea for the “Gyutan Game.” Gyutan means beef tongue, a popular cut at yakiniku restaurants.
This game uses your hands and voice.
Put your hands together and hold them out in front—ready to start! Say “gyu” out loud, and for each “tan,” one person claps in turn.
The first round rhythm is “gyu-tan gyu-tan gyu-tan-tan.” From the second round on, the number of “tan” at the end increases by one each time.
It’s simple, but it’ll trip you up and get everyone laughing!
Hula hoop tunnel
A team competition called “Hula Hoop Pass.” Everyone stands in a line holding hands.
Place a hula hoop on the person at the front, and without using hands, pass the hoop along to the next person using only body movements.
You must not let go of hands during the relay.
Keep passing it to the person next to you, and the team whose hoop reaches the goal first wins.
If you have fewer people, doing a down-and-back (out-and-back) route still makes it exciting.
origami
Origami is a traditional pastime that people of all ages—from small children to the elderly—can enjoy.
There are countless folding methods, from simple designs that even children who struggle with crafts can handle to intricate, detailed creations that make you think, “You can make that with origami?” You can fold freely however you like, or try creating a grand project by connecting many small folded parts.
You can display your pieces, play with them, or give them as gifts—there are many ways to enjoy them even after you finish folding.
There are also plenty of videos that explain how to fold various designs, so feel free to use them as references.
Vague Memory Quiz!
@gyagyakidsland Memory Quiz! Jagarico EditionTried itTranslationtranslationMemoryMemory GameColorJagaricoColoring
♪ Original Song – Gyaa!! Gyaa!! KidsLAND – Gyaa!! Gyaa!! KidsLAND
It’s a game where photos of everyday items—like candy packages—are converted to black and white, and you try to recall their original colors.
It tests whether you truly pay attention to the small details in daily life and whether you remember them accurately.
Even if you can identify the main color, the finer details can be tricky, and those subtle memory gaps or small mistakes are part of the fun.
A recommended approach is to start with simple images and gradually move on to ones with more intricate color schemes.
Memory Mimic Game
https://www.tiktok.com/@aya_ouchi_asobi/video/7472668423705627925It’s a game where sheets of construction paper in various colors and shapes are laid out on a table, and players act according to those papers, aiming to remember and reproduce the movements.
It’s recommended to decide the number of movements to be prompted in advance, and start with a few simple steps, gradually increasing the number.
Not only change where you place your hands, but also how you place them; the more complex it gets, the more sharply your memory will be honed.
Because the flow is simple, you can imagine many variations—such as the types of movements or the items you arrange.
Memory Foot Touch Game
https://www.tiktok.com/@cocoskip/video/7281594546692033793Let me introduce the Memory Foot-Touch Game, a fun way to get moving while you play.
Remember the numbers that are called out on the spot and move to them without mistakes within the time limit.
If you clear all the steps, you succeed.
It sounds simple to memorize the numbered positions and move accurately, but it’s surprisingly challenging.
Since you use your feet and move your whole body, it also provides good stimulation for the brain.
Once you get used to it, speeding up the instructions can make it even more exciting.
It’s a recommended game that small groups can enjoy and try right away.
