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 that use the body and mind (31–40)
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!
Growth Janken
Grow bigger when you win at rock-paper-scissors! Here’s an idea for a Growth Rock-Paper-Scissors game.
Start in a crawling pose like a baby! Each time you win, you “grow”: from a crouching child to a standing adult.
You can play one-on-one, of course, but it’s also great fun with a large group.
To keep it fresh, try tweaking the pose you strike when you level up, or set rules like not playing rock-paper-scissors with the same person consecutively.
That way, everyone can enjoy it without getting bored!
Treasure hunt with magnets
It’s a game where you place a magnet under a prepared treasure map and find the treasure by tracing the map with a magnet until it sticks.
You can enjoy a treasure hunt using just a single map spread out on a table, and because it uses the properties of magnets, it can feel like a mysterious experience for younger children.
You can also make maps of your home or a park and hide treasures where the magnet reacts, making it fun for older children with a wider range of activities.
With a little creativity, it’s an enjoyable treasure hunt game both indoors and outdoors, and highly recommended.
Can you do things like this and that?
Here’s a game you can enjoy with just two people: “Can you do this and that?” In this game, when someone says, “Can you do this and that?”, the participants imitate what was said while simply replying, “Yes, we can do this and that.” The person giving the prompts should start with simple, easy-to-understand actions.
The key is to make them gradually more difficult.
It’s a game that people of all ages—from children to adults—can enjoy, so try taking turns giving prompts and challenge the game with your friends or family!
Pictorial Shiritori Showdown!
Picture shiritori is a great recreation to try when you can’t play active games indoors.
It also helps children practice drawing both realistic and simplified pictures.
With about two to five people, you can all use the same sheet of paper and have fun together.
It would also be exciting to keep the drawings’ meanings secret and check the answers later.
Indoor Games for Parents and Children: Fun Activities Using the Body and Mind (41–50)
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.
Rock-Paper-Scissors Train
We’re going to play rock-paper-scissors, but not the usual kind—let me introduce a game called “Rock-Paper-Scissors Train.” Everyone pairs up and faces each other to play rock-paper-scissors.
The winner stays where they are, and the loser moves behind the winner and places their hands on the winner’s shoulders.
They then become like a freight train and move around, meeting new people to play again.
Each time, the loser goes to the back of the line.
This continues until one person ends up at the very front at the end—that person is the winner.
It gets really lively with a large group, but it also sounds fun to play with a small group indoors.
