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 Body and Mind (61–70)
Let’s play with torn paper collage!
Did you ever make torn-paper collages when you were a kid? I have memories of creating big ones for art class and school events.
First, you draw an outline, then stick small torn pieces of origami paper onto the sketch.
A tip is to apply glue to the sketch rather than the origami paper, and then fine-tune the placement after sticking it down.
Tearing the origami paper itself is fun, too.
Perler beads
Ironing beads that captivate both adults and children.
There are many colors available, and lately you can easily buy them at 100-yen shops.
There’s also a small type called nano beads, which are perfect for making small accessories.
For younger children, the larger ironing beads are easier to handle.
Place the beads on a pegboard, then cover them with a pressing cloth and press with an iron.
The heat from the iron slightly melts the beads, which stick to the neighboring beads to form a single piece.
Try making one with your kids’ favorite characters!
Wobbly Shiritori
Let’s play a brain-and-body game called “Wobbly Shiritori”! Face each other on all fours, such as on a yoga mat.
Stretch one arm and the opposite leg straight, and place a plastic bottle between the two of you.
In that position, play shiritori.
After you say your word, use the hand you’re keeping extended to pass the bottle in the middle to your partner.
Repeat: say a word, then pass.
If you lose your balance and put your hand or foot down, or if you say a word that ends with “n,” you lose.
This pose also helps strengthen your core!
Coin Stacking Game
It’s a game where you simply stack coins.
It’s simple, but there are lots of ways to play and it’s easy to customize.
It’s also nice that you can use whatever you have at home, like coins from a board game or Othello pieces.
You can compete to see how high you can stack them, or take turns stacking and the person who knocks them over loses—both are exciting.
For small children, just stacking them can be fun.
It’s a perfect little pastime for when you’ve got a bit of time to kill.
Jigsaw puzzle
Let’s have fun with a jigsaw puzzle using your favorite picture! That’s right—the fun starts with making the puzzle itself.
Prepare a sheet with your favorite image, some cardboard, and glue.
Stick the picture onto the cardboard, then cut a few centimeters inside the edges to separate the frame from the puzzle section.
Since it’s homemade, you can adjust the number and size of the pieces to suit your child’s age.
Try making one with your child’s favorite animal or character!
table tennis
Table ping-pong you can easily play at home sounds like a blast, right? Set up a net on the table and rally a ping-pong ball.
Making a DIY scoreboard will boost the mood and make it feel more official—guaranteed fun! If you have a lot of people, you can play team matches or doubles for extra enjoyment.
You can use your regular table, and the net rolls up compactly, so it doesn’t take up much space—nice and convenient.
Table ping-pong is something both adults and kids can enjoy together, so be sure to spend some fun time playing it!
Hand-push sumo
Let’s try playing hand-push sumo! You might be thinking, “Sumo while sitting?” Even though it says sitting, you actually squat down on the spot facing each other, and at the starting signal you push each other with your hands.
Because you’re squatting, it’s hard to keep your balance and you might just topple over.
If your butt touches the floor or you roll over, you lose.
It’s not just about shoving hard—there’s strategy involved, which makes it a fun style of sumo.
It’s a great indoor game for parents and kids, letting you move your bodies while deepening communication.
What’s inside the box?
Let’s try a slightly thrilling game: “What’s in the box?” It’s the one you often see on TV, and if you play it at home, your kids will love it.
Prepare an empty box and make holes on the sides so you can put your hands in.
Then, reach inside and guess what’s in the box.
The suspense of touching something unknown makes it really exciting.
It gets even more fun if you put in items that feel cool to the touch or have unusual textures!
Quick Towel Grab Showdown
Here’s a towel quick-grab showdown that gets exciting with just one towel.
The game is played by two people.
Stand back-to-back with about one towel’s length of distance between you, and place both hands on top of your head.
When someone says “Ready, go!” both players go for the towel.
The one who grabs it first wins.
If it’s a tie, it’s fun to try again.
Give this simple and enjoyable towel challenge a try! It might help improve your reaction speed and concentration.
Plastic Bottle Bowling
Here’s a popular indoor activity: plastic bottle bowling.
Prepare 10 empty plastic bottles and add a small amount of water to each to stabilize them.
Wrap construction paper around the bottles to decorate them.
Once ready, line up the bottles and get a safe rubber ball.
Let the children roll the ball and enjoy plastic bottle bowling.
Count how many bottles fall to determine the winner.
Adjust the rolling distance based on the children’s age by making it longer or shorter.