Lovely Play & Recreation

Indoor games for parents and children: fun activities that use the body and the mind

lighterutatane
A person from the melodic hardcore boom generation who loves music, photography, and eating. I’ve been going to live houses for over 20 years. I’m at the age where summer festivals are starting to feel tough physically. I sometimes try shooting live photos and videos for MVs. I’m not great at English, so I often listen to straightforward Japanese rock that hits directly, but if someone recommends something, I’ll listen to anything—Western or Japanese—broadly and casually. I like cooking while listening to music; it’s a nice way to relieve stress.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

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!

Indoor Games for Parents and Children: Fun Activities Using the Body and Mind (41–50)

Animal Matching (Cards)

[Recommended Toy] Animal Matching: Playing with Perfect-Fit Cards

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.

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Vague Memory Quiz!

@gyagyakidsland
Memory Quiz! Jagarico EditionTried it Translation translation Memory Memory Game Color Jagarico Coloring
♪ 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.

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Memory Mimic Game

https://www.tiktok.com/@aya_ouchi_asobi/video/7472668423705627925

It’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.

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Memory Foot Touch Game

https://www.tiktok.com/@cocoskip/video/7281594546692033793

Let 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.

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Thunder Game

[Exercise & Gymnastics Kids Enjoy] The “Thunder Game” recommended from age 3 / Rule-based movement games and exercise-gymnastics educational videos to improve motor skills together with mom

Thunder Game

Want to strengthen the parent-child bond with the “Thunder Game”? It’s a game you can fully enjoy indoors.

An adult plays the role of thunder, and at the signal “BOOM!” the children lie face-down to protect their belly buttons.

The thrilling twists make kids burst into smiles.

It’s sure to be a big hit at daycare settings or elementary school parent-child activities! It also helps kids get moving and shake off a lack of exercise.

Perfect for everyday play at home, too.

Have a blast—both kids and adults are guaranteed to love it!

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Play song ‘Mochitsuki Pettan’

Parent–child bonding play: Mochi-Pounding Peftan♪

Play song 'Mochitsuki Pettan'

Sticky yet pleasantly chewy to the touch—mochi! Many children are delighted when mochi becomes a snack during New Year’s and the winter season, aren’t they? This is a game where you touch along with a song about mochi together with your child.

At the end, give them a big, squishy hug like mochi!

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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.

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