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 (51–60)
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!
Indoor Games for Parents and Children: Fun Activities Using Body and Mind (61–70)
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!
Aiko, then go!
Let’s enjoy a reflex-based game! Here’s an idea for Aikode-Don.
This is a one-on-one game where you face each other and start in a seiza (kneeling) position.
With rock-paper-scissors, people usually focus on winning or losing, but in this game the key moment is when it’s a tie! The instant you both throw the same hand (a tie), try to stand up faster than your opponent! Once you get used to the game, try changing the sitting style to gym sit (hugging knees) or long sit with legs extended.
You can also increase the difficulty by adding a rule that you must stand up without using your hands!