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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- 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]
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- Games that liven up social and networking gatherings
- [Kindergarten/Daycare] Games and Performances for Fun Events
Indoor games for parents and children: Fun activities using body and mind (1–10)
Balloon lifting
Balloon lifting is perfect as an indoor game that parents and children can enjoy together.
Everyone holds hands to make a circle, tosses a balloon into the middle, and plays by keeping it up together.
Since balloons are light and fall slowly, they’re easy for kids to handle, and adults can join in without strain.
It naturally helps develop a sense of cooperation and rhythm, and because you’re moving your body, it doubles as exercise.
It’s a wonderful game that brings smiles to the whole family.
It’s sure to be a hit at preschool or school events, too!
seated sumo (sumo wrestling performed while sitting)
Let’s try playing “sitting sumo,” a game that doesn’t take much space and can be played while seated! You might wonder, sumo while sitting? In this version, you squat down in place facing each other and, at the signal to start, push against each other with your hands—it’s hand-push sumo.
Because you’re squatting, it’s hard to keep your balance and you might topple over.
If your butt touches the floor or you roll over, you lose.
It’s not just about shoving hard—feints and strategy make this sumo game fun.
giant slalom
If you have two adults, how about trying the “Big Spin”? The adults kneel on the floor on either side of the child, holding the child’s hands.
Cross your hands so that one arm goes behind the child’s body and the other arm goes in front.
The child will be held between the crossed arms.
From there, rotate your crossed hands back to their original position, and the child will spin as if doing a reverse pullover on a horizontal bar.
It’s easier for the child if they hold the adult’s hand that’s in front of them.
Be sure to do this on a carpet or mat.
Butt Challenge
Let’s try the “butt challenge,” where you sit on the floor and walk with your bottom! Sit with your legs stretched out in front of you and move forward by swinging your arms as you would when walking, shifting your hips forward right, left, right, left.
This is the basic movement for the game.
You can make it more fun by setting a start and finish line and having a race, or by forming a “train” line: sit behind another person, place your hands on the person in front, and scoot forward together in a row.
Since you can’t move as quickly as regular walking, try adding a call-and-response chant as you go.
Towel disentanglement puzzle
Let’s get moving and play the towel puzzle game “Towel Chie-no-Wa”! Two people face each other, each holding a towel with both hands, and grasp each other’s towel ends.
At first it’s just a simple “loop,” but try stepping over the towel with your feet or ducking under it.
During this, you must not let go of your hands.
Then, from the tangled state, try stepping over or ducking under again to return to the original loop.
It’s fun with two people, of course, but adding more people increases the complexity and makes it even more exciting.
Daikon-pulling game
This is the “Daikon-Pulling Game,” where players split into two teams: the daikons and the pullers.
The daikon team lies face down on the floor, forms a circle, and holds hands firmly so they don’t let go.
At the start signal, the pulling team tries to pull the daikons out by tugging on their legs.
If both hands of a daikon let go, that daikon is considered pulled out and the pulling team scores a point.
If only one hand lets go, it’s safe.
Set a time limit and alternate teams while competing for points.
Tail tag game
Let’s play the Tail Tag game! All you need are handkerchiefs or ribbons, so it’s super easy to set up.
The rule is to protect your own tail while trying to take others’, which makes it exciting for kids and adults alike.
It gets both your body and brain working, so it’s perfect for getting some exercise.
You can enjoy it at daycare or school events, as well as at home.
Playing together as a family also gives you time to chat, strengthening your bond.
It’s a fun game that’s sure to get everyone fired up!