Fun activities for Father's Day. Recreational games.
Father’s Day tends to be a bit overlooked and less festive compared to Mother’s Day.
But we want to make sure we express our gratitude to dads who work hard every day and spend some fun time together.
So, in this article, we’ll introduce activities recommended for Father’s Day that kids can enjoy with their dads!
We’ve included lots of games and activities that many parents will find nostalgic from their own childhoods.
If you’re wondering what to do when the family gets together, be sure to check this out for ideas and have a wonderful Father’s Day!
- A collection of simple indoor recreational games
- Indoor games for parents and children: fun activities that use the body and the mind
- Father’s Day Song Rankings [2026]
- Parent–child interactive play. Fun activities popular in childcare settings and at parent–child observation days.
- [For Seniors] Recommended Dances You Can Move To and Enjoy
- [Parent-Child Rec] Recreational activities and games for parents and children to enjoy together—also great for sports days.
- [Simple Games] Recommended Indoor Recreational Activities for Adults
- Recommended songs to give on Father’s Day: tear-jerking, moving tracks.
- [Childcare / Physical Play] Fun Activities to Get Moving
- [For Senior Facilities] Recommended Songs to Give on Father's Day
- Recommended for couples and married partners! A roundup of board games for two
- Games that liven up social and networking gatherings
- Have Fun with Your Kids! A Roundup of Board Games Recommended for Parents and Children
Fun activities for Father’s Day. Recreational games (11–20)
menko (a traditional Japanese card-and-coin-flipping game)
Menko is a traditional game that lets Dad shine, and it’s a great recommendation.
First, place your menko cards on the ground.
Then, in turn, slam your own menko onto the ground; if you flip an opponent’s menko over, you get to keep it.
The player with the most menko cards at the end wins.
The rules are simple, so everyone—from little kids to grandparents, moms, and dads—can play together.
It’s also fun to think about things like air pressure and how hard to throw, and to try playing in different places, like on pebbles or on grass.
Hand-push sumo
A simple and fun sumo match makes for just the right amount of exercise for both adults and children, and it’s also a great way for parents and kids to bond.
For toddlers and elementary schoolers, pushing and pulling while keeping their posture lets them enjoy developing balance and a sense of strategy.
If you’re outside, draw a ring on the ground; if you’re at home, make boundary lines, and start with a clear rule: stepping out of the line means you lose.
The call of “Hakke-yo-i, nokotta!” feels fresh and makes it an exciting game.
Tail tag
Use a towel or a sheet of newspaper as a pretend tail and tuck it into the back of your pants.
Then run around like in a game of tag, trying not to have your tail taken while attempting to snatch others’ tails.
The person who collects the most tails wins.
If there are many players, dividing into teams by color should make it even more exciting and fun.
Rock-Paper-Scissors Train
Play rock-paper-scissors; the loser lines up behind the winner.
In the end, the person who keeps winning and stands at the front of the linked “train” is the champion.
It’s best to gather a lot of people and play in a spacious area.
You’ll get to brag that you’re the strongest at rock-paper-scissors among many people! The sight of a long line of people is pretty amusing, too.
Daruma-otoshi
Daruma-otoshi is a game where you knock out the lower tiers one by one without letting the face on the top fall.
It looks simple but is actually pretty tricky, so try challenging your dad on Father’s Day! The key to knocking out a tier well is to strike straight, fast, and hard.
If you’re scared and hit lightly and loosely, it actually collapses more easily.
You win if you manage to remove the lower tiers without toppling the head piece until the very end! You can also make a DIY version using milk cartons or cardboard, so it could be fun to enjoy Father’s Day with your dad starting from the crafting.
