No worries even in the rain! Fun recreational activities you can do in the gym
Introducing fun recreation activities you can enjoy in the gym! When you hear variety games or cooperative games, you might imagine playing outside, but there are plenty of activities and recreations you can enjoy in a gym.
Even when rain or snow keeps you indoors, you can still build your fitness in the gym.
Basketball, futsal, dodgeball—there are tons of games and activities everyone can enjoy together! Try making time to be active in the gym with friends or family while having fun.
Exercise energizes both your mind and body!
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Boost stamina and motor skills! Indoor games that use the whole body (1–10)
small-ball rolling
Let me introduce the “Small Ball Rolling Game” using an umbrella and a ball.
Roll the ball with the umbrella, go around the cones, and come back to the goal.
When circling the cones, it may go more smoothly if you slow down and control your speed.
Next, change the cones to a straight line and aim for the goal by rolling the ball with the umbrella in a zigzag.
If the ball drifts off in a different direction while you’re moving it, correct it and restart from that spot.
You can also use other safe items instead of an umbrella to roll the ball.
Changing the size of the ball may make it easier to roll.
How many people can ride? Game
The “How Many Can Fit?” game is a simple way to enjoy a little thrill.
In some regions, it’s also called the “Newspaper Game.” All you need is something people can stand on together that can also be folded, like a newspaper or a picnic sheet.
The rules are very simple: spread the sheet on the floor and have people step onto it one by one.
In some areas, participants say things like “May I come in?” and “Go ahead” as they get on.
Repeat this process, and once everyone is on, the group succeeds if they can hold their positions for a set number of seconds.
Once you get the hang of it, it’s fun to fold the sheet to make it smaller bit by bit for an extra challenge.
Chinese jump rope
It’s just a game where you jump over an elastic band, but it requires a sense of rhythm and dexterity.
It seems there are competitive versions, but rather than setting detailed rules, something like switching roles with the person holding the band whenever you get caught should be fine.
The difficulty also changes depending on the height of the band.
Log rolling
“Log Rolling” is a game that tests a team’s unity.
Here’s how to play: First, form a group of about 6 to 10 people and choose one person to be the “log.” Everyone except the log lies face down.
Make sure you lie perpendicular to the direction of travel.
Then, the log faces the direction of travel and climbs onto the people who are lying down.
At the starting signal, the group rolls the log forward by rolling their bodies, carrying the log along.
Once the log has moved off your body, run to the front of the line, lie down in the same way, and keep the rolling going until you reach the end.
pulling up a daikon radish
“Daikon Pulling” is a game played with two roles: the Daikon (radish) team and the Oni (tagger) team.
First, the children playing the Daikon lie face down on the floor in a circle.
At this time, they should link arms with the children next to them.
Then the children playing the Oni pull on the Daikon children’s legs, trying to pull the radishes out.
When a Daikon child’s arms come apart and they get pulled out, they join the Oni team.
The winners are the children who manage to keep their arms linked until the time limit ends.
There’s also a variation where you sit back-to-back and link arms.
It’s a highly recommended game you can enjoy in many different ways!
Hand-holding dribble
Hold hands to form a circle, keep the ball inside the circle, and dribble while aiming for the goal.
The team that reaches the goal the fastest without letting the ball go outside the circle wins.
It seems the difficulty will change depending on the size of the circle.
Moving beanbag toss
Speaking of tamaire (ball toss), it’s a popular event familiar from school sports days! This “moving tamaire” is different from the usual version: one person wears a basket on their back and runs away, while the others chase and try to throw balls into it.
Even the regular ball toss gets heated, so if the basket is moving, it’s sure to be a blast! Try adjusting roles so it’s neither too hard nor too easy—for example, have a fleet-footed person carry the basket, or let adults be the runners if children are doing the chasing.
Boost stamina and coordination! Indoor games that engage the whole body (11–20)
Treasure-Collecting Tag
Set up bases in the four corners of the court.
Place the ball in the center at the start and bring it back to your own base.
When the first player returns to their base with the ball, they tag the next player.
The next player can either go to the center to retrieve a ball or steal a ball from another team.
The team that collects three balls first wins.
It’s a pretty fast-paced game.
Ball-throwing game
A recommended “ball-throwing game” for lower elementary school students.
Players split into two teams: one throws balls at the targets to knock them down, and the other defends the targets.
Before playing, in addition to basic throwing technique, practice ball-handling skills such as tossing the ball straight up and clapping before catching it, and catching a ball after it bounces on the floor.
Once everyone gets used to the game, each team can come up with strategies—for example, how to better protect the targets or how to distract the defending team’s attention away from the ball.
Let’s go to the zoo
Do you know the popular preschool and kindergarten game “Mōjū-gari e Ikō yo” (Let’s Go Hunt Wild Animals)? You sing the Mōjū-gari song while dancing.
As you dance, the teacher calls out the name of an animal.
The game is to form a group with the same number of people as the number of syllables in that animal’s name.
Once you figure out the number, loudly call out how many people you need—like “X people!”—so you can gather teammates quickly.
That’s the key to forming a team fast.
Also, with the fun, upbeat rhythm of the song that kids love, they’ll be hopping and bouncing with joy!
