No worries even in the rain! Fun recreational activities you can do in the gym

Finding commonalities

Icebreakers You Can Use in Training: Three Patterns for “Finding Common Ground”

Common-ground finding is a fun game that helps you talk with people you’re meeting for the first time and feel closer to them.

There are various ways to play: for example, participants form pairs or groups and, within a time limit, look for things they have in common through conversation; or they present common points they’ve written down in advance—those are standard approaches.

Conversations can stall without a prompt, so set simple topics like “How you spend your days off” or “Favorite foods.” It’s also a good idea to set a target number of commonalities to find beforehand.

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sasashina

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Clapping game in turns

Team building through games: sharing experiences of achieving goals

Introducing a simple team game where rhythm, focus, and coordination are key: the “Clap-in-Order Game.” Participants form a circle and, starting from the first person, each claps once in sequence.

You can time how long it takes until the last member claps and enjoy competing against other teams, but the essence of this game is not just speed.

To keep the rhythm of the claps flowing, it’s important to attune your breathing and sense your teammates’ movements.

Even within the competitive aspect, it’s packed with elements that enhance teamwork, making it ideal for team building.

It requires no equipment, is easy for anyone to enjoy, and offers surprising depth as a recreational activity.

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kojifumi

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kickbase

Recommended for upper elementary PE and recreation! Narabikko Kickbase

Kickbase isn’t just a physical game.

Kicking the ball, running, defending—every part is filled with children’s creativity and teamwork.

You’ll hear them calling out, “Who’s up next?” “How should we defend?” as they communicate and share roles.

Because it’s played with the feet, differences in strength matter less, making it fun for kids of different ages to play together on the same field.

They laugh when things don’t go well and high-five when they succeed.

Those small moments build confidence and cooperation.

Kickbase, which nurtures relationships while letting kids move their bodies to the fullest, is a perfect collaborative play activity for after-school programs.

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kojifumi

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G Dodgeball

After-school childcare games (2): G Dodge

“G-Dodgeball” is a hugely popular team-based game in after-school care.

By adding a new role—the “Goalie,” a target that must be protected—to regular dodgeball, the game gains strategy and tension.

Each team selects one Goalie from among the first- or second-graders, and if that child is hit, the game ends immediately.

The infield players act as “Guardians,” doing everything they can to protect the Goalie.

Meanwhile, the outfield has “Getters” waiting to throw the ball at the opposing Goalie.

Because there are defined roles, everyone can shine, and with age-appropriate tweaks, the game evolves into an activity that excites players across grade levels.

It’s a great example of how a few simple rule additions can make dodgeball so much more fun.

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kojifumi

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Birdcage play

Birdcage Game — Using Ringbee and Dodgebee (After-School Care Recreation)

Birdcage Play is a group game for after-school programs that uses flying-disc toys.

The rules are simple: One child plays the “bird” in the center, while the surrounding children form the “cage.” Players outside the cage throw the disc to one another, keeping the passes going while taking care not to hit the bird in the middle.

The bird moves around trying to catch the incoming disc; if they make a catch, they swap places with the thrower.

The game tests reflexes and throwing accuracy, and the possibility of switching roles adds a fun sense of tension.

You can freely adapt it to the number of players and discs available.

By using soft flying discs and other safety measures, kids can enjoy both the thrill and the physical activity of this game.

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kojifumi

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Team Competition! True or False Game

It’s a game where you place your team’s marks on a grid, aiming to be the first to line up three marks before the opposing team.

Since you switch to the next person after placing a mark, it also tests your ability to read your teammates’ intentions.

You can have at most three marks on the grid; after that, you can only move them, which adds room for tactical mind games.

Even if it’s hard to decide where to place a mark, the game can still heat up because a fast relay can create opportunities.

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kappamaki

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Team Gesture Game Competition

Team Gesture Quiz Battle!

It’s a game where one person on the team looks at a prompt and acts it out with gestures, while the other members try to guess what it is.

It tests the team’s ability to cooperate—choosing movements that are as clear as possible and carefully observing even the small details.

Setting a time limit to push for quicker answers is also recommended; the rush to convey the idea might lead to some funny, unexpected movements.

If you gradually make the prompts more detailed and difficult, you’ll likely start to see each person’s unique style in which parts they focus on when they move.

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kappamaki

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