Recommended for upper elementary grades! Exciting indoor recreation and games
Ever find yourself unsure what to do for upper-elementary recreation time? Wouldn’t it be perfect to have activities that not only get kids moving but also build teamwork and social awareness? Here, we’ve gathered ideas that make full use of collaboration and brainpower—from a game where you stack cups by working together, to psychological battles that test your timing and when to jump in.
Everything can be done with familiar, easy-to-find materials and will get the whole class excited.
Have fun with your friends!
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- A collection of simple indoor recreational games
Indoor games to enjoy with cardboard crafts (21–30)
Blox
This is an introduction to Blokus, a strategic board game where you place colorful pieces on a board to expand your territory.
The rules are simple: place pieces of the same color so that they touch at the corners, and expand your area while anticipating other players’ moves.
A single placement can change your entire strategy, so both kids and adults can enjoy using their brains.
By getting creative with the shapes and placements of the pieces, you can secure the spaces you want or block your opponents’ progress, leading to exciting tactical battles.
Because it can be played in a short time, it’s easy to enjoy with family and friends—give it a try!
Board game “Iro Memory”
The wooden board game “Iro Memory,” with its gentle, natural look, is very popular with children.
It’s for 2–4 players.
First, play rock-paper-scissors to decide the turn order.
Roll the die to determine a color.
Then take one piece from the board; if its color matches the die, you keep the piece.
If it doesn’t match, return it to its original spot.
Continue taking turns—whoever collects the most pieces wins.
It’s a game that trains memory and concentration.
You can also play variations like Concentration (matching pairs), so give it a try!
Get Moving and Play! Indoor Sports and Physical Activities for Upper Elementary Students (1–10)
indoor hockey game
Kids are guaranteed to be hooked! Here’s an indoor hockey game idea.
Hockey, which was a big hit at the Olympics, is played with sticks and a hockey ball.
This time, let’s try an indoor version you can enjoy at home.
All you need are marker cones.
Set up two red and two blue marker cones facing each other as goals, then use another color of marker cone as the “ball.” Slide it along the floor and aim for the goal—game on!
Ruler Battle
It’s a game where rulers lined up on a desk are flicked one by one with a pen, with the aim of knocking the opponent’s ruler off the desk.
The classic flicking method is to press the ruler with the pen, and the ruler’s movement changes depending on how much force you use and the angle of the pen.
Deciding where to hit the opponent’s ruler and how to apply force to achieve that are key strategic points for securing a win.
The game’s details—such as which pens and rulers are allowed, flicking techniques, and victory conditions other than knocking a ruler off—are finely customized by generation and region, so adding new rules on the spot can make it even more exciting.
Tag Rugby Game
Recommended for elementary school students too! Here are some ideas for tag rugby games.
Tag rugby is a sport based on rugby where, instead of tackling the opponent, the game progresses by removing tags attached to the players’ waists.
For example, one of the five play ideas shown in the video is a game where you set up three cones and run laps around them while trying to take your opponent’s tag.
Give them a try and see how they work for you!
Balloon Soccer
Great for first-time soccer players! Here are some balloon soccer ideas.
Many parents may want to enjoy soccer together with their children.
This is a recommended idea when you’re unsure where to start playing soccer.
All you need is a balloon.
First, use the balloon as a stand-in for a ball and get used to the rules.
It’s good to help kids get a feel for body movement and eye coordination through activities like juggling with the thighs or toes and heading with the head.
Cardboard Badminton
Let’s have fun using recycled materials! Here’s an idea for cardboard badminton.
When you think of badminton, you use a racket and a shuttlecock, right? This time, let’s make both pieces of equipment using scrap materials you can find at home, like cardboard.
What you’ll need: cardboard, an A4-size clear plastic file, tissue paper, a permanent marker, tape, a ruler, scissors, and more.
The way the shuttlecock spins around as it falls is unique and really fun to watch!