Indoor recreation for children: A roundup of exciting games
We’ve put together recreational activities, games, and indoor play ideas that bring out children’s smiles.
You’ll find plenty of large-group games and activities perfect for preschools and schools, as well as lots of options families can enjoy at home.
They’re ideal for rainy days or any time it’s hard to go outside.
If you’re looking for recreations, games, or indoor activities to enjoy with kids, be sure to check these out.
Even if kids start out feeling, “It’s a shame we can’t play outside…,” by the end they’ll surely be saying, “That was fun!”
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Indoor recreation for children: A roundup of exciting games (81–90)
Towel-Grabbing Game
It’s a simple, easy game where two people lightly hold each end of a towel, then pull hard on a signal; the one who manages to take the towel wins.
Children up to around preschool age should enjoy it, and it may also help improve their quick reaction skills!
Daikon Game
Let me introduce a floor play called the “Daikon Game.” Children lie face down in a circle and hold hands with the person next to them.
An adult says, “I’m going to pull out the daikon,” then pulls one child’s legs, then another’s, and repeats.
The children grip each other’s hands tightly so they don’t get “pulled out.” It’s a very simple game, but kids love a little thrill and excitement, so it gets really lively!
Tissue Catch
https://www.tiktok.com/@soramame.sensei/video/7285291836736834823Have fun in pairs! Here are some ideas for a Tissue Catch game.
As the name suggests, it’s a game where you catch a tissue.
Catching a tissue as it gently floats downward is surprisingly tricky.
One person drops a tissue from a high position, and the other tries to catch it.
Once you get the hang of it, you can make it more challenging—and exciting—by using tools like tongs or chopsticks.
Give it a try!
Ball Scissor Relay
https://www.tiktok.com/@mimasakadaigaku/video/7432219301609884946Can’t stop laughing!? Here’s a fun idea for a “ball-squeeze relay.” It’s perfect for those who want to run an activity in a large space like a gym or schoolyard.
All you need are balls and cones or markers to indicate the start and finish.
Pair up in teams of two, use your bodies to hold the ball in place, and aim for the goal.
If you touch the ball with your hands or drop it, you simply restart from that spot.
It’s a simple game, and because it’s a relay, you’ll feel the excitement and suspense as you play.
Team Competition! True or False Game
@soramame.sensei Hello! This is Kotoba no Kyoushitsu Soramame Kids. We’re playing a team-based tic-tac-toe game! It gets surprisingly heated, so staying hydrated is a must. Give it a try!Kotoba no Kyoushitsu Soramame Kids#SoramameKidsChild Development Support ServicesAfter-school day serviceSpeech-Language-Hearing TherapistOccupational therapistNursery teacher / Childcare worker#KagoshimaRehabilitationKagoshima# developmental support (ryōiku)Recreation
♬ A comical long who seems to be chasing me(845594) – WataSound
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.
Shiritori Dance Game
This is a game that adds a movement element to the word-linking game shiritori, making the thinking process more complex.
The rule is to express the connected words with movements as well, so words that are hard to express through movement are out—that’s the challenging part.
While traditional shiritori proceeds with names of things, since this version emphasizes movement, it might work well to play using verbs.
It could also be fun to proceed rhythmically to music, or to have everyone present perform the movement whenever a word is called out.
Indoor recreation for children: A roundup of exciting games (91–100)
Team Gesture Game Competition
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.