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!”
- Play ideas kids can enjoy from 1st to 6th grade [indoors & outdoors]
- [Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
- [Elementary School] Quick and Easy! Indoor Recreational Activities Perfect for Lower Grades
- Popularity ranking of recreational activities for children
- [Children’s Club] Easy and fun indoor games. Exciting party games
- [For Kids] Today's Recommended Recreation Idea Collection
- Recommended for upper elementary grades! Exciting indoor recreation and games
- [For Kids] Indoor Fun! Large-Group Recreational Activities and Games
- A big hit at after-school childcare! A special feature on group games and activities you can play without any equipment
- Elementary School Fun Day a Big Hit! Indoor Game Idea Collection
- [For Kids] Fun Indoor Game Ideas for After-School Day Services
- Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for daycare and kindergarten
- Indoor Games for Small Groups: Exciting Recreational Activities
Indoor recreation for children: A roundup of exciting games (161–170)
Paper Cup Relay
It’s a game where you pull out the bottom paper cup so it drops without toppling the stacked cups, then pass it on to the next person.
You have to judge how to move it to avoid knocking the cups over, which really tests each person’s control of strength and speed.
The relay format—passing it to the next person—is also key, because the pressure of someone waiting makes control even harder.
Precisely because it’s a simple action of pulling the cup out to the left or right, it’s a game that people of all ages can enjoy together.
Color tag
Let’s learn colors in English! Here’s a color tag game idea.
Ask the tagger, “What color do you want?” The tagger answers, “I want [color]!” Players then find the specified color somewhere in the room and try to avoid being tagged.
It’s a simple game that helps you learn color names in English while moving your body, and it also develops reaction speed and attention.
With this method, you’ll naturally pick up English color vocabulary through play, gaining both fun and learning at the same time!
ring toss
Ring toss is said to have originated from cowboys playing by tossing horseshoes.
You often see it at festival stalls and school culture festivals.
Why not enjoy this easygoing game together—the kind you might think, “Hey, I could do that too”? If you don’t have a ring toss set, start by making your own.
With old newspapers and tape, you can easily make the rings.
For targets, filled plastic bottles—like PET bottles filled with water—work well.
It’s likely to be handy for small local events, too!
balloon
This is about whether you can guess just by the feel of touching an inflated balloon.
You might be able to tell that it’s something rounded and filled with air, but distinguishing whether it’s a ball or a balloon seems difficult.
If you press harder, you can sense the thinness of the material, but be careful—press too hard and it might pop.
Some people might even find the tied mouth of the balloon and figure it out from there.
It’s also a prompt where you can enjoy the reactions right before it pops or at the exact moment it bursts.
Making a balloon helicopter
This is a balloon helicopter that you play with by attaching a handmade propeller to an inflated balloon! Attach a propeller made from a straw and origami to the mouth of the inflated balloon.
Then just let go of the balloon! The escaping air spins the propeller and lifts the balloon into the air.
Making the propeller and inflating the balloon may be a bit difficult for small children.
That’s why it’s perfect as an activity to enjoy together with a parent or guardian! It’s fun not only indoors but also in open spaces like parks where you can launch it and watch it fly.
Balloon target game
How about a balloon target game? Prepare several inflated balloons and stick them to a wall.
Instead of using real balls, crumpled newspaper balls are recommended.
Have the kids throw those “balls” at the balloons again and again! You can write numbers on the balloons to keep score, or draw different pictures on them and have the kids aim for the balloon with a specified picture—try adding various rules to make it fun.
Zabuton jumping game
If you’re in a place with zabuton cushions, how about trying the “Zabuton Jump Game”? First, place one zabuton on the floor, stand on it, and crouch down.
Put four zabuton in front of you.
While you’re pulling a zabuton toward you, jump and slide it underneath your feet.
If you fail to place it properly or you fall off the zabuton, you’re out.
If you manage to place all the zabuton correctly, next try jumping and pulling them out, then return each zabuton to its original position.
If you succeed, try the same challenge while sitting in seiza on the zabuton!
Towel Tug-of-War
How about trying a game called “Towel Tug-of-War” that gets you moving and is fun even in a small space at home? As the title suggests, it’s a game where you hold both ends of a towel and play tug-of-war.
It’s a one-on-one game, so you can play in a limited space! The rules are simple: pull on the towel, and if your feet move and you step over the line drawn on the floor in advance, you lose.
Be careful of your surroundings while you play to avoid falling from pulling too hard or getting unexpected injuries.
Body percussion
Body percussion is a game where you make sounds by hitting different parts of your own body.
Try clapping your hands, slapping your thighs, and experimenting in various ways to create sounds in time with the music.
Value your sense of rhythm, explore which parts make sounds easily and which don’t, and enjoy understanding what kinds of sounds your body can produce.
It can also be fun to practice without playing any music, using only the sounds you make yourself.
Treasure Hunt
A treasure hunt game where you search for little hidden treasures around the house.
It’s a popular activity that sparks children’s imaginations.
You might discover something new in the spaces you usually pass through without a second thought.
Searching together with a parent or guardian also creates opportunities for communication.
Both the hiders and the seekers can enjoy an exciting, heart-pounding time.
The joyful expressions when something is found will surely become cherished memories.
It’s also a great option for indoor play on a rainy day.
How about enjoying a treasure hunt game with family and friends?