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!”
- [For Kids] Indoor Fun! Large-Group Recreational Activities and Games
- 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
- 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 kids: A roundup of exciting games (1–10)
Bamboo Shoot Nyoki
The rules are simple, and you don’t need any supplies, so it’s an easy indoor game to try: “Takenoko Nyokki.” It starts with a chant that sounds like a magic spell: “Takenoko takenoko nyokki-ki.” After the chant, players randomly call out “One nyokki!” “Two nyokki!” while shaping their hands like a bamboo shoot and counting up.
However, if your number overlaps with someone else’s, you’re out—and if you end up being the last person, you’re out too! It’s a thrilling game where the silent mind games with others are the fun part.
‘What comes to mind when you hear ___?’ game
Let me introduce a game called “When you hear ___, what do you think of?” where everyone tries to match answers.
It’s a game in which the goal is for everyone’s imagined answer to line up perfectly.
For example, if the prompt is “When you hear ‘vehicles’?”, there are lots of possibilities like cars, trains, or buses.
If everyone matches and gives the same answer, that’s a perfect win! Even when answers don’t match—ranging from common choices to what kids love, to unique or unexpected responses that show each person’s individuality—it’s still a lively game that everyone can enjoy together.
Pudding Game
The Pudding Game: a fun way to play while building associative thinking.
Pair up and sit facing each other, and place an eraser in the middle of the desk.
When the caller says “yakisoba,” raise your right hand and say “ya”; for “karaage,” raise your left hand and say “ka”; for “onigiri,” raise both hands and say “o.” When “pudding” is called, the key is to quickly grab the eraser.
Whoever grabs it wins.
It’s also fun to change the types of foods or adjust the difficulty of the prompts.
This is a perfect indoor activity for helping kids bond.
Indoor recreation for children: A roundup of exciting games (11–20)
Who am I? Quiz
Let’s play a “Who am I?” quiz that needs no tools and can be enjoyed anytime! Give hints that lead to the answer—features phrased as if a person were saying, “I’m good at ___,” comparing the answer to a person.
For example, if the answer is a refrigerator, you could give hints like, “I have many doors,” and “I cool many different things.” Start with less obvious traits and gradually move to clearer ones.
It would be fun to use animals as the subjects, too!
Real Life Game
Let me introduce a real-life board game you can enjoy indoors with family and friends! It’s always fun to watch the moment someone rolls the dice and see which space they land on.
Using an existing board game can already offer lots of variety and excitement, but it’s also fun to come up with your own spaces or decide on the occupations yourself.
It might even be a chance for kids to think about how to use money.
Penalties and events differ depending on the game you use, so have a fun and lively time with your family and friends!
PET bottle darts
This is a game you can enjoy using just a plastic bottle and disposable chopsticks.
Since the materials are easy to find, you can start right away.
The rules are simple—just drop the chopsticks into the bottle opening—but it’s surprisingly tricky and sure to get everyone excited.
It’s great that not only children but also their guardians can have fun together.
Because you move your body while aiming carefully, it makes indoor time enjoyable too.
Try playing with family or friends on rainy days as well.
It can also be a good opportunity to deepen communication.
Paper Cup Stacking Race
It’s a game where you throw a paper cup upward and compete to see whether it lands upright when it hits the floor.
The rule requiring you to throw it higher than your head prevents cheating, such as dropping it straight down.
The way air resistance sends it in unexpected directions makes controlling the throw tricky and adds to the excitement.
You can try different strategies: refine your throwing technique to succeed in fewer attempts, or focus on quickly picking up missed cups to increase your number of throws.
Challenge yourself with the approach that suits you best.
