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 children: A roundup of exciting games (141–150)
callout
It’s a game where you toss beanbags into two large boxes—one labeled with numbers and the other with English words—and then pronounce the word where your beanbag lands as many times as the number indicates.
It tests your quick judgment and smooth pronunciation, linking the recognition of the word and the number to the act of speaking.
You can throw casually and the game will still move along, but if you want to get closer to winning, it’s smart to aim for easier-to-say words or lower numbers.
How you divide into teams and how you decide on the words and counts can change how exciting the game gets, depending on how you set up the rules.
Shape Finding Game
How do you say this shape in English? Here’s an idea for a shape-finding game.
It’s a way to learn English that fits right into everyday life! By finding shapes in your room that are specified in English, you can build vocabulary you can actually use.
For example, try linking everyday objects with words like circle, square, and triangle.
You’ll improve your ability to recognize shapes while learning their names in English at the same time.
It’s also great that you can learn in familiar places!
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!
Indoor recreation for kids: A roundup of exciting games (151–160)
Rock-Paper-Scissors Train Game
Let me introduce the Rock-Paper-Scissors Train game.
Move around the room pretending to be a freight train to the music of a freight train.
When the music stops, play rock-paper-scissors with a friend.
The person who loses places their hands on the winner’s shoulders, boards the same train, and sets off together.
Repeat this process to add more friends to your freight train.
When everyone is riding on the same train and departs together at the end, the game is complete.
Try speeding up or slowing down the music to match the children’s pace and have fun!
Don Janken
A game everyone can enjoy, from kids to adults! Here’s an idea for “Don Janken.” Split into two teams; the team that reaches the opponent’s territory first wins.
When you do rock-paper-scissors, the chant is “Don janken pon!” This idea requires almost no preparation and works great with large groups—that’s the key recommendation.
However, because players can get too fixated on winning, disputes may arise near the territory line, so it’s best for adults to make the final call on wins and losses.
Give it a try!
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.
Ball Drop Game
In today’s world, not only adults but also small children are familiar with digital games.
This time, let’s step away from the digital realm and try a simple, fun activity for everyone: the “Ball Drop Game”! First, make a ping-pong-ball-sized hole in a box lid, place a ping-pong ball inside, and close the box.
That’s all you need to make the game.
The rules are very simple: if you can get the ping-pong ball out through the hole in the box, you win.
It’s a gentle recreation activity that even young children can enjoy easily.
It’s perfect for rainy days, too!