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] Have Fun at After-School Day Service! A Special Feature on Indoor Game Ideas
- 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 (151–160)
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!
Sinking Game
The Sinking Game is a fun game where you can feel the thrill of “the ship might sink!” Place several mats randomly around a large space like a hall or gym.
These mats are the ships, so divide the children into groups and have them stand on the mats.
The teacher becomes a scary shark living in the sea.
When the shark (the teacher) calls out, “We’re sinking!”, the children must get off their current ship (mat) and move to a different ship (mat).
If the shark tags them while they’re moving, they’re out! If they can move to another ship without getting caught, they’re safe.
Try mixing in other words that start with the same sound as “chinbotsu” instead of saying “We’re sinking!” to make it even more fun!
Teleportation Game
It’s a game that tests each player’s quick reflexes as they swiftly move to the next spot to keep a newspaper stick from falling.
You stand the stick up, move to the adjacent stick, grab it before it falls to support it, and anyone who lets a stick fall is eliminated.
The difficulty of supporting the stick changes depending on the moving distance and how the sticks are set up, so by adjusting those factors, a wider range of ages can enjoy the game.
It could also be exciting to try a challenge mode where players test their limits to see how far they can go without letting the stick fall.
What’s in the box? game
Use your sense of touch and your friends’ reactions to guess the answer! What’s in the box? Here’s a game idea for you.
It’s a unique idea that you can play with excitement and suspense.
Cut a hand-sized hole in a cardboard box and try to guess what’s inside using only your sense of touch! The key is to keep your eyes open but not peek into the box.
Set a time limit to make it even more exciting—guaranteed fun! Give it a try!
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!
Indoor recreation for children: A roundup of exciting games (161–170)
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!