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 kids: A roundup of exciting games (151–160)
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!
Chimney Balloon-Flying Game
Soft, floating balloons don’t hurt even if they bump into you, making them a perfect toy for little kids.
Here, we’ll introduce a game where you use a fan to send balloons flying.
First, tie a string to a plant stand you can buy at a 100-yen shop, wrap an A3-size PP sheet around it, and stand it upright to make a tube.
Stuff balloons into the tube, and your setup is ready.
At the count of “Ready, set, go!”, everyone fans upward from below to launch the balloons and play.
Try turning it into a game by asking, “Who can get the most balloons out?” and have fun!
Body Rock-Paper-Scissors
Normally, when you play rock-paper-scissors, you use your hands, right? This version lets you play using your whole body.
Let’s start by checking the poses.
For Rock, make your body small like a stone.
For Scissors, turn to the side and spread your arms with your right hand pointing down and your left hand pointing up.
For Paper, spread out both arms and legs to make a big X shape.
The rules are the same as regular rock-paper-scissors, so try playing with a friend to the call of “Jan-ken-pon!” Be sure to play carefully so you don’t bump others with your hands or feet.
Rock-Paper-Scissors Basketball
Players form a circle around the person in the middle (the “oni”), and the game proceeds with rock-paper-scissors between the oni and the surrounding players.
At the oni’s signal, everyone plays rock-paper-scissors.
Anyone who loses to the oni must leave their current spot and move to a different place.
If someone fails to move and gets stuck, they become the new oni.
The fun lies in quick movement and strategic feints to avoid becoming the oni.
It also works well if the surrounding players sit on chairs, since it makes the spots for the oni and the losers to move to easier to see.
Knee Touch Game
Let me introduce a knee-touch game that’s simple yet surprisingly deep.
First, two people stand facing each other, bend their knees slightly, and hold one hand together.
At the start signal, they begin to move, and the first person to touch the opponent’s knee wins.
It may sound easy, but touching your opponent’s knee while protecting your own is quite a challenge.
Use your explosiveness and reflexes to play.
It’s also recommended as a game where you can enjoy feints and strategy.
beast hunting
A fun indoor adventure game: Monster Hunt.
First, everyone sings the Monster Hunt song along with the teacher.
In the song, it says you’re carrying lots of weapons needed for the hunt, so try adding gestures that match the lyrics.
At the end of the song, the teacher says the name of the beast that’s been found.
Make groups with the same number of people as the number of characters in that beast’s name and sit down—that’s a success! For example, if the beast is “raion” (lion) with four characters in Japanese, you form groups of four.
It’s also fun to make it harder by choosing beasts with longer names as you go.
See how many different beasts you can find!
Indoor recreation for children: A roundup of exciting games (161–170)
seesaw game
The seesaw game where you hang several pool noodles horizontally and place cut pieces of pool noodle on top is a fun activity for everyone.
Play it with children aged three and up, who are getting used to games with rules.
Take turns stacking the pool noodle pieces, and the game ends when the balance is lost.
To keep things orderly, have children waiting for their turn sit on chairs.
The suspense of not knowing when the noodles will collapse is thrilling.
Teachers should join in too and enjoy it together.
