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!”
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- A big hit at after-school childcare! A special feature on group games and activities you can play without any equipment
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- Indoor Games for Small Groups: Exciting Recreational Activities
Indoor recreation for children: A roundup of exciting games (31–40)
Clap-Clap Game
@mimasakadaigaku A clapping game you can use for class activities! It’s super easy, so give it a try!#Mimasaka University#Pachi-Pachi GameClass party/activity
♬ Pretty and fun Marimba song – Azuline
Here are six quick games you can enjoy in short spare moments: “Pat-and-Rub,” where your left and right hands do different movements; the “Rock-Paper-Scissors Game,” where the right hand always has to win; and the “Command Game,” in which you move according to a leader’s instructions, among others.
All of these can be played indoors and work for small to large groups, so everyone can have fun together.
The simple rules make them suitable for children from the early elementary grades, and it’s great that they help develop motor skills.
Because the rules are simple, you can also add variations to adjust the difficulty.
Command Game
Many people, not just children, are probably looking for indoor recreation that can get a wide range of age groups excited.
For you, we recommend the “Command Game.” In this game, participants must act according to the commands given by the leader—that’s the rule.
The leader should mix in feints and tricks within the commands to make everyone slip up.
Jumbo Karuta
Here’s an introduction to “Jumbo Karuta,” a great recommendation for New Year gatherings that kids and adults can enjoy together! You match the large picture cards to the corresponding clue cards as they’re read out.
For example, when you hear a food item from a clue card, quickly find the matching picture among the laid-out cards and grab it.
Because the cards are jumbo-sized, there’s a physical, active element to the game, and younger children can learn by recognizing the illustrations.
Adults get their reflexes and decision-making tested, which makes it easy to get competitive and really fired up.
Play it with family, relatives, or friends, and you’ll have a lively time full of laughter and cheers—so definitely give making a set a try!
daruma stacking
How about a DIY game you can enjoy making? In the spirit of the New Year, it’s a game where you stack lucky Daruma dolls.
Combine two empty containers, like those from finished instant cup noodles, to create a Daruma.
You can cover them with construction paper or paint them—both would look great.
If everyone makes one, you’ll end up with a delightful variety of unique Daruma dolls.
Then, stack the finished Daruma as high as you can without them toppling over.
It’s an idea that’s sure to be a hit in both individual and team play, bringing lots of smiles.
The Falling-Falling Game
If you’re looking for hand-play or rhythm games, how about the “Ochita Ochita” game? In this game, the leader says, “Ochita, ochita” (It fell, it fell), and the participants ask, “Nani ga ochita?” (What fell?).
Then, when the leader says, “◯◯ ga ochita” (◯◯ fell), everyone does a gesture to match the item that fell.
The rules are simple, so it’s great even for small children.
Rhythm play with words
Word Rhythm Play is a game you can enjoy while moving your body, building vocabulary and a sense of rhythm, and training skills like quick thinking and problem-solving.
Listen to the beat and match your words to it.
Any words are fine, but the key is to stay on rhythm.
Start with an easy beat and gradually increase the difficulty.
Once you get used to it, adding handclaps while playing can make it even more exciting.
Card-flipping race
This is a game called “Card Flipping Race” using two-colored cards with different colors on the front and back.
Place many cards on the floor with red on one side and white on the other.
Split into the Red Team and the White Team and line up in single files.
At the start signal, everyone begins flipping the cards to their own team’s color.
Even if a card is flipped right in front of you, keep flipping it back to your team’s color.
Set a time limit; when time is up, return to the start line.
The team with more cards showing their color wins.
It’s fun even with a large group, and the more cards you have, the more exciting it gets!
kotoro-kotoro (onomatopoeic; a light rattling/rolling sound)
This is one highly recommended activity that really gets everyone excited.
First, have four people line up in a single file.
The person at the front crosses their arms in front of their chest.
The three people behind each place their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them.
Imagine they’re connected like a single train.
The person who is “it” wins if they tag the last person in the line of four.
Be careful: if the hands linking the line come apart, the team that’s running away loses.
If you rotate who gets to be “it,” the kids can keep running and having fun for a long time.
You can also have them wear gloves to prevent scratching their opponents.
Number push
“Number Push” is an indoor recreation activity that trains your mind and body at the same time.
In this game, you stick papers with numbers on a wall and touch them in order.
That alone would be simple, but you also keep a balloon in the air at the same time, which lets you train both your brain and body simultaneously.
It’s easy to do indoors, so give it a try!
Balance game
A “balance game” that also strengthens your core by standing on one leg.
The rules are simple! At the starting signal, lift one foot off the ground and stand on the other, keeping your balance.
The person who can stand the longest wins.
In games like this, kids tend to have a big advantage because of their stamina.
Adults often lose when they join in, but let’s all have fun together anyway! You can also use a stopwatch and call out the time—“X seconds have passed!”—to make it even more exciting.