Lovely Play & Recreation

Indoor recreation for children: A roundup of exciting games

Composition nerdmutō
Started performing in bands in junior high school. Influenced by Japanese rock and UK rock, spent over 10 years continuing band activities while creating original songs. Later began producing Vocaloid tracks using Hatsune Miku, with total plays of released songs surpassing 10,000. Has five years of experience writing for music magazines. Currently works as a music writer, director, and composer, keeping a ground-level perspective on the scene by attending live shows across Japan. Now performs at live houses in Tokyo, showcasing guitar playing centered on acoustic guitar and informed by knowledge of chord analysis and guitar scales. Also writes leveraging a broad knowledge of music genres.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

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!”

Indoor recreation for kids: A roundup of exciting games (21–30)

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.

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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 Game Class 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.

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Indoor recreation for children: A roundup of exciting games (31–40)

Ball arranging game

Ball Arrangement Game (3×3, 4×4) [Indoor Physical Activity Example]

Ball arranging game

There are many games that use your body, but this one gives your brain a workout at the same time.

You play on a 3- or 4-square field, lining up balls of the same color vertically, horizontally, or diagonally, and you have to instantly decide where to place a ball to make a match.

It sounds like it’ll be a nail-biting, heart-pounding game.

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Indoor play that even infants can enjoy!

@nexus_official5 ♬ Cute heartwarming BGM(1490583) – sanusagi

We’d like to introduce four types of activities that kids can enjoy energetically indoors, even on cold days.

First is the “Crawling Race,” where parents and children cheer each other on as they aim for the goal.

It’s simple, but full of smiles and lots of excitement.

Next is the “Animal Imitation Game.” Move your body to the fullest by hopping like a bunny or mimicking an elephant’s trunk.

“Balance Play” involves placing a string on the floor and walking along it.

Stepping over and hopping without touching the string helps build leg strength.

Lastly, there’s “Newspaper and Flyer Play.” Tear the paper using your fingertips, crumple it into balls, and use them for other games.

All of these are easy to prepare and perfect for cozy days at home when it’s cold outside.

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Fun indoors! Ice play

@nexus_official5
Makes you look forward to cold days?! We can’t wait for spring either, but try making this on a day when the forecast says it’ll be chilly the next day!#nexus #memorytree nursery school Kids will love it #IcePlay Winter Play Nursery teacher / Childcare worker #MemoriesTree Nursery School
♬ Escort – MoppySound

Using tissue paper and food coloring to make “flower ice” is a beautiful winter-only experiment play.

First, place tissue paper in a clear cup, add water and your choice of food coloring or paint, and gently stir.

Depending on the color combinations, you’ll get patterns as lovely as flower petals.

Set the cups outside to freeze, and you’ll have “flower ice” with colors sealed inside crystal-clear ice.

It’s fun to hold them up to the sunlight or stack them to create an icy flower garden.

A winter art experience that captivates both kids and adults.

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Rock-Paper-Scissors Train

Buu’s Visit to the Nursery School (Rock-Paper-Scissors Train)

Rock-Paper-Scissors Train

Janken Train is a game where the person who wins rock-paper-scissors becomes the leader, and the person who loses lines up behind them, forming a longer and longer train.

Music plays during the game, and when the music stops, you find a partner and play rock-paper-scissors.

You repeat this until everyone forms a single line.

The person at the very front of the train—in other words, the one who keeps winning—wins the game.

The line gets quite long toward the end, so please remember to walk slowly.

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Number push

[Indoor Play Training] 3. Number Push: Time Attack (Balloon Edition)

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!

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