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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- [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
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- [For Kids] Have Fun at After-School Day Service! A Special Feature on Indoor Game Ideas
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- Indoor Games for Small Groups: Exciting Recreational Activities
Indoor recreation for kids: A roundup of exciting games (41–50)
Animal pretend play
Kids love animals, so pretend play where they become animals is always a big hit.
Teachers or parents can call out an animal, and the children simply imitate it—making for a very fun indoor activity.
Imitating the teacher or parent is, of course, fun too, but it’s also great to give prompts and play an animal gesture game.
Expressive rhythm play
Expressive rhythm play is a perfect activity for training to express various emotions using your body.
First, teachers or guardians show how to move the body and teach basic motions.
After that, move on to training that focuses on expressing emotions and moving in time with the rhythm.
Moving your body like a dance will lift your spirits and make it fun.
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!
Hula Hoop Crawl Relay
Divide into teams and stand in a single horizontal line, holding hands with the person next to you.
Starting from the child at the front, pass a hula hoop along the line by stepping through it without letting go of each other’s hands.
The team that passes the hula hoop all the way to the end the fastest wins.
You can add variations by using a rope loop instead of a hula hoop, or by setting a time limit and competing to see how many people can pass through within the time.
Epicenter Game
Let me introduce a game called “Epicenter,” a fun activity for any number of players that both young children and adults can enjoy.
Choose one person to be It and one person to be the Epicenter; everyone else sits in a circle facing inward.
When It steps into the middle of the circle, the Epicenter starts performing a movement they decided on, and everyone except It imitates it.
Whenever the Epicenter changes the movement, the others also imitate and switch accordingly.
It tries to guess who the Epicenter is.
People’s eye lines can sometimes give away the Epicenter, so it might be tricky to avoid staring and to look around naturally.
Red Light, Green Light
Although “Daruma-san ga koronda” is often associated with being a game for large groups outdoors, it can definitely be enjoyed indoors as well.
You need a bit of space, but if the children are small, a single room is more than enough.
The rules are: divide into “it” and the players; the players line up some distance away from “it”; while “it” covers their eyes with a wall or their arm and says, “Daruma-san ga koronda,” the players move closer; if they move while “it” is looking, they get caught; players can free those who’ve been caught by getting close to “it.” No matter how many times you play, it gives you a little thrill.
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.
