Fun things to enjoy in January: from indoor games to traditional New Year’s pastimes
January, when we welcome the New Year, is the perfect time to enjoy activities that are a little different from the everyday! From traditional New Year’s games like karuta, fukuwarai, and spinning tops to easy, casual fun like charades and plastic-bottle bowling, why not try some seasonal games this time of year? In this article, we’re sharing plenty of ideas for January activities that will put smiles on the faces of family and friends.
Whether it’s games that get you moving indoors despite the cold or ones you can enjoy while connecting with older adults, discover the charm of each activity and make wonderful memories to start the new year.
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Fun activities to enjoy in January: From indoor games to traditional New Year’s pastimes (31–40)
Drawing with yarn
In winter, some people make yarn crafts like scarves and small accessories.
It’s also the season when many yarn-made clothes are sold, and yarn is indispensable in the cold months.
For January crafts, using yarn can lead to fun projects.
For example, wrap yarn around a toilet paper roll, secure it, and add color to the yarn.
Then simply roll it over paper like a paint roller to create patterns.
You can also color a single strand of yarn with about two colors and flick the yarn over paper to make dotted or linear patterns.
Adding drawings or stickers on top of the patterned areas expands the range of your creations.
Making a calendar is also recommended.
Playing postman
Some people send New Year’s cards during the New Year, don’t they? Let’s all enjoy a game that’s perfect for January, when we celebrate the New Year, using New Year’s cards as the theme.
Make New Year’s cards with construction paper or thick cardstock.
Create a mailbox, too, by attaching a slot for letters and some red construction paper to a cardboard box.
From here, a game begins that you can especially enjoy when family and relatives gather for the New Year.
Write messages on your handmade New Year’s cards and deliver them to each other yourselves.
From things you don’t usually say to the joy of meeting again after a long time, both children and adults can exchange messages.
The heartfelt exchange of New Year’s cards is sure to create a warm, heartwarming time.
Balloon Basketball
It’s fun to play basketball indoors, isn’t it? For the balls, blow up balloons and prepare plenty of them.
If you put vinyl tape on the surface to create a basketball-like design, it’ll boost the atmosphere.
For the hoop, cut a pool noodle from a 100-yen shop lengthwise in half, bend it into a circle, secure it with masking tape, and attach it to the wall.
You can also adjust the height to suit the level, so once you get used to it, raise the difficulty and enjoy making it more game-like.
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 schoolKids will love it#IcePlayWinter PlayNursery teacher / Childcare worker#MemoriesTree Nursery School
♬ Escort – MoppySound
“Flower Ice Making” with tissue paper and food coloring is a beautiful winter-only experiment and play activity.
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 gorgeous patterns that look just like flower petals.
Set the cups outside to freeze, and you’ll have “flower ice” with color sealed inside clear ice.
Try holding them up to the sunlight or stacking them to create an icy flower garden.
It’s a winter art experience that captivates both kids and adults.
UNO
Many of you probably played this with friends when you were kids.
The rules are simple: the first person to run out of cards wins.
But you have to dodge your opponents’ interference.
It’s a card game that’s best enjoyed with a big group gathered around a kotatsu.
Fun activities to enjoy in January: From indoor games to traditional New Year’s pastimes (41–50)
Look that way, hoi!
Starting with rock-paper-scissors and then Attchi Muite Hoi, it’s a simple game that makes you laugh if you play it seriously.
Both adults and kids can enjoy it.
There’s also a way to play where you show the direction with your body movement instead of your face.
If you prepare a penalty game, it gets really exciting.
seated sumo (sitting sumo)
Sumo wrestling while seated is something you can do even in places that aren’t very spacious, like the living room.
You stay seated and fight using only your hands.
If you lose your balance and fall over, you lose.
It’s important to time your moves for the moment your opponent’s arm is fully extended.
If you do it right, even a child can beat an adult.