Lovely Play & Recreation

Recommended Indoor Activities and Recreation Games for July

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
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!

July is a time when heatstroke is a concern, so it’s not ideal to spend long hours outside.

So, here we’ll introduce activities you can enjoy indoors! We’ve gathered games and activities that people of all ages can enjoy.

From drawing and board games to crafts, there are plenty of ways to have fun inside.

There are lots of recreational activities that both kids and adults will love.

Spend a fun time with your family and friends.

Be sure to give them a try and make cool, refreshing memories in a comfortable place!

Recommended Indoor Activities and Recreation Games for July (11–20)

Matching the number of straws

Recreation, elderly, straw game, party game, indoor game

Matching the number of straws

Prepare round cutouts of cardboard in large and small sizes.

Label each one in order starting from 1, using kanji for one set and alphanumeric characters for the other, and lay them out on the table.

Using a straw to suck and lift the pieces, stack matching numbers on top of each other.

Whoever matches them faster wins.

Take a deep breath and give it your best!

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Ball arranging game

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

Ball arranging game

This “Ball Line-Up Game” is an indoor recreation that requires not only physical ability but also intelligence and teamwork.

In the video, children are playing it, but older adults can enjoy it too.

It doesn’t require much preparation and can be played almost anywhere, so it’s highly recommended.

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Fishing game

[Easy] Play fishing with origami♪ Make it and have fun!! Enjoy it at home or in kindergarten/daycare!!

Fishing game

On rainy days, it’s hard to go to nearby seas or rivers to catch or even watch fish.

At times like that, enjoy homemade indoor fishing.

One way is to attach magnets to fish cut out of construction paper and to a fishing rod made from a chopstick; the magnets stick together so you can “catch” the fish.

Another way is to make fish out of origami, punch a slightly larger hole in them, and hook them with an origami fishing rod.

You can also cut milk cartons into fish shapes and float them in water to enjoy a scene that’s a bit closer to real fishing.

Try indoor fishing in whatever style you like!

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agar play

[Nursery/Kindergarten] Agar Play That Even Infants Can Enjoy! Sensory Play to Relieve Stress ✨ [Aims and Effects]

agar play

Enjoy a cool, jelly-like agar play using gelatin, perfect for indoor fun! You can safely add color with food coloring to create agar in a variety of hues.

The clear, jelly-like agar looks as beautiful as gemstones.

Then, tear it apart, press it into molds, and play! You can put it in a cup to make it look like a parfait, or place small clay creations inside—both are lovely ideas.

It’s also nice that you can display your creations and keep enjoying them afterward!

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Murakami Shinpei

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Drawing with ice

[Nursery & Kindergarten] Drawing with ice!? Perfect summer-colored water play ❄️

Drawing with ice

There are many ways to draw, but if you’re doing it in summer, we recommend this ice painting activity! Put various colors of paint into an ice tray and mix them.

Then cover the tray with aluminum foil and poke holes aligned with each compartment.

Insert a straw into each hole to use as a handle.

This way, you’ll make ice sticks you can draw with.

It’s a cool and super fun way to paint.

If you have children in daycare or kindergarten, give it a try!

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Badminton with balloons

On hot days, play indoors! Let's play balloon badminton♪

Badminton with balloons

Energetic children naturally want to play outside, but when it’s extremely hot, things like heatstroke and photochemical smog become a concern.

In such cases, here’s an indoor activity that lets them play to their heart’s content.

Make rackets out of paper plates and chopsticks, and play balloon badminton by batting a balloon back and forth.

It’s safe even in small spaces and highly recommended for kids.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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Recommended indoor activities and recreation games for July (21–30)

Lyrics Shiritori Game

Lyric shiritori game!! #Impressions #GreatSinger

Lyrics Shiritori Game

A fun game where you play shiritori using song lyrics.

Sing a line from a song, then continue with lyrics from another song that start with the last character of the previous line.

It’s great for everyone from kids to adults—you’ll recall familiar tunes and discover new ones.

Not only for people who love singing, it’s also a chance to encounter songs you don’t know.

Perfect for karaoke, parties, and school activities.

Even those who aren’t confident singers will naturally smile—simple yet surprisingly deep.

Put your musical knowledge and creativity to use and have fun playing!

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