Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for June
During Japan’s rainy season in June, we end up spending more time indoors, don’t we? Among children who love playing outside, some may feel gloomy on rainy days.
So this time, we’re introducing recommended indoor activities that will bring smiles to their faces.
From games that let them move their bodies to their hearts’ content, to group activities that foster interaction with friends and teachers, to craft projects that build focus and fine motor skills—there’s a wide range of fun to choose from! Adjust the content to suit children’s ages and developmental stages, incorporate plenty of activities, and enjoy rainy days together with lots of fun.
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Indoor activities and recreation games recommended for June (21–30)
Towel play
When you want to get plenty of physical activity indoors even if it’s raining, games using a towel are recommended.
Prepare a long, narrow towel.
You can rub your body vigorously as if doing dry brushing, jump as if the towel were a jump rope, or play tug-of-war—one long towel lets you enjoy all kinds of games.
It’s also great to roll the towel into a ball and play catch.
Be careful as you play so you don’t slip on a towel that’s fallen on the floor and get injured!
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!
Ochara-ka-hoi
Ochyaraka Hoi is a game for two people to enjoy while keeping time with a song.
It starts with “Sesse-sse no yoi yoi yoi,” and you alternately touch your own hands and your partner’s hands.
At each break in the song, you play rock–paper–scissors: the winner raises both hands in a celebratory pose, the loser makes a crying pose, and if it’s a tie, both players put their hands on their hips.
Repeat this pattern.
You don’t need any equipment and can start right away, making it perfect for short breaks.
You can play endlessly, so it’s great for passing the time.
If you want to make it a proper match, decide how many rounds of rock–paper–scissors to play and count the number of wins.
Body, look that way—hoi!
Speaking of “Acchi Muite Hoi,” it’s a game where you predict the direction your opponent will face with your finger, and the person being pointed at turns only their face in any direction they like.
How about trying a full-body version of Acchi Muite Hoi that you can enjoy even while seated? First, play rock-paper-scissors; the winner points in a direction with their finger.
The loser moves their whole body toward the left or right if they want to face sideways, jumps if they want to face up, and crouches if they want to face down.
Keep repeating Acchi Muite Hoi like this.
Since it uses the whole body, you can get a good workout even indoors.
karuta (traditional Japanese card game)
Karuta is a game that’s also enjoyed as a New Year’s pastime.
The basic rule is to quickly grab the picture card whose first character matches the first character of the sentence read aloud by the caller.
Since the picture cards are scattered randomly on a table or the floor, you have to carefully figure out where the right card is.
You can also add rules like having someone who makes a false touch sit out for one turn.
When all the picture cards have been taken, the player with the most cards wins.
If you have time to spare, it might be fun to start by making your own karuta set!
Caterpillar play
Caterpillar play, which is often done as a sports day event.
You get inside a cardboard tube formed into a ring, crawl on your hands and knees to roll the cardboard from the inside, move forward, and aim for the goal.
You can go in alone or with about two people.
Since it’s hard to see ahead, try it while being careful not to bump into other teams or go off course.
If you start by making the cardboard ring for caterpillar play together with the children, they’ll enjoy the activity even more!
Treasure Hunt Game
How about playing a thrilling, heart-pounding treasure hunt game? Hide treasure items all around the room and have the children search for them.
It’s a good idea to limit the hiding area to some extent.
You can also make it a team game with one team hiding and the other team searching, letting the kids take the lead in everything.
It’s also great to have the children make the treasures themselves! Have them express their idea of treasure concretely—like items made with sparkly origami or cute drawings.
A treasure hunt can be arranged in many different ways, so give it a try!
ball toss (traditional Japanese beanbag/ball-throwing game)
Tamaire is a game where teams compete to see how many balls they can throw into a basket—it’s also a staple event at school sports days.
How about trying it indoors? If you have a tamaire basket that fits inside, use that; if not, create a target by placing an empty box on a table or holding an umbrella turned inside out.
Once the start signal is given, just keep tossing balls in.
You don’t need special balls—crumpled newspaper works fine.
Prepare the equipment with your room size in mind, and give it a try!
Making slime
Squishy, fun-to-touch slime is a hit with kids! How about having them make their own for indoor play? It’s easy: just mix liquid laundry glue, water, borax, and coloring.
The soft, squishy feel is sure to be addictive! There are other ways to make slime too, such as spraying baking soda solution onto a mixture of angel clay and water, or mixing potato starch with water.
Try whatever method feels easiest for you!
Sinking Game
The Sinking Game is a fun game where you can feel the thrill of “the ship might sink!” Place several mats randomly around a large space like a hall or gym.
These mats are the ships, so divide the children into groups and have them stand on the mats.
The teacher becomes a scary shark living in the sea.
When the shark (the teacher) calls out, “We’re sinking!”, the children must get off their current ship (mat) and move to a different ship (mat).
If the shark tags them while they’re moving, they’re out! If they can move to another ship without getting caught, they’re safe.
Try mixing in other words that start with the same sound as “chinbotsu” instead of saying “We’re sinking!” to make it even more fun!