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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- [For Kids] Indoor Games and Activities Recommended for Winter Break
- [For Adults] Fun Things to Do on a Rainy Day
- [Part 2] Recommended Indoor Activities and Recreation Games for December
- [For Adults] Fun Activities and Hobby Ideas for Rainy Days
- [For Seniors] Simple Tabletop Games: Fun and Engaging Recreational Activities
- Recommended Indoor Activities and Recreation Games for July
- Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for spring
- Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for summer
- No worries even in the rain! Fun recreational activities you can do in the gym
- Indoor recreation for children: A roundup of exciting games
Indoor activities and recreation games recommended for June (21–30)
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!
Butt relay
When it’s raining and kids are stuck playing indoors, some of them can get stressed because they can’t move their bodies as much as they’d like.
This is especially true for kids who love sports, right? In times like these, we recommend the “bum relay.” In a bum relay, you don’t use your hands or feet—you scoot using only your bottom and race for speed.
Since it doesn’t involve big, dynamic movements, there’s little risk of injury.
But because it’s a motion you don’t usually do, once you try it, it actually feels like quite a tough workout! It’s a game that lets kids move their bodies to the fullest without worrying about getting hurt.
Recommended Indoor Activities and Recreational Games for June (31–40)
Color-finding game
Even when the weather is bad and you can’t go outside, there are times you still want exciting play, right? In those moments, a great recommendation is the “Color Hunt Game,” which lets you enjoy the thrill of a treasure hunt.
The rules are very simple: first, write color names on small pieces of paper and put them into a container like a paper cup.
Draw one slip at a time like a raffle, and then search the room for an item in the color written on the paper.
If you play at home or in a classroom where you usually spend time, you might make some unexpected discoveries!
Gesture Game
Let’s play a classic recreation game: charades! You don’t need any materials to enjoy it, though having paper and a pen makes it even better.
Look at a prompt written on a piece of paper and try to get others to guess what it is using only gestures—no talking, just movement.
The minimum number of players is two.
If you have a larger group, you can split into teams, take turns giving prompts, and compete to guess the answers.
It’s a simple game, but some prompts can be tricky—which makes it all the more fun and exciting.
Eurhythmics
Eurhythmics is an educational approach that, through exposure to music, promotes the development of children’s fundamental abilities—such as motor skills, perception, and the senses.
Moving to the piano’s rhythm, let’s crawl, walk, or lie down, using our whole bodies to play in ways suited to each child’s age! It can also help relieve stress for children who tend to feel down during stretches of rainy days.
You can add your own twists by incorporating children’s favorite nursery rhymes or anime music, or by doing exercises from picture books in time with the rhythm.
Agar play
Agar play lets you enjoy a jiggly, bouncy texture.
Agar, made from a seaweed called tengusa, is well known as a food, but it can also be used as a play material for children! Set the agar into a jelly-like form and add color with food dye.
Since agar is originally edible and you’re using food coloring, there’s no need to worry even if your child accidentally puts it in their mouth.
Let them enjoy the cool touch, the sensation of squishing it in their hands, or try scooping it with a spoon—there are lots of ways to play!
Hand-push sumo
Let me introduce you to push sumo, a game anyone can enjoy regardless of strength.
If either of your feet move, you lose, and you can’t touch anything other than the hands.
This is exactly what “soft overcomes hard” means—women can topple men, too.
It’s a contest of timing and mastering your center of gravity!