Great for camping! Recreation games for kids
Many families are probably planning to take their kids camping over the summer holidays.
Camping is exciting in so many ways, and in this article we introduce activities and games that will make your trip even more fun.
From active, physical play to popular everyday games kids already love, and nature experiences that even little ones can enjoy—there’s plenty to choose from! Take this opportunity to savor the special moments you can only experience at a campsite.
If you go over this with your child before you leave, you’ll surely hear, “I want to do this!” Get fully prepared, have a blast, and make the best memories!
- Outdoor games and recreational activities recommended for children
- [Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
- Fun recreational games that liven up outdoor activities
- Recommended for upper elementary grades! Exciting indoor recreation and games
- Play ideas kids can enjoy from 1st to 6th grade [indoors & outdoors]
- Outdoor Recreation Popularity Rankings
- Fostering Cooperation: Recommended Games to Enjoy in the Boy Scouts
- [Elementary School] Games and Recreational Activities to Enjoy at a Forest School Camp
- [Children’s Club] Easy and fun indoor games. Exciting party games
- Recommended outdoor games and recreational activities for lower elementary school children
- No worries even in the rain! Fun recreational activities you can do in the gym
- Recreation Activities That Excite Kids’ Clubs! Plans and Ideas Children Will Love
- [Elementary School] Indoor Games and Recreational Activities Recommended for Upper Primary Grades
Recommended for Camping! Recreation and Games for Kids (21–30)
slacklining
Slacklining is a game where you have fun balancing on a narrow, belt-like line.
It’s said to help develop balance and concentration, which can benefit other sports as well.
You simply string a slackline between two trees and walk across it, so setup is easy.
Beginners should start low and over short distances.
Kids are often surprisingly nimble, and many seem to be quite good at it.
Gorilla Game
In elementary school, there are overnight study trips, right? At night, you sometimes have a campfire.
A great recommendation for a recreation activity at times like that is the “Gorilla Game.” The rules are simple: split into a questioner and an answerer, and the answerer must reply “gorilla” no matter what they’re asked.
Questions like “What’s your name?” or “What did you have for breakfast today?” are fun because answering “gorilla” makes everything hilariously mismatched.
It’s a popular activity with kids, so be sure to give it a try around the campfire!
long rope jumping
When a large group gets together for something like a camp, a great game to try is long-rope jump rope.
The rope is easy to carry, so it’s especially recommended for outdoor play.
Once everyone syncs up and starts jumping the long rope together, you’ll be surprised how addictive it is—you’ll want to do it again and again.
It’s also fun to split into teams and compete for the highest number of consecutive jumps, or set a target number and race to see which team can finish it the fastest.
Jump together
As a recreation activity that builds a sense of unity, I’d like to introduce “Jump Together.” First, everyone holds hands and forms a circle.
Then a leader calls out, “All together!”—that’s the starting signal.
Everyone responds in unison.
After that, you jump according to the leader’s directions.
Wondering, “Which direction is next?” adds excitement, and working toward the same goal strengthens your bonds.
As a next stage, it’s also fun to jump in the direction opposite to the call.
water gun
Kids love playing with water.
When it comes to water play with items, water guns are great fun, offer lots of ways to play, and are highly recommended.
These days, water guns come in various shapes and sizes, and many of them are exciting and enjoyable not just for kids but for adults too.
Simply splashing each other with water is fun in hot weather, and you can also spice it up by attaching targets to your shoulders and shooting at them, or by playing team battles—both are sure to get everyone fired up.
If small children are participating, please be careful with water guns that have strong pressure or powerful streams.
Fun music play in nature
Let’s move our bodies together and enjoy playful music activities in nature while taking in the scenery and sounds around us.
Placing ourselves in nature and listening to the wind and the sounds of insects stimulates the five senses and helps refresh the mind and body.
As we sing, let’s wave colorful scarves and try moving them while imagining what the wind might sound like.
It’s also fun to sway the scarves with varying strengths, like a gentle breeze or a strong gust.
One of the charms of this play is being able to move freely and express yourself while sensing a variety of sounds—like leaves rustling and water flowing.
Hand-push sumo
Have you ever played “teoshi-zumo” (push sumo)? Two people face each other, hold their palms up and push against the other’s hands; the one who stumbles and steps out of the ring loses.
It looks simple and like a test of brute strength, but in fact you can win with a few tips and techniques even without much power, so it’s fun despite differences in size or age.
For example, standing a bit pigeon-toed can help you brace better, and instead of pushing straight ahead, pushing upward from below can be effective.
Master these tricks and try beating opponents bigger than you!