[Childcare] Let’s all play! A collection of recommended ideas for group play and games
Group play is essential in early childhood care, isn’t it?
But it’s easy to end up doing the same games over and over, and children can get bored.
So we’ve gathered a collection of group play ideas for teachers who have that concern.
We’ve included a variety of movement-based games that can be enjoyed both outdoors and indoors, so you can choose according to the day’s activity setting.
Another fun aspect of group play is that the level of excitement varies depending on the class’s age and the children’s personalities.
Try choosing while thinking, “Which games will suit my class?”
Let’s spend a fun time with the children.
- [For Kids] Indoor Fun! Large-Group Recreational Activities and Games
- [Childcare / Physical Play] Fun Activities to Get Moving
- Indoor games that different ages can enjoy! Ideas for fun everyone can get excited about together
- Ideas for indoor activities and group games that 5-year-olds like
- Recommended for 3-year-olds! Fun indoor activities and group game ideas
- [For 4-Year-Olds] A Collection of Indoor Play and Game Ideas That Get Everyone Excited
- [Childcare] Full of energy! Indoor activity ideas to get kids moving
- Let's play with a big group! A collection of fun children's recreational activities
- [Childcare] Play Right Now! Recommended No-Prep Games
- Ideas for indoor activities, games, and group play that 5-year-olds enjoy
- Indoor recreation for children: A roundup of exciting games
- Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for daycare and kindergarten
- Indoor Games for Small Groups: Exciting Recreational Activities
[Childcare] Let's Play Together! Recommended Group Play and Game Ideas (21–30)
Merry Christmas Rhythm Game!
“Merry-Cri Rhythm Game” is a rhythm game that even children can enjoy.
When someone says “Santa’s beard,” stroke your chin as if showing a beard while saying “Ho ho ho.” When someone says “Santa’s sleigh,” stretch both hands forward and shake them while saying “Jingle jingle jingle.” Listen carefully to which one is called out and move so you don’t mix them up.
Speeding up the rhythm increases the difficulty, so try that once you get the hang of it.
Fun for kids and adults! Balloon Battle
Here’s a game called “Balloon Battle” that uses long balloons and round balloons.
Prepare one long balloon for each participant.
After inflating the balloons, each participant holds a long balloon, and at the start signal, they pass the round balloon to the opponent.
The rule is that you can’t use your hands—you must pass using the long balloon.
Balloons are light, and if you misjudge your strength, they’ll drift away.
If you drop the balloon, you lose, so be careful when passing.
The game is basically played by two people, but it could also be fun as a team relay.
Fun for toddlers and up! Find-the-friend game
In the Matching Friends game, one sample illustration and multiple candidate illustrations are shown.
Once the game starts, look through the candidates and find the one that matches the sample illustration.
If you find it, you clear the game! If not, please try again.
The candidate illustrations are very similar to the sample, so you’ll need to pay close attention to the details.
Do your best to find the matching friend for the sample illustration!
Fun educational game
https://www.tiktok.com/@soramame.sensei/video/7254149835400416514This is a simple indoor game where you gently stack colorful cardboard pieces—cut into shapes of foods kids love—onto a toilet paper roll using chopsticks or your hands.
Because it requires careful control of force, it helps develop fine motor skills, concentration, and recognition of colors and shapes.
You can use everyday materials! Even if pieces fall, it’s still fun, so children naturally experience cooperation and a sense of accomplishment as they play.
Kids with and without disabilities can enjoy it together, and you can adjust the difficulty with a bit of creativity.
It’s a gentle, handmade activity that even adults can get absorbed in.
Group therapy treasure hunt
https://www.tiktok.com/@bear_kids_official/video/7513775675971489042A game where you search for hidden treasures in a room.
As children naturally build concentration and observation skills—and if you turn it into a team game suited to their developmental stage—they also develop communication skills by cooperating with friends.
The sense of accomplishment when they find the treasure boosts their confidence and self-esteem! It’s easy to prepare and not affected by the weather, so you can put it into practice right away.
Since both kids and adults can enjoy it together, it’s the perfect activity for creating time filled with children’s smiles.
Balloon roly-poly game
@soramame.sensei Let’s make a roly-poly toy with a balloon and play a game! 😊 With friends! With family! An indoor game you can play even on rainy days ☔✨️Child Development SupportAfter-school day service#SoramameKids#StayHomeTime#Indoor PlayParent-child time#HandmadeToyschild# developmental support (ryōiku)translation
♬ A cute pop and bouncy song(1526882) – sanusagi
First, attach a weight to a balloon to make one that pops back up when knocked over.
Create a 3×3 grid on the floor with hula hoops or similar, and you win by lining up three in a row vertically, horizontally, or diagonally! This activity effectively improves motor skills, hand–eye balance, and sense of force control.
Kids are sure to be captivated.
It’s easy to prepare and safe to enjoy indoors, so adults can join in the fun too.
It promotes growth through play, so be sure to enjoy it together with the children!
Elephant and Spiderweb
This is an activity to play along with the song “Zō-san to Kumo no Su” (The Elephant and the Spider Web).
First, choose one child to be the elephant, and have the other children sit in a circle.
The elephant walks around the circle while singing the song and selects seated children one by one.
When a child is chosen, they line up behind the elephant like a pretend train.
Once everyone has been chosen and is connected, finish by having everyone separate—like the spider web threads breaking—and flop down to lie or sit on the floor.
It’s a great way for children to communicate with each other, so give it a try!
