[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 all play! Recommended ideas for group activities and games (41–50)
Clapping game until you drop
It’s a game you can play casually in a compact space, with no special preparations or large area required.
The rules are simple: first, each person takes a sheet of tissue paper and holds it.
Next, raise your hand above your head, drop the tissue, and compete to see how many times you can clap before it falls.
You’ll stretch your body to drop it from as high as possible and move quickly to pick it up, so it becomes a full-body exercise.
The lively clapping sounds fill the room, and it’s great to see everyone smiling and having fun!
Hoop Musical Chairs
Let’s play using both our bodies and brains! Here’s an idea for a hula hoop musical chairs game.
Prepare about 10 small hula hoops in various colors.
As everyone hums a song with a deserted island theme, walk around the hula hoops.
When the teacher calls out “1, 2, 3,” everyone jumps into a hula hoop island.
It gets more exciting if you gradually reduce the number of hula hoops! Once everyone gets used to the game, try specifying which color hula hoop to enter, or call out items related to a color to decide which hoop to use.
Hoop Music Play
Let me share some ideas for playing with music using hula hoops.
All you need is a piano and large hula hoops.
Eurhythmics nurtures children’s interest in music and their abilities by moving the body to music and playing with rhythm.
While it’s possible to do these activities without any props, why not try eurhythmics ideas that use hula hoops? By moving the hula hoops to the music or along the scale, children can enjoy the fun of expressing themselves with their bodies.
Reaction Game
Let’s play with color markers! Here’s a reaction game idea.
It’s perfect for anyone who wants to get kids moving and playing together.
Arrange colorful markers in a circle and place a marker or token in the center—then you’re ready to go.
When the teacher gives the signal, participants circle around the center.
You can make it more fun by adding variations, like switching direction when the teacher claps.
It’s a simple game where players try to find the marker that matches the color of the one the teacher raises along with the signal.
Mr. Wolf, what time is it now?
“Mr.
Wolf, what time is it?” is a group game where the back-and-forth with the wolf is great fun.
There’s also an audio track available on childcare CDs, so if you want something easy to use, check those out.
It goes smoothly if the teacher plays the wolf.
The children walk around in circles while singing along to the music.
As they call out, “Mister Woooolf,” they watch to see what the wolf is up to.
Depending on the moment, the wolf might be brushing his teeth, getting dressed, and so on.
In the end, the wolf comes to eat the children—so everyone runs away! Since it’s a group game with elements of pretend play, kids can fully get into character and enjoy it.
Mark-finding game
The “Mark Hunt Game,” where you walk along specified marks like circles, triangles, and squares, is an indoor activity recommended for children aged five and up.
First, tape several sheets of paper with different marks drawn on them to the floor to make a path.
Also prepare one sheet for each type of mark at the goal.
The children start while holding a ball.
It’s best to play barefoot so they don’t slip.
At the end, count how many balls were correctly placed at the goal for each team.
Competing by team and counting out loud together makes it really exciting!
Balloon Bomb Game
How about playing an exciting balloon bomb game together and getting everyone hyped? Prepare themes like animal names, and pass the balloon to the next person without making it explode! If you can’t say the theme properly or fail to pass the balloon, you’re out.
Instead of actually popping a balloon, use your voice or sound effects to mimic an explosion so you don’t scare the kids.
You can also adjust the themes based on age to level up the challenge and make it even more fun!
