[Childcare] Full of energy! Indoor activity ideas to get kids moving
There are times when the weather or location keeps you from playing outside, right?
You still want to get moving and play with your energetic kids, even just a little.
For teachers who feel this way, here are some ideas for indoor active play.
The games that captivate children vary depending on their age and interests.
This time, we’ve gathered activities that involve different movements and creative thinking—so you’re sure to find ideas that fit your class perfectly!
Kids will be thrilled with games that are possible precisely because they’re indoors.
Teachers, have fun together with the children, too.
- [Childcare / Physical Play] Fun Activities to Get Moving
- Ideas for indoor play and physical activities recommended for 1-year-olds
- [Childcare] Play Right Now! Recommended No-Prep Games
- Ideas for indoor activities and group games that 5-year-olds like
- For 1-year-olds! Indoor play ideas that make rainy days fun
- Indoor games that different ages can enjoy! Ideas for fun everyone can get excited about together
- Fun Indoor Games for Elementary School Kids Without Any Equipment
- Ideas for indoor activities, games, and group play that 5-year-olds enjoy
- [Childcare] Fun mat play ideas for enjoyable exercise
- Indoor activities that 2-year-olds can enjoy. Recommended at-home games that will keep them engaged.
- [Childcare] Recommended for 3-year-olds! Play ideas everyone can enjoy
- [Childcare] DIY Ideas for Circuit Play
- [For 5-Year-Olds] Recommended Indoor Play! A Collection of Exciting Games
[Childcare] Full of energy! A collection of indoor play ideas that get kids moving (71–80)
Color Search Game
Let’s look for what colors are hiding around the room! Here are some ideas for a color-finding game.
This activity is appealing thanks to its simple and easy-to-understand rules.
Just color some paper with markers, put the pieces into a paper cup, and you’re ready to play! It feels exciting, like drawing lots.
As you play, it helps improve color recognition, making it a fun and educational activity.
Once you get used to the game, try drawing two pieces of paper and combining the two colors—that sounds fun too.
Give it a try!
Clapping game until you drop
It’s a game you can casually play in a compact space without any special preparation or large area.
The rules are simple: first, each person holds a sheet of tissue paper.
Then, raise your hand above your head and drop the tissue, competing to see how many times you can clap before it falls.
You’ll stretch to drop it from as high as possible and move quickly to pick it up, so it becomes a full-body activity.
The lively clapping sounds make it fun and cheerful, and it’s great to see everyone smiling!
Bug-catching game
Here’s a bug-catching game you play with a butterfly net.
The rules are very simple: cut origami paper into small pieces to make confetti, put it in a bowl, and get ready.
The person dropping the confetti stands on a raised platform and sprinkles the paper down.
The child below holds a butterfly net and tries to catch the confetti with the net.
It’s a fun game where you watch the confetti fall from above and move the hand-held net to catch it inside.
Try it in a spacious area and be sure to play safely!
[Childcare] Full of energy! Indoor physical activity play ideas (81–90)
Rock-paper-scissors is fun even in the rain
Here are some rock-paper-scissors games you can enjoy indoors with kids, even on rainy days.
“American Janken” reverses winning and losing, so it makes you think.
“Body Janken” is a game where you represent rock, paper, and scissors using your whole body.
It’s recommended to decide how you’ll show rock, paper, and scissors beforehand.
In “Newspaper Janken,” which uses newspaper, you stand on a sheet and play; each time you lose, you fold your newspaper once to make it smaller.
In “Janken Train,” the loser lines up behind the winner, and the ‘passengers’ gradually increase.
Find your favorite janken game and give it a try!
Balloon Play
Balloons floating softly in the air are very safe, so kids can play with them with peace of mind.
Here are some indoor games using balloons.
The “keep it off the floor” game naturally encourages kids to cooperate, calling out to each other to keep the balloon from touching the floor and getting excited together.
In the balloon passing game, form groups of about six and split into teams.
Enjoy sending the balloon from front to back, or passing it under the knees.
The team that can pass the balloon the fastest wins.
You can also stick a strip of plastic tape across the middle of the room and enjoy balloon volleyball or soccer.
Please choose and enjoy games suited to the children’s ages.
Balloon play
Let’s have some fun with balloons—you can even get them at the 100-yen shop! There are no rules for how to play, so once you inflate a balloon, try throwing it, catching it, or kicking it around in a spacious area.
If you prepare balloons in various colors and let the kids choose, or draw their favorite characters on them, they’ll love it.
It could be even more exciting if adults join in—drop balloons from a high place or toss a bunch all at once!
Moguradon’snursery rhyme
Let me introduce a mole-themed nursery rhyme game that friends or parents and children can enjoy together.
Everyone forms a circle and holds hands.
One person sits in the center as the mole.
When everyone calls out, “Mole, wake up!” the mole answers, “Okay!” and wakes up.
At the same moment, the people around should try to run away so they don’t get caught by the mole.
The mole chases and tags someone.
Next, the person who was tagged switches roles and becomes the mole.
You can make it even more fun by discussing and changing the lines you say during the game.