[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.
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[Childcare] Full of energy! Indoor play ideas to get kids moving (91–100)
Sinking Game
This is an indoor recreation activity where the entire room is imagined as the sea, and the goal is to escape without being caught by the shark.
An adult plays the role of the shark, while the participating children wait on islands—mats and the like—imagined as boats.
When the shark says “It’s sinking!”, the boat they’re on is considered to sink into the sea, so they must move to a different boat before the shark catches them.
The shark may use feints by saying confusing words like “cheese,” or whisper “It’s sinking,” which requires concentration and quick judgment.
That’s why it’s an activity children become totally absorbed in.
Paper Cup Stacking Race
It’s a simple game with the rule of seeing whether you can toss a paper cup and make it land upright, yet it’s challenging even for adults.
Because paper cups are light and shaped to easily catch air resistance, they rarely move exactly as you intend, making it irresistibly replayable.
Try not only tossing but also seeing if you can make a kicked paper cup stand upright—it’s a great way to develop children’s motor skills.
You can also boost the game’s competitiveness by throwing from a set spot and seeing if you can make the cup stand after it passes a certain distance.
It’s a highly customizable indoor activity we recommend.
Train play
Pretend-play as your favorite train has always been a hugely popular activity for kids, both now and in the past.
If you have a rope or anything string-like, you can play outside, but indoors you can get creative by placing paper with tracks drawn on it or setting up obstacles.
In smaller spaces where making a long, connected train is tricky, using items like hula hoops to create a train length that fits the room makes it easier and is highly recommended.
Changing the course keeps the indoor play fresh and fun, so give it a try!
Hoop ball throwing
@omiyamichinoko♪ Classical Medley 2019 (Cover) – Pianica Magician
Hula hoops become the targets! Here’s an idea for a game where you throw balls at hula hoops.
You’ll need two hula hoops, masking tape, and small colored balls.
First, stick masking tape onto the hula hoops to create the targets.
Next, throw the colored balls at the hula hoop targets.
When your aim is spot on, the balls will stick to the masking tape with a satisfying “plop,” which makes it really fun! You can also compete to see how many balls stick to make it even more exciting.
oshikura manju (a children’s pushing game)
Oshikura Manju, a traditional folk game that has been played for generations, is a lively activity that works well indoors.
Participants stand back-to-back inside a designated circle, and at the start they chant, “Oshikura manju, don’t cry when you’re pushed,” while using their backs and hips to push others out.
If you step outside the circle or touch the floor with your hand, you lose; the last person standing wins.
The simple rules make it enjoyable for children of a wide range of ages.
It’s a classic game where the larger the group, the more unpredictable—and fun—the effects of each push become.
Ball Toss Game
Tamaire, where you throw balls into a high basket, is a game often played at school sports days.
It’s hard to do it indoors with the exact same rules, but if you set a rule where players throw balls toward a box or similar container from a designated spot, it’s sure to get kids excited.
By changing the points awarded depending on the distance to the box, children can enjoy the game at a level suited to their abilities.
It’s a game uniquely suited to indoors that helps improve throwing skills and nurtures strategic thinking about how to win.
Ball passing
A simple game where players stand in a line and pass a ball from the person at the front to the person at the back; the team that gets it to the end the fastest wins.
It’s a team-play game often seen at school sports days.
At sports days, which are usually held outdoors or in large spaces, it’s common to use a giant ball, but indoors you can use a regular ball—or even a smaller ball—to add a different kind of challenge.
Once the ball reaches the back, you can send it forward again, or after passing it overhead to the back, switch to passing it forward between the legs.
With a few variations, it becomes an even more exciting indoor activity.