Lovely childcare

[Childcare] Full of energy! Indoor activity ideas to get kids moving

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.
Nursery Teacher Mom Writertsukada moe
After working for five years at an after-school childcare club and three years at a nursery school, I began working as a freelance writer. I’m a mother of two children. Inspired by playing the flute in the school wind ensemble in elementary school, I joined a jazz club at university. I’ve also incorporated ukulele and piano performance into childcare. Playing, laughing, feeling sad, feeling frustrated—through all kinds of experiences, I want children to grow.

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] Full of energy! Indoor physical activity play ideas (81–90)

Copycat game

Let's try it with the teacher! Copycat Game♪

Copycat game

Let’s have fun with body mimicry! Here are some ideas for a copycat game that’s sure to make everyone smile.

While copying the teacher’s movements, strike unique poses like animals or heroes and play together.

You’ll find yourselves laughing and saying, “What is this?!” as you move your bodies.

While playing, kids build flexibility and balance, and the best part is learning through fun—“Can you really do this pose?” You might even discover some unexpected moves!

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Towel tug-of-war

Play in Many Ways with Towels! [Age 3] | Torikai Yūiku-en [Nursery/Kindergarten]

Towel tug-of-war

This is an indoor game where you play tug-of-war, a common sports day event, using a towel.

Since a towel is shorter than a rope, you can’t have as many participants as in the original game, but in a limited indoor space, the ease of playing one-on-one is a big plus.

It’s perfect for kids who want to move their bodies, as they can be active without going outside.

However, if you pair children with a large difference in strength, the match may end one-sidedly, and there’s a risk of injury if the weaker child can’t brace when pulled.

Make sure adults keep a close eye on them.

Raise the rankinglower

Hoshino Takashi

Report a problem

mat exercises

[Physical Education Class] Teacher Toshio will joyfully teach preschoolers the basics of mat exercises: forward rolls and backward rolls!

mat exercises

Why not take this opportunity to try practicing forward and backward rolls? For the forward roll, key tips include using your arm strength, looking at your belly button, and lifting your hips high as you roll.

It helps to clearly explain common mistakes as well, so the children can experience the joy of saying, “I did it!” As for the backward roll, if it’s not done well it can put strain on the neck, so there’s no need to force it during the preschool years.

Use fun prompts like “Make bunny ears!” so everyone can enjoy giving it a try together.

Raise the rankinglower

Report a problem

Who is the leader?

[Physical Expression] Four Indoor Games That Allow Social Distancing [Nursery School/Kindergarten]

Who is the leader?

This is an indoor game where luck and quick reading are key: you win if you can make the same move as the leader on cue.

First, choose one leader, and have the children line up with some distance between them.

If the leader says “Left,” anyone who jumps to the left in the same way wins—simple as that.

Play it with children who can tell left from right.

If you have a small group and plenty of space, increase the difficulty by adding directions beyond left and right, such as forward and backward.

Because it can be played with distance between players, it’s an easy, casual recreation even in today’s challenging circumstances.

Raise the rankinglower

Hoshino Takashi

Report a problem

Newspaper play

[Expressive Play for Young Children] Using Familiar Materials (Kyoritsu Women’s University: Miwa Adachi)

Newspaper play

This is an indoor game where each person has one sheet of newspaper and competes to see how long they can keep standing on it as it gets folded smaller with each round.

The rule is simple: at the signal, you must stand on the newspaper you’re holding.

However, because the paper is folded after every round, the space you can stand on gets smaller and smaller.

In addition to the shrinking area, the increasing thickness from the folds makes the surface uneven, so the further the game progresses, the more balance you’ll need.

It’s great for large groups, and because the difficulty increases as the game goes on, it’s a recommended recreational activity for helping children improve their physical abilities.

Raise the rankinglower

Hoshino Takashi

Report a problem