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

Morning-Noon-Night Game

Indoor games for large groups starting from age 3! Even elementary school kids can have fun while practicing moving quickly!

As the name suggests, this is an indoor game where players instantly respond with movements that match the commands “morning,” “noon,” and “night.” An adult acts as the caller and randomly calls out morning, noon, or night to keep the game going.

For morning, it’s time to wake up, so players stand up; for noon, it’s time to do activities like eating or drawing, so they sit; and for night, it’s bedtime, so they lie down.

Because players must quickly decide and move, the game requires both judgment and quick reflexes.

When kids get absorbed in it, it becomes exercise comparable to outdoor play.

It’s a recreation activity you’ll definitely want to try with children.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Paper Cup Stacking Race

[Kids’ Exercise You Can Do at Home] Paper Cup Stacking Race (For All Ages)

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.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Train play

At the nursery school, the 2-year-old class is playing trains in the hall!

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!

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Hoshino Takashi

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Signaling Game

A quick pastime for spare moments: the ‘Traffic Light Game’ for older preschoolers/also great for recreation

It’s also great for a quick play during small breaks! Here’s an idea for a traffic light game.

Traffic lights are important indicators for learning traffic rules.

When crossing roads where cars and bicycles are moving, they play a crucial role in keeping yourself safe.

This time, let’s use the colors of the traffic light to play a game.

Move forward on “green,” step back on “yellow,” and stop on “red.” Through these simple rules, children can get a feel for the basic rules of “waiting” and “moving.”

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.