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

Alien Repatriation Game

Let’s work together with friends to help the aliens! Here’s an idea for an Alien Return game.

You’ll need balloons, markers, and something to mark the start and finish lines.

In this simple game, you carry balloon “aliens” to the goal—but cooperating with friends is absolutely required.

That’s because you play in teams of four, holding hands, and the rule is that you can’t let go! Coordinate your moves using your linked hands, heads, shoulders, or hips, and call out to sync your timing.

Work together and save the aliens!

Animal Role-Playing Game

[Age 4] Animal Role-Playing Game — Body-Building Games for 4-Year-Olds | Torikai Yui-Kindergarten [Nursery School/Kindergarten]

Rather than just imitating animals, this role-playing animal game uses animal movements to overcome obstacles and is an excellent indoor activity for children, who are flexible both mentally and physically.

Because they use the indicated animal’s movements and traits, kids can develop abilities like explosive power, balance, and overall body control.

Obstacles that are easy when walking normally become challenging when moving in animal-specific ways, such as on all fours, which can spark children’s imagination and enhance their physical abilities.

It’s a full-body activity that’s fun, so even when it’s hard to play outside, kids can still play to their hearts’ content.

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Hoshino Takashi

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Kocho-ko Choco

[For 0–2-year-olds • February • Valentine’s Day] Tickle Choco / gaagaaS (featured in Mate childcare magazine “Monthly Hiroba,” February 2024 issue) Chocolate / fingerplay / baby play / full-body play / infant play / childcare / kindergarten / song play

We’d like to introduce a play song perfect for tickle games.

Is what’s in the box chocolate, or a tickle? Enjoy matching the actions to the lyrics.

If it’s chocolate, say “Here you go!” and offer it as a present; if it’s a tickle, give a little tickle.

With babies, caregivers can use it as a bonding touch game, and with toddlers and preschoolers, kids can pair up with friends and enjoy it as a hand-play song or dance song.

It could also be fun to set your own original items in the box besides chocolate and tickles!

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sasashina

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Rock-Paper-Scissors Sugoroku

@kidschallengeclub♬ EMA – go!go!vanillas

Turn your room into a sugoroku board! Here’s an idea for a Rock-Paper-Scissors Sugoroku game.

Sugoroku is a traditional Japanese board game where you advance squares using dice.

However, in this version, you don’t use dice—you move forward by playing rock-paper-scissors.

The rules are simple: win to advance, lose and go back to the start.

Kids can join in easily.

Set up items like mats, balance beams, or vaulting boxes in the room to represent the squares.

Ball Battle

Build decision-making skills through play! Here’s a ball battle game idea.

For children, decision-making is an essential skill in everyday life and learning.

By developing the ability to think things through and choose, and to act appropriately based on the situation, they grow more independent and learn to think and make decisions on their own.

This time, let’s nurture decision-making skills while playing a ball battle game.

Pair up in twos and face each other; place some colored balls between you and you’re ready to go! If you lose rock-paper-scissors, run away quickly; if you win, watch your opponent’s movements and throw a ball.

Give it a try!