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

Treasure-Grabbing Game

[Peripheral vision] [Decision-making] Train while playing! Fun for everyone from toddlers to adults!

Let’s play with excitement! Here’s an idea for a treasure-grabbing game.

This unique activity can be enjoyed by both kids and adults, so teachers and guardians should join in with the children and have fun together.

It’s a simple game where you spread two colors of hula hoops around the room and move markers into the hula hoops of your team color.

The key rule is that only one marker can be placed inside each hula hoop! Give it a try!

Daikon Game

[Exercise & Gymnastics Kids Love] The “Daikon Game,” recommended from age 3 / Rule-based movement play and exercise-gymnastics educational video to improve motor skills together with Mom

Let me introduce the “Daikon Game,” a fun activity you can enjoy indoors while moving your body! Get everyone excited by having them pretend to be daikon radishes.

Lie down in a circle holding hands.

Stay in character as daikon and don’t let go of your friends’ hands so the ‘oni’ can’t pull you out.

The child who stays until the end wins! Rules vary by region, but if you link arms instead of holding hands, you can become even stronger daikon! It’s also fun to let the kids come up with ways to avoid being pulled out, so I highly recommend it.

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kepiko

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Seated tag

A big hit at kindergartens! Introducing Tick-Tock Tag you can start using tomorrow!

“We can’t play outside because of the rain, but I still want to move my body as much as possible today!” In times like these, here’s a childcare-friendly game we recommend: “Seated Tag.” First, the children start in a seated position.

The rule is that they must keep their bottoms on the floor at all times.

Set a time limit, then play tag while staying seated.

Since it doesn’t involve running, it’s safe and fun to play indoors.

It also helps build leg strength as kids move using their legs and bottoms, so be sure to add it to your play repertoire!

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Balloon Shiritori

[Balloon Shiritori] A series of at-home games you can play with your kids #shorts

It’s a game where you pass a balloon around while playing shiritori, trying not to let the balloon fall.

When the previous person says a letter and passes the balloon, the next person must add a shiritori word before touching the balloon.

It may seem easy, but sometimes you can’t think of words when you’re focused on the balloon.

This game helps develop various skills in children—not only physical ability but also recognition skills and a sense of rhythm.

When playing indoors, trying it while seated offers a different kind of fun and is recommended! Feel free to adapt it to suit the age of the children.

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Crawling tail-chasing game

[Age 3] Crawling Tail Tag & Clothespin Relay

Here’s a crawling tail-tag game that gets kids excited! Each child wears a “tail” made by braiding vinyl (suzuran) tape.

The teacher plays the “it” chaser.

At the start signal, the children crawl and try to escape so they don’t get caught.

If a child has their tail taken by “it,” they can do five jumps, put the tail back on, and rejoin the game.

Try switching who’s “it” or increasing the number of chasers to keep the tail-tag game fun!

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mayumi

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Color Touch Game

[Brain Training] Color Touch Game that even preschoolers can play

Move your body while training your memory! Here’s an idea for a color-touch game.

All you need are hula hoops and color markers.

It’s a simple and fun game that kids as young as three can enjoy! Using the hula hoops and color markers, the rule is to touch the color the teacher calls out and then return to your base.

It’s a great way to be active while learning colors.

Start with one color, and as they get used to it, increase to two or three colors to naturally boost memory and reaction speed.

Give it a try!

Say the same thing, do the opposite game

It’s simple but tricky—that’s what makes it fun! Here’s an idea for a game where what you say and what you do are opposites.

A teacher or guardian plays the role of the caller, giving directions like forward, backward, left, and right.

The children imitate what the caller says, but perform the opposite movement.

It’s a unique game! At first, it’s best to go slowly and carefully.

Once everyone gets used to it, try speeding up the tempo or adapting it into a three-person team match to make it more exciting.