![[Childcare] Fun mat play ideas for enjoyable exercise](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/_hEN16nMqi0/maxresdefault.webp)
[Childcare] Fun mat play ideas for enjoyable exercise
Even when childcare takes place indoors, you still want kids to move their bodies and play… Many teachers probably share this concern.
Mat play is perfect for energetic children because it lets them use their whole bodies while keeping safety in mind.
We’ve gathered ideas suitable for a range of ages, so you’re sure to find activities that match the children’s developmental stages.
It’s also great to combine ideas to create your own original games.
Let’s help children move plenty and have fun, even on days when outdoor play isn’t possible.
[Childcare] Fun Mat Play Ideas for Physical Activity (1–10)
animal walk
Animal walks are all about mimicking how animals move! For example, the bear walk—placing your hands on the ground and lifting your hips high—helps strengthen the reflex to quickly put your hands out when you fall.
The chick walk—squatting and hugging your knees as you move—is perfect for developing ankle flexibility.
It’s important not just to imitate animals, but to understand what benefits each movement has and to explain key points of how to do them.
Let’s support children in building strong, healthy bodies through fun imitation play.
Bumpy Play
Bumpy play with mat hills! Stack a spread-out mat on top of a rolled-up mat to create bumps at a height that’s easy for children to go back and forth.
They can enjoy it in various ways: dash over the bumps, place two hills in a row and cross them, or crawl over them.
It’s also fun to pair up—hug each other tightly and roll together across the mat, or team up with a teacher for an extra challenge! Be sure to keep a close eye on them so they don’t lose balance and take a spill.
Fun Stretching
Once we give a cheerful greeting, it’s time for fun stretches to begin! We use names that are easy for kids to picture to keep things enjoyable—like the pill bug pose, where they lie down, lift their arms and legs, and wiggle them, or the rice ball pose, where they curl up tight and then open up wide to release.
You can also make standard flexibility exercises more fun by saying things like, “I’m going to cast a spell!” while encouraging a forward bend, or by pretending their foot is a phone to stretch the hip joint.
Add some laughter, and let’s enjoy building flexibility and core strength together.
[Ages 1 and up] Sensory mat
![[Ages 1 and up] Sensory mat](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/teM2_z91TMA/sddefault.jpg)
A “sensory mat” lets kids have fun and get stimulated even indoors.
Because they use mats that let them enjoy various sensations with the soles of their feet, you won’t have to worry about them running around the house! You can make a DIY sensory mat by attaching items with different textures to interlocking floor mats.
For example, choose safe materials for children to walk on barefoot, such as balloons, artificial flowers, sponges, or artificial turf.
If you’re playing in summer, items that feel cool—like cold packs—might also be effective.
Creating tunnels or circuits with sensory mats will make it even more exciting!
Sea Monk
The mat game “Umibozu,” which is popular with children, is a highly game-like activity where you protect your friends from the sea monster! Make sure the Umibozu role is always played by a teacher or a parent/guardian.
Children sit on mats imagined as boats, and the Umibozu appears and tries to carry off their friends.
The rule is that when someone is about to be taken, everyone works together to rescue them and then sits down to escape.
When pulling on legs or arms, be sure to be gentle to avoid injuries.
It’s perfect for playing while interacting with friends, so give it a try!
circuit play
It’s an exciting circuit play where kids make their way through a course lined with obstacles.
From bumpy paths made by stacking mats, to crawling through tunnels built with hula hoops and mats, to soft balance beams made of gentle materials—this course is full of fun setups that are sure to thrill children! On rainy days when they can’t play outside, kids are bursting with energy and eager to move.
Set up these activities indoors—even one at a time is plenty of fun—and fill their hearts with joyful play.
Mat Tunnel
Here’s a “mat tunnel” using hula hoops and a mat! Prepare three hula hoops that are a comfortable size for children to pass through.
Fold the mat in half lengthwise, and set it up so the hula hoops are positioned in the center and on both sides—then you’re ready to go! When children crawl through, the rounded hoops make the tunnel sway gently.
To add a bit of thrill, teachers can shake it from the outside too.
Because kids can see out while they crawl, even those who are scared of going through a cardboard tunnel may find this easier to try.
Jump Challenge
Jump Challenge is an easy indoor exercise we recommend for times when children can’t play outside.
To help kids move their bodies while having fun, it incorporates jumping to a rhythm.
Place items like a towel, a rolled-up stick made from newspaper or a towel, or a jump rope on the floor, and have them jump over the objects as they move along.
Don’t just jump with both feet—try hopping on one foot or laying down two lines to add variety.
Kids can even invent their own original ways to jump.
Try playing along to nursery rhymes or popular songs!
mat slide
This is a play activity where you build mountains and slides with mats and have the children overcome the obstacles.
By trying various physical activities, they can discover the fun of moving their bodies, and it may also help improve their stamina and motor skills.
Even if they can’t climb over the mountain right away, avoid jumping in to help immediately—warmly watch over them until they can do it on their own! The sense of accomplishment when they make it over will also support their growth.
Once they get used to it, you might raise the height of the mats according to their age to increase the difficulty.
[Ages 4 and up] Climbing the mat wall
![[Ages 4 and up] Climbing the mat wall](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/flJA-JVdcqU/sddefault.jpg)
Mats aren’t just for laying on the floor and playing—they can be used to build walls too! A great activity for children around age four, when their motor skills have developed to a certain extent, is “mat wall climbing.” All you have to do is prop a mat diagonally between the stage and the floor, making it an easy activity to try.
You can also increase the difficulty by changing the angle of the mat! Because it engages the whole body—arms, legs, and more—it’s very helpful for improving your child’s physical abilities.
If several children do it together, they can support one another and play while interacting with friends.
Give it a try!