![[List] A roundup of games and recreational activities kids love](https://i.ytimg.com/vi_webp/ND2MoH1S8M4/maxresdefault.webp)
[List] A roundup of games and recreational activities kids love
Here’s an article that rounds up games kids absolutely love!
If you’ve ever thought, “A bunch of kids are here—what should we have them do?” or “We always end up doing the same things and it’s getting stale,” this might be helpful.
We’ve included both outdoor and indoor activities, so you can decide based on the weather.
We’re also featuring classic games that have long been beloved in Japan—adults might find them nostalgic, too.
Above all, this is a collection of ideas chosen with the hope that everyone will have a great time!
[List] A roundup of games and recreational activities kids love (1–10)
Without KatakanaNEW!
What we’re introducing here is the “No Katakana Game,” also known as “Katakanashi.” There are many situations in everyday life where we use loanwords written in katakana.
This is a fun game that upends those everyday norms.
Try explaining the given topic without using any katakana words.
For example, for “ballpoint pen,” you could describe it without katakana as “not a pencil, something you write with.” The person assigned as the explainer must describe the topic without using katakana.
If you think you know the answer, raise your hand and respond.
If you’re correct, you become the next explainer.
This game is harder than you might expect and is sure to liven things up!
Balance Rock-Paper-Scissors SurvivalNEW!
In this game, each participant uses one sheet of newspaper.
First, as preparation, each participant spreads out their newspaper and stands on it.
When the game starts, you play rock-paper-scissors with your designated opponent.
If you win, you wait as you are; if you lose, fold your newspaper once.
Repeat this process: the player who can no longer stand on their own territory—the newspaper—loses.
If you keep losing, the area you can stand on gets smaller, so you’ll end up standing on one foot or on tiptoe.
It seems like balance will be the key to pulling off a comeback victory.
Command GameNEW!
Let’s try a command game that’s sure to get the kids super excited! The rules are simple: when the teacher says, “Meirei meirei, I will do XX,” you must always follow that command.
Conversely, if the teacher says “Do XX” without prefacing it with “meirei meirei,” the correct response is not to follow that instruction—and if you do follow it, you’re out.
The judgment point is whether you remained completely still.
If you react even slightly to an incorrect instruction, you’re immediately out! Students who are disqualified should take a seat.
It’s a fun game that tests your split-second decision-making skills.
Ten thousand feet in the Alps
A hand game that uses a mountaineering song—parody lyrics of the American song “Yankee Doodle” created by a Japanese mountaineer.
Two people face each other as a pair and clap hands in time with the song.
It’s simple, so you can enjoy it indoors even when you can’t go outside due to rain.
Once you both memorize the hand movements, you can speed up the song, see how long you can keep going without making mistakes, and really get into it.
Just be careful not to get overexcited and accidentally hit your partner’s face with the hands that are supposed to clap together.
Glico Rock-Paper-Scissors
Glico rock-paper-scissors is a game where you can move forward by the number of letters in the word that corresponds to the winning hand.
Rock is often expressed as “Glico,” scissors as “chocolate,” and paper as “pineapple.” Many adults may remember playing it with friends on their way to and from school.
Because the number-of-letters rule means you don’t move very far even if you win with rock, choosing which hand to win with becomes a fun strategic challenge.
You can also customize it—like changing rock to “green peas” to match letter counts, or inventing original words for all the hands—making it a game with many ways to enjoy it.
Tag
Tag, a classic among outdoor games, has been played for generations.
Because it uses simple, universally understood rules—one person is “it,” chases others, and switches roles by tagging—both small and large groups can enjoy it.
In addition to the popular version that’s simply running and chasing, there are many variations that have long been beloved, such as “ice tag,” where you can protect yourself when you’re about to be caught, and “high-ground tag,” where escaping to a higher spot makes you safe from being tagged for 10 seconds.
It’s a fun recreation where you can try different rules or even create your own new twists.
Kendama
Kendama has been gaining attention in recent years not only as light exercise and a way to relieve stress, but also for preventing dementia and frailty.
While its simple, easy-to-understand appearance makes it approachable, it also requires the focus needed to land the ball precisely, so many children may find themselves completely absorbed in it.
Even making a single loop is difficult, and the depth of the game—with its many advanced tricks—is part of its appeal.
However, if you get too engrossed, there’s a risk of injuring yourself or those around you, so be sure to play with care.
Hide-and-seek
Hide-and-seek is a game that’s fun both as an outdoor activity in places like parks and as an indoor game, and it’s probably something everyone has played at least once, regardless of age.
The simple rules—choose one person to be “it,” and have everyone else literally hide wherever they like so they won’t be found—make it easy to enjoy with anyone.
Depending on where you play, you also have to use your head to find hiding spots that don’t overlap with others.
Just be careful: if you hide somewhere that’s too hard, you might not get found for a long time and end up bored.
hula hoop
The hula hoop sparked a huge craze in Japan in 1958.
In recent years, it’s become popular not only as a children’s toy but also as a fitness and dieting item.
The basic way to play is to spin it around your body, but there are many other ways to use it—lining them up, rolling them, or even jumping through them like a jump rope.
If the purpose is for children to play, we recommend a simple, straight type.
Choosing a smaller size that matches the child’s height, or a kids’ model, is also key.
Letting children play freely with hula hoops naturally nurtures their creativity.
dodgeball
Dodgeball is actually known as a major ball game that goes beyond simple play, with national tournaments being held.
Players are divided into an inner field and an outer field; if you’re hit by the ball while in the inner field, you move to the outer field.
Because the rules are simple—victory is decided either by the number of players remaining in the inner field at the end or when one side is completely eliminated—it’s been played during elementary school recess and PE classes both in the past and today.
Strategy is fun as well, since attacks from the outer field are just as important as those from the inner field, making the initial player arrangement crucial.
When there are fewer players, you can set just one person in the outer field and have them swap with someone who gets hit in the inner field, allowing the game to be enjoyed with different group sizes.