[Childcare] Ideas for rope play and jump rope. Fun physical activities for children
With a little creativity, the ways to play with rope are endless.
One of rope’s charms is how easy it is to set up and how freely it can change form—loop it, lay it on the ground, or hang it from above.
Beyond jumping, children can step over it, crawl under it, pull it—there are so many active ways to play that we’d love to see ropes used more in nurseries and kindergartens.
So this time, we’re sharing ideas for games that use rope.
We’ve gathered a wide range of activities that children from infants to the oldest kindergarteners can enjoy, both indoors and outdoors.
Please try incorporating lots of these games, adapting them to each child’s age and developmental stage!
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[Childcare] Ideas for rope play and jump rope. Fun physical activities for children (1–10)
wiggly snake
When you want to be active but playing outside is difficult, try using a long jump rope.
You can get moving while having fun by jumping over a rope laid on the floor or moving around without stepping on a rope that wiggles like a snake.
Once you get used to the movements, you can add variations—throw in feints or lift the rope slightly off the ground.
The energetic children hopping around will be all smiles, and the watching teacher is sure to smile too.
If your preschool doesn’t use indoor shoes, please remove socks to prevent slipping and falling.
Crawling under the rope
Have the teacher make something like a finish line tape, and try passing through it! You can run or walk—either is fine.
The act of setting a goal and heading toward it piques children’s curiosity.
It might be even more exciting if you place some obstacles in between!
Tug of war
If you really want to enjoy rope play, tug-of-war is a must! Everyone grabs the rope and pulls with all their might, working together as a team.
It’s such a simple game that even very young children can join in.
As kids reach the middle and older preschool years, they learn how to coordinate their pulling with others, and from a teacher’s or parent’s perspective, it’s a play activity where you can really see their growth.
[Childcare] Rope-play and jump-rope ideas: Fun physical activities for kids (11–20)
tightrope walking
One sport that makes use of balance and can be enjoyed easily is tightrope walking.
In this version, you place a jump rope or similar item on the ground and move along it without falling off.
Since there’s no risk of injury even if you step off, you can participate with peace of mind.
That also means you can try crossing with dynamic movements or even dash across boldly.
You can also take advantage of the jump rope’s characteristics by laying it out not just straight, but in a zigzag or in shapes.
Adjust the length of the jump rope to match the shape you want to create.
playing train
Here’s a game of “playing trains” that you can enjoy at home.
Lots of kids love trains, right? If you have a jump rope, you can turn it into a train and enjoy playing trains anywhere, so it’s highly recommended.
There aren’t any complicated rules, so even children who can’t yet understand rules can play.
If you have siblings, it would be fun and exciting for the whole family to run around the house as a train together! Try this when you want to play with a small child using a jump rope.
rope climbing
Did you play on the horizontal bar when you were a child? We had PE classes that used the horizontal bar, but I was really bad at it.
If a kindergarten or daycare has ropes, I think it would be fun to try using them.
Compared to the bar, ropes sway, so they seem effective for developing balance and core strength.
Start with simple hanging exercises.
Beginning with a warm-up like “hang from the rope while counting to 10” sounds good.
It naturally stretches healthy muscles and can help prevent injuries.
Once you get used to it, try adding variety—climbing fast, climbing slowly—and enjoy the rope.
Jump rope catch
Introducing a fun “Jump Rope Catch” game that video sites say is suitable from age two.
It’s recommended as an introductory activity for jump-rope play, which children will use more as they grow.
One handle of the jump rope—usually made of plastic or wood—is held by the teacher, and children try to grab the other handle in a game-like way.
Start one-on-one, and once they’re used to it, you can play with the whole group.
You can also adjust the activity by having children sit or stand, depending on age and development.
Try different ways of moving the rope—waving it like a wave or bouncing it up and down vertically—and enjoy using the jump rope in many forms.