[Solo Time] A roundup of ways to kill time without using your smartphone

Let’s try cat’s cradle!

Ayatori Challenge [Solo Ayatori]

Cat’s cradle is a game you can enjoy anywhere with just one string! It’s great for kids to play indoors, and you can make various shapes even by yourself.

It might look difficult at first, but with practice you’ll get the hang of it.

Start with easier ones like “Easy Rubber,” then try “Broom” and “Star,” and once you’re used to it, you can even make the advanced “Ladder.” Moving your hands also helps your brain work well.

It’s fun to use the string to come up with and create your own original shapes, too.

You’ll lose track of time playing, so give it a try!

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Let’s try making a tangram

[Math Craft] Let’s make the ever-popular educational puzzle “Tangram” for kids! A math video where you build and play

Here’s an idea for making a handmade tangram, a puzzle that’s popular with children.

There are many store-bought options, but you can make one yourself if you have construction paper.

Creating it on your own also leads to discoveries about numbers.

Tangrams let you freely choose colors and shapes while having fun, and they nurture creativity and spatial awareness.

As kids cut out the pieces and arrange them, they naturally develop fine motor skills and concentration.

Completing a figure or making an original design gives them a sense of accomplishment and boosts their confidence.

A handmade tangram isn’t just a toy—it becomes a warm, enriching experience that supports children’s intellectual and emotional growth.

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Trump Tower

Funabashi City Children's Home “Let’s Play at Home” – Playing Card Tower

A heart-pounding, nerve‑racking card tower where you carefully stack playing cards.

It’s great fun with a crowd using rules like “whoever knocks it down loses,” but you can also enjoy it solo with quiet tension.

Because you can focus entirely on your own world, it naturally nurtures concentration and dexterity.

Even if it collapses, if you don’t give up and try again, you’ll experience the joy of success—“I did it!” The more you find your own tricks and stack it higher, the more fun it becomes.

You can take it slow at your own pace, build confidence, and it’s a perfect recommendation for solo indoor play.

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Balance ball play

[Lower Grades of Elementary School] 6 Balance Ball Activities You Can Do at Home — Conquer Clumsiness with These!

A balance ball that elementary school kids can enjoy playing with on their own.

It offers lots of benefits for the body.

By sitting on the soft, springy ball or making light little hops, kids naturally strengthen their core and back, improve posture, and even boost concentration.

For example, “Balance Ball Jumps” is a game where you sit on the ball and do gentle hops.

“Tummy-and-Back Roll” involves lying on your back or stomach on the ball and rolling forward and back; it gently works the abdominal and back muscles, so it’s recommended.

There are many other ways to play too, so get creative and have fun!

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Ball games you can play alone

[Indoors OK] Solo Ball Games: 5 Recommended Picks Even Toddlers Can Do

Here are five ball games you can play by yourself! First: kick the ball yourself, run, and pass it through your legs.

You’ll use your head, too, as you think about how hard to kick.

Second: toss the ball up and pass it through your arms—moving your body is the key.

Third: balance one ball on top of another and keep it still.

Fourth: hold the ball above your head, bend your body backward, pass it through your legs, and catch it—great for flexibility.

Finally, a game using a hula hoop: while the hoop is spinning, move the ball.

You don’t need to throw or kick hard to have fun with any of these, so give them a try!

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Rubik’s Cube

Rubik’s Cube: How to solve a 3×3 Rubik’s Cube with all six faces completed. The simplest, easiest-to-remember method. A thorough explanation in 20 minutes.

The Rubik’s Cube has enjoyed high popularity for many years, with official world tournaments being held.

It’s an ideal toy for stimulating the brain: it helps train logical thinking and can improve reasoning skills.

The rule—matching colors—is simple, but completing the cube requires skills like anticipating several moves ahead, so it’s by no means easy.

For some people, it might even become a source of stress—“I can’t do this!”—but in terms of getting absorbed in something, it’s perfect for passing the time.

Why not start by trying to solve just one face first?

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Infinity Cube

[INFINITE CUBE] The true capabilities of plastic and metal [Banggood]

The endlessly unfolding infinity cube is a type of fidget toy for passing the time.

How to play is super simple: just open the cube vertically and horizontally.

If you keep your hands moving without thinking too hard, your stress and restlessness might gradually ease.

Unlike a Rubik’s Cube, there’s no goal like “matching colors,” so you can simply enjoy the movement.

As long as you supervise to make sure it doesn’t go in the mouth, it’s something you can enjoy playing with even with small children.

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