[For Kids] Indoor Fun! Large-Group Recreational Activities and Games
Spending time with children, indoor fun time is important, isn’t it?
Even when the weather is bad or when you can’t go outside due to coordinating spaces with other classes, kids can refresh and have a fulfilling time if you enjoy doing recreations and games indoors.
Here, we’ve gathered ideas for indoor recreations and games that work well with large groups.
We’ve divided them into activities for preschoolers and for elementary school children, so you’re sure to find ideas that suit the kids who will be playing.
Please use this as a reference!
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- [Elementary School Rec] Recommended Games and Performances for a Fun Party
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[For Kids] Indoor Activities! Large-Group Recreations and Games (11–20)
Color-finding game
Inside nursery schools and kindergartens, there are actually all kinds of items that even adults might overlook.
The “Color Hunt Game” is an activity where children look for objects in the color the teacher calls out.
Try simulating a wide range of colors—from easy ones like green, red, and yellow to trickier ones like purple, gray, and brown.
Clothing worn by the children or teachers counts too.
By happily searching for colors with friends, kids can have a wonderful time.
Another great point of this game is that it gets their bodies moving.
Rock-Paper-Scissors Train
How about playing Rock-Paper-Scissors Train? As long as you can play rock-paper-scissors, anyone can join, so even small children can enjoy it.
While the music is playing, everyone walks around freely; when the music stops, you freeze and play rock-paper-scissors with someone nearby.
The loser goes behind the winner and places their hands on the winner’s shoulders.
You repeat this until you’ve formed a single-file train.
It feels great to end up at the very front, doesn’t it?
Memory Drawing Game
This is a game where you present something everyone knows—like animals or popular characters—and players draw it relying only on their memory.
The rules are simple: the person who best recreates the subject wins.
It tests not only drawing skills but also the ability to capture distinctive features.
Consider including themes that are approachable even for people who aren’t confident in drawing, such as subjects with notable color schemes like a “panda.” You can also set specific focus points—like the color of the tail—and award points if those parts are correct, which should help everyone enjoy the game fairly.
PET bottle darts
Traditional darts involves throwing darts at a target hanging on the wall, but because the tips are sharp, they can damage the wall or cause injuries.
Let’s adapt the game for kids.
A recommended version is “plastic bottle darts.” All you need are an empty plastic bottle and a pair of disposable chopsticks.
Remove the bottle cap and place the bottle on the floor.
Then drop the chopsticks straight down from above, aiming for the bottle opening.
If the chopsticks land neatly in the opening, you score points.
Repeat several times, and whoever has the most points at the end wins.
You can make it even more exciting by varying the points based on the height from which the chopsticks are dropped.
human disentanglement puzzle
In the “Human Knot” game, everyone stands in a circle and crosses both hands forward.
Then, each person grabs the hands of two different people (not their own), forming a knot.
Let’s work together to untangle it until we’re back to a neat circle! Be careful not to pull forcefully or climb over others, as that can cause injuries.
It’s also recommended to appoint one participant as a “helper” to assist with the untangling—this makes the game safer and more enjoyable!
