Outdoor games for large groups. Fun, exciting games for kids.

Hoop Musical Chairs

[Nursery Teacher | Outdoor Play] Hula Hoop

Let’s play using both our bodies and brains! Here’s an idea for a hula hoop musical chairs game.

Prepare about 10 small hula hoops in various colors.

As everyone hums a song with a deserted island theme, walk around the hula hoops.

When the teacher calls out “1, 2, 3,” everyone jumps into a hula hoop island.

It gets more exciting if you gradually reduce the number of hula hoops! Once everyone gets used to the game, try specifying which color hula hoop to enter, or call out items related to a color to decide which hoop to use.

Range ogre

10. Microwave Demon (Microwave tag) [Exercise play]

Here’s an introduction to “Range Oni,” a variation of the familiar kids’ game freeze tag.

“Range” refers to a microwave oven, and this version turns the classic freeze tag into a cooperative game.

The rule is the same up to the point where a player tagged by the chaser freezes on the spot.

In Range Oni, when you find a frozen friend, two teammates surround them and hold hands.

While saying “Range de chin” (like the microwave’s beep), they lower their joined hands, and the frozen friend is “defrosted” and can move again.

Of course, if the chaser tags them before the defrost is complete, everyone freezes—making it a thrilling, edge-of-your-seat game of tag!

Morning Noon Night game

Indoor games for large groups starting from age 3! Even elementary school kids can have fun while practicing moving quickly!

Here’s an introduction to the Morning-Afternoon-Night game.

You can play it anytime, anywhere, with any number of people, so it’s perfect for filling small gaps of time! When the teacher says “morning,” the children stand up.

For “afternoon,” they sit in seiza (kneel with legs folded under).

For “night,” they lie down right where they are.

The fun is in doing each action as quickly as possible.

Once they get used to it, try adding twists like “duck” or “monkey.” How will the children respond? Will they imitate the animals, get confused, or tell you, “Teacher, that’s wrong!”? That uncertainty is part of the fun of this game.

Balloon Whack Game

[Age 3] “Balloon Whack Game”

Here’s a game using balloons that kids love: the Balloon Smack Game.

It’s basically the summer watermelon-smashing game, but with a balloon instead of a watermelon.

One designated player wears a blindfold and swings a plastic bat toward the balloon.

Spectators should keep a safe distance and guide the player with their voices: “To the right!” “A little farther back!” and so on, helping them find the balloon.

It also works well as a warm-up when you’re planning to do a real watermelon-smashing activity at an overnight camp or summer festival.

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Treasure-Grabbing Game

[Peripheral vision] [Decision-making] Train while playing! Fun for everyone from toddlers to adults!

Let’s play with excitement! Here’s an idea for a treasure-grabbing game.

This unique activity can be enjoyed by both kids and adults, so teachers and guardians should join in with the children and have fun together.

It’s a simple game where you spread two colors of hula hoops around the room and move markers into the hula hoops of your team color.

The key rule is that only one marker can be placed inside each hula hoop! Give it a try!