Lovely childcare

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

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

Here are some outdoor play ideas for large groups that are sure to bring out kids’ smiles!

There are many games where children work together with friends to achieve a goal, so try adapting them based on age.

With games that include a bit of competition, kids can have fun while moving their bodies—and boost their athletic skills, too!

By enjoying activities together, they also learn the joy of cooperation and develop leadership.

Outdoor play is full of new discoveries and adventures.

Get moving, stay active, and make wonderful memories!

We also recommend using these ideas as a base to come up with your own original games.

Outdoor games for large groups: Exciting kids’ games (11–20)

Tag game where the number of chasers increases (Infection tag)

We tried playing tag where the number of chasers keeps increasing!

Tag game where the number of chasers increases (Infection tag)

Here’s an introduction to “Fuyashi Oni,” a heart-pounding, edge-of-your-seat tag game where the number of taggers (oni) keeps increasing.

The rules are very simple: if you’re tagged, you become an oni, so the number of oni steadily grows—making it a game you can play with any number of people.

If you play with 30 people, before you know it there might be 29 oni and you’re the only one still running, surrounded and on pins and needles.

It can even turn into a psychological battle: an oni who’s been tagged might pretend not to notice and act like they’re still a runner, sidling up to someone and tagging them.

You don’t need any special equipment, so give it a try!

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Pyramid Rock-Paper-Scissors

Pyramid Rock-Paper-Scissors: Guaranteed to be a hit! A recreational activity

Pyramid Rock-Paper-Scissors

Guaranteed to be a blast—let’s play Pyramid Rock-Paper-Scissors! First, split into a defense team and an offense team.

Draw pyramid-shaped lines on the ground and place the defenders on the lines.

For example, if there are 15 defenders, put 5 people on the longest bottom line, then 4 on the next, and so on, ending with a single person at the top—that person is the King! The offense team starts by challenging anyone among the 5 at the bottom to rock-paper-scissors; if they win, they move up.

At the end, they play rock-paper-scissors with the King, and if they win, they clear the game.

If they lose at any point, they go back to the starting point.

Losing to the King also sends you back to start.

It’s a fun game where luck is put to the test!

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S-ken

S (Es) Ken

S-ken

Territory battles while hopping on one foot! Introducing S-Ken, a game you play with one-legged hopping.

Divide the children into two teams.

Draw a large S on the ground, place treasure in each team’s territory, and surround each treasure with a half-circle.

Set up several islands around the S as safe zones, and make an out area—then it’s time to play! When attacking the other team, you must challenge them while hopping on one foot.

Battles are like hand-push sumo, and always one-on-one.

If both feet touch the ground, you’re out and must watch the outcome from the out area.

Who will snatch the other team’s treasure first? It’s sure to get exciting!

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Tail tag

Physical activity play to improve children's motor skills: 1-2. Tail Tag

Tail tag

This is a variation of the game of tag.

It’s also written as “Shippo Oni” or “Shippō Oni” (tail tag), and it’s often played as an event at school sports days.

The playing field is a square about 10 meters on a side, and roughly 20% of the participants are designated as “it.” Those who are not “it” tuck a towel into the back of their waistband to serve as a tail.

When the game starts, the taggers try to snatch the towels (tails).

If your towel is taken, you lose.

There’s also a rule variant where spare towels are placed in the center of the field so players who lose their tails can replenish them.

It’s a great outdoor game that gets really lively with a large group!

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Fish, Birds, Trees

[20 Easy Classroom Activity Ideas No.20] Gyōchōmoku (Fish-Bird-Tree)

Fish, Birds, Trees

Do you know the game called “Gyocho-moku”? It’s read “gyo-cho-moku.” First, everyone stands in a circle and choose one person as the leader; the leader stands in the center of the circle.

The leader says, “Gyocho-moku, mousu ka, mousanu ka,” and everyone else replies, “Mousu, mousu.” The leader then points at someone while saying one of “gyo” (fish), “cho” (bird), or “moku” (tree).

The person who is pointed at must answer accordingly—for example, if the leader says “gyo,” you should quickly name a fish; if they say “cho,” you might answer “duck”; if they say “moku,” you could say “cherry tree.” There are endless ways to tweak the rules and enjoy variations, so give it a try!

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