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

Reverse hide-and-seek

Reverse hide-and-seek: When you spot the ‘it’ (the tagger), hide immediately! Who will be the last one remaining...?

The idea of adding a little twist to the usual game of hide-and-seek—reverse hide-and-seek—is really fun and highly recommended.

The rules are flipped: the seeker is the one who hides! Everyone else tries to find the hiding seeker.

If you’re lucky enough to find them, you then go hide somewhere yourself! The person who can’t find the last remaining hider loses.

You might feel like shouting “Found you!” when you spot them, but if you do, everyone else will rush over.

So in reverse hide-and-seek, even if you find the seeker, quietly go hide yourself.

It’s a thrilling game where you keep the joy of discovery to yourself.

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hiyoko sensei

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Abuku-tatta

Abukutatta [with vocals] - Nursery Rhyme / Hand-Play Song

Many people may remember playing the traditional children’s game “Abukutatta” when they were little.

One person becomes ‘it,’ squats down, and covers their eyes with both hands, while the others join hands in a circle around them.

It’s a game where you sing along to unique lyrics and enjoy the actions! Because the lyrics tell a story, it can help spark children’s imagination.

In the end it turns into a game of tag, and if the ‘it’ player catches you, you’re out! Being ‘it’ is fun too, so kids might even argue over who gets to be it (lol).

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miyabi

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Let’s go hunting for wild animals.

[You can also see childcare in action] Ms. Rio’s active play [Big Game Hunting]

This is a game for preschoolers and lower elementary students that you play with the chant “Let’s go on a bear hunt!” The leader says the names of various animals to the rhythm of the chant, and everyone forms groups and sits according to the number of syllables in the animal’s name.

For example, if the leader says “lion,” that’s four syllables, so make groups of four and sit down.

Be careful—if you can’t form a group, the beast will eat you! Repeating the chant and forming groups makes it lively and fun.

As long as the leader knows the chant, anyone can play.

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sasashina

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Hana Ichi Monme

Warabe Uta 2-6-2: Hanaichimonme — How to Play

In Hana Ichi Monme, the word monme refers to a unit of currency.

It means “Please give me one monme’s worth of flowers.” In other words, they trade by price rather than by number of stems.

It’s considered a girls’ game, where children split into two teams and negotiate for the members they want.

Almost all older people know this game, so it could be nice to learn and play it together at intergenerational gatherings.

The lyrics of Hana Ichi Monme vary by region, so comparing the differences is fascinating.

It’s one of those familiar games we’d love to pass down—played in the home garden or in a nearby back alley.

kickball

When grown-ups play kickbaseball seriously, it’s insanely fun!! [Vs. Japan National Soccer Team]

It’s a game that became popular on a segment of the TV show “Yume ga MORI MORI,” which featured Hiroko Moriguchi, Kenji Moriwaki, and SMAP.

There are even organizations that play it as a sport, and it’s sometimes called foot baseball.

Like baseball, there’s a pitcher, but instead of throwing the ball, the pitcher rolls a soccer ball–sized ball toward the batter.

The batter kicks it back.

The rest of the rules are the same as in baseball or softball.

When younger children play, the ball is sometimes placed on home plate for them to kick from a standstill.

Since there’s no risk of whiffing and falling over or spraining an ankle, the rule of placing the ball might be better when playing with small children.

I’d love to play it on a large athletic field!