Lovely Play & Recreation

[Elementary School] Indoor Games and Recreational Activities Recommended for Upper Primary Grades

A Vocaloid producer who is also a music writerAraki Jakkan
I’ve worked in a variety of roles—regardless of pro or amateur settings—including live event PA, cameraman for video and photography, restaurant staff, and logistics center staff. I now spend my days as a part-time writer. I’ve contributed to music and manga websites with feature/review articles, and wrote the liner notes included as a bonus for 1st PLACE Inc.’s “IA SUPER BEST.” As for my music background, I started playing guitar in junior high and focused on band activities during my school years. For over 15 years since then, up to the present, I’ve continued releasing original tracks as a Vocaloid producer. My areas of expertise are Japanese rock, Vocaloid, and manga.
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSICsasashina
Deputy Editor of RAG MUSIC. JFC-certified fact-checker. I’m Sasashina, a mom currently raising an elementary schooler and a preschooler. During my student years at Kyoto College of Science and Technology, I studied a wide range of fields including sound, lighting, and video technology, building a foundation in comprehensive stage production and creative expression. After graduation, I joined a music production company, where I still work, consistently building experience in production and engaging in a variety of music-centered tasks. Currently, I mainly handle articles for children, drawing on what I’ve learned about parenting and what I feel and discover through daily interactions with my kids. I hope my work can be of help to you, even in a small way!

There are lots of elementary school children who love the internet and online games, right?

Of course, they can build relationships and develop various skills through them, but many parents and educators probably feel, “I’d like them to play something other than games a bit more.”

Kids can learn a lot from new experiences, so we hope they’ll try a variety of activities.

In this article, we’ll introduce fun games and recreational activities suited for upper elementary grades!

All of them can be played indoors, so they’re perfect for days when you can’t go outside!

[Elementary School] Indoor Games and Recreational Activities Recommended for Middle Grades (11–20)

Kenken, Daruma-san ga koronda

https://www.tiktok.com/@mkantoku1111/video/7286351975325666561

Let’s try a leveled-up version of the classic “Darumasan ga Koronda” called “Hopping Darumasan ga Koronda”! The rules are simple: play the usual game while standing on one leg.

While having fun, not only can you strengthen your leg muscles and improve your balance, but it might even help you run faster! Depending on how tired your legs feel, switch between your left and right leg as you play.

Some children may find it challenging, so please don’t push too hard if that’s the case.

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Colorful Ninja

From Colorful Ninja: 'The Newest and Most Fun Recreation Games'

Colorful Ninja

Iro-tori Ninja starts with the password “Shu-shu-shu-shu-shu” and a shuriken-throwing pose.

It’s a chaining game where the first person gives a prompt consisting of a color and something related to it, the next person answers, then gives a new color-related prompt to the following person, and so on.

For example, if the prompt is “red foods,” answers could be apple, strawberry, etc.

If you can’t answer in rhythm or can’t give the next prompt, you’re out.

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Stick Catch Game

@soramame.sensei
In this activity, you can expect to improve skills like syncing your timing, tracking with your eyes, and developing body awareness through movement. You can use any stick you have on hand! For safety, make sure to protect the tip of the stick according to the child’s age. Let’s get through the rainy season together!Kotoba no Kyoushitsu Soramame Kids #SoramameKids # developmental support (ryōiku)#Therapy Time #Indoor Play #KagoshimaRehabilitation #StayHomeTime #IndoorPlay Let's play at home Total Concentration Cooperation Recreation #seria #100-yen shop #Nursery school #Kindergarten Therapeutic Education Support Center Elementary school After-school day service #After-school day service rainy season (tsuyu)How to spend the rainy season
♬ Happy & Pop songs – PeriTune

Prepare a stick about waist height for each person.

Stand facing each other holding the sticks, and at the cue of “Ready, go!” everyone lets go of their own stick and tries to catch the next person’s stick.

If you add a rule that anyone who fails to catch a stick is out, you can play even with a large group.

If you don’t have foam sticks, everyday items like brooms or mops are fine.

It’s a game that benefits children’s physical development by helping them coordinate timing and improve their ability to track objects with their eyes.

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Number-guessing clap

[School Relatable] A Game That Gets Everyone Excited!? Number Guessing Applause #Suzukokokosuke

Number-guessing clap

Let’s play a rhythm game with numbers called ‘Number Guess Claps.’ When it’s your turn, pose a problem related to addition or numbers.

Everyone claps exactly that number of times, keeping the rhythm.

If you miss the beat or get the number wrong, you’re out.

Simple addition, like 1 + 2, is easy—both the answer and the clapping.

But as the numbers get bigger, keeping up with the claps gets tougher.

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Daikon Game

[Exercise & Gymnastics Kids Love] The “Daikon Game,” recommended from age 3 / Rule-based movement play and exercise-gymnastics educational video to improve motor skills together with Mom

Daikon Game

This is the “Daikon Game,” where you try not to get pulled out.

Daikon radishes grow firmly in the soil, right? The person doing the pulling chants “Heave-ho, heave-ho!” while trying to tug everyone’s legs and pull them out.

The daikon lie face down, and everyone holds hands tightly—don’t let yourselves be pulled out! Do your best not to let go of each other’s hands.

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Drop the Handkerchief

Handkerchief Drop (Tag) – Indoor Exercise Play Recreation [Arranged Version]

Drop the Handkerchief

Speaking of Drop the Handkerchief, it’s a classic indoor game that’s been around forever, and it’s still loved because it’s thrilling and fun.

First, choose the tagger.

The tagger walks around the outside of the circle and secretly drops a handkerchief behind someone.

After dropping it, the tagger runs and completes a lap to sit in the spot of the person they dropped it behind.

If the person who had the handkerchief dropped behind them catches the tagger before they finish the lap, the tagger remains the tagger for another round.

If the person doesn’t notice even after the tagger completes the lap, they go to the center of the circle and can’t join the next game.

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Hirakawa Masako (Bōkarisuto: Sakata Mizumako)

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[Elementary School] Indoor Games and Recreation Activities Recommended for Middle Grades (21–30)

Don-janken

Don-janken

Don-janken

This is “Don-Janken,” where players split into two teams and advance into the opponent’s territory by winning rock-paper-scissors.

Starting from each team’s territory, players move along a line and, when they meet, press their hands together and say “Don!” before playing rock-paper-scissors.

The loser yields the path and goes to the back of their team’s line.

The winner continues toward the opponent’s territory.

The team that first gets a player into the opponent’s territory wins.

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