Fun activities with newspaper! Recreation games kids will love
We’ve gathered ideas for children’s games and activities using newspapers.
Newspaper play is fun to enjoy together with kids, so it’s easy to incorporate as an indoor activity at daycare centers, kindergartens, and elementary schools.
If it’s hard to get newspapers, try using advertising flyers or unwanted letters and notices instead.
Using colored paper will give the activities a different feel.
We’ve also included games that get kids moving a lot, so they can be active even indoors!
Fun Games Using Newspaper! Recreation Activities and Games Kids Will Love (1–10)
Newspaper Dome
A “newspaper dome” made by connecting and inflating sheets of newspaper! You can make it with just newspaper, but if you attach clear plastic to the upper part that becomes the roof, it feels more open, and kids can draw their favorite pictures and letters on it for an even nicer finish.
You do need a large space, but since people can bring their own newspapers and plastic, it’s great fun at low cost.
Once the dome is finished, go inside and take a commemorative photo for a wonderful memory.
And at the end, have fun tearing the dome to pieces!
Newspaper War
‘Newspaper Battle’ is a game where players split into their own side and the opposing side and throw balls made from newspaper at each other.
It can be enjoyed in small indoor spaces! First, crumple sheets of newspaper to make about 20 to 30 balls, and divide participants into two teams.
Assign each team to its court and place an equal number of balls in both courts.
At the start signal, throw the balls from your side into the opposing team’s court.
The team that manages to throw more balls into the opponent’s court within the time limit wins.
The rules are simple, so even young children can enjoy it.
If there are many participants, you can also run it as a tournament.
Newspaper Ball Relay
This is a “Newspaper Ball Carry” game played with sticks and a ball made from rolled-up newspaper.
First, form teams of two, and make two sticks and one ball out of newspaper.
If the sticks are too thin, they’ll be unstable when you place the ball on them; if they’re too thick, they’ll bend or break easily—so try to find the right thickness.
If you crumple the ball loosely, it won’t sit well on the sticks, so press firmly and shape it into a solid sphere.
Once your sticks and ball are ready, set up a course and, at the starting signal, head for the goal without dropping the ball.
It’s a fun game that requires teamwork from both players.
Newspaper Frisbee
Frisbees are sold in stores, but did you know you can easily make one with a newspaper and a plastic bag? The method is super simple! First, roll a sheet of newspaper into a thin rod, then twist it to make it sturdier.
Once twisted, join the two ends of the newspaper to form a circle.
Cut the plastic bag into a circle slightly larger than the newspaper ring.
Finally, attach the cut plastic to the newspaper circle—and you’re done! You can stick the plastic on as is, or draw on it to create your own original Frisbee.
Try using this Frisbee for games like target throwing and have fun!
An airplane made with adhesive tape and newspaper
This is an airplane made by using a rolled-up newspaper as the core and wrapping colored adhesive tape around it instead of painting.
It’s a craft rather than a paper airplane meant for actual flight, but that means you can focus more on the design.
Try making it based on the colors of your favorite airplane.
Newspaper Island
Prepare one sheet of newspaper per person and have them stand on it.
Play rock-paper-scissors; the loser folds their newspaper in half and stands on it again.
As the game continues, the loser’s newspaper gets smaller and smaller.
Anyone who can no longer stand on their newspaper, or who manages to stand but falls off, is eliminated.
The last person remaining wins.
Newspaper Relay
Form small teams, and have each team member stand on their own sheet of newspaper.
Here’s the catch: the person at the very back has the toughest job.
The person at the back takes the newspaper they’re standing on and moves it to the very front.
Then everyone steps forward onto the newspapers placed ahead.
This leaves the backmost spot empty again, so the last person moves that newspaper to the front once more.
Repeat this to gradually move forward—the team that reaches the finish line first wins! Since you might slip when stepping onto the newspaper, the key is to advance carefully.
Three-way split game
It’s a simple, casual game with easy prep and rules.
All you need is a newspaper and a pair of scissors.
Take a double-page spread and make two cuts from the bottom upward to divide it into three sections, leaving about 10 centimeters uncut at the top.
Then, using both hands, pull to see if you can neatly split the newspaper into three parts.
Timing and concentration are the keys.
Newspaper Hockey
This is “Newspaper Hockey,” a game you can enjoy using newspaper sticks and a ball.
Roll up newspaper tightly to make sticks, and use a wadded-up ball of newspaper as the ball.
Divide participants into two teams; one player on each team acts as the goalkeeper to protect the goal.
The other players cooperate with their teammates while battling the opposing team for the ball and aiming for the opponent’s goal.
Using a balloon or similar item as the ball can be fun, too.
It’s recommended when you want to enjoy hockey safely with children!
Eel Fishing Game
A game you can make using nothing but newspaper and cellophane tape: the Eel Fishing Game.
For the fishing rod, take a single sheet of newspaper, roll it up tightly from one edge, and secure the end with cellophane tape.
For the eels, prepare lots of long, thin strips of newspaper.
You hook the thin newspaper strips with the rod and try to fish them up—but they’re slippery, so it’s a bit tricky.
Set a time limit and compete to see who can catch the most!