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!
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Fun Games with Newspaper! Recreation and Activities Kids Will Love (21–30)
Newspaper Rip-Rip! Eurhythmics with a Snow Song
Here’s a eurhythmics activity that starts with a newspaper play element.
Give each child a sheet of newspaper and, at the cue of “1, 2, 3,” have them tear it into pieces.
Once it’s torn into small bits, pretend they’re snow and have fun letting it fall from above to the tune of the children’s song “Yuki” (Snow).
After the eurhythmics session, pack the used newspaper pieces into a clear bag to make a snowman.
It’s a winter-themed idea from start to finish, so please enjoy it with the children.
Flipping through a newspaper
It’s a super fun game where you just gather lots of torn newspaper and toss it around with a whoosh! With children’s imagination, it turns into all kinds of different play.
Babies also love watching the pieces flutter gently as they fall!
Fun games with newspapers! Recreation activities and games kids will love (31–40)
Building a secret base
A play idea that will get kids’ hearts racing with excitement! Here are some ideas for building a secret hideout.
Just hearing the words “secret base” makes both kids and adults excited, doesn’t it? This time, let’s make one using plastic bags and newspapers.
Use clear tape to attach large plastic bags and newspapers together to build your base.
If you blow air in through the entrance with a fan or blower, the base will gently inflate and feel nice and spacious! Napping inside or playing with balloons sounds fun, too.
It’s a unique idea that’s perfect for summer!
paper popper
The “paper popper” has long been a popular children’s toy.
Many of you may have had your parents or grandparents make one for you.
You can make it with everyday materials like construction paper or newspaper.
When it’s finished, it forms a triangle, and if you swing it sharply downward from top to bottom, it makes a loud “pop!”—just like a gunshot.
After it pops, if you fold the expanded part back to its original shape, you can enjoy it over and over.
Try folding different kinds of paper to enjoy the differences in sound!
Newspaper Race
“Newspaper Race” is a game where you run toward the finish line while keeping a sheet of newspaper pressed to your body without letting it fall.
It sounds simple, but it’s actually pretty tricky! Of course, you’re not allowed to hold the newspaper with your hands, so you have to rely only on the air pressure against your body to keep it in place.
If you run too fast or too slow, the newspaper will drop.
It’s a thrilling and fun race where even fast runners aren’t guaranteed to win.
It seems like something people of different ages could enjoy together!
A driver made of newspaper!
With just a newspaper, you can be a driver too! Roll up a single sheet into a circle and it instantly transforms into a steering wheel.
Sit in a chair and say, “Where to, sir/ma’am?” and you’re a taxi or bus driver! Or imagine a cool F1-style race car and zoom off with a vroom! After you’re done playing, tear the newspaper into pieces and sprinkle it from above to make a flurry of confetti—newspaper confetti, that is.
Ultra giant origami
To make giant origami out of newspaper, first connect many sheets of newspaper to create one large piece of paper.
If you’re connecting a lot of sheets, be sure to work in a spacious room.
Once you’ve made your big sheet, try folding whatever you like.
Handling such a large piece of newspaper can be tricky, so it might be fun to fold together with friends.
The newspaper will be a bit less sturdy when it’s larger, but since it’s hard for one person to make something this big, enjoy the process with your friends!