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 newspapers! Recreation activities and games kids will love (31–40)
Newspaper Attack
Newspaper Attack: swing as if throwing a ball and strike the newspaper with force.
If you tear the newspaper, you’re good! It may look easy, but without enough speed, you won’t be able to rip it.
Try changing the height and experimenting with different methods to have fun.
Donguri Korokoro
This is a eurhythmics activity set to the popular children’s song “Donguri Korokoro.” Form pairs, face each other, and hold the corners of an opened sheet of newspaper together.
Place a crumpled ball of newspaper on top to represent an acorn.
Gently rock it, and at the end of the song, quickly lift the newspaper to launch the “acorn” up into the air with a pop! It’s a simple game that even children under three can enjoy.
Once everyone gets used to handling the newspaper, you can add variations—like passing the acorn to the neighboring pair in the middle of the song.
sword fighting
Just by rolling up a newspaper, it quickly transforms into a sword for mock samurai battles! Since it’s made of newspaper, it’s safe even if you get hit.
You can play with it indoors or outdoors.
If you get creative with how you roll it—rolling it on a slight diagonal—you can make a slightly longer sword, too.
Once your sword is ready, let the mock battle begin! If you really get into it, it might be good exercise not just for kids but for adults as well.
It could also be fun to use leftover newspaper to make decorations for the sword!
Newspaper dress
How about making a dress out of newspaper for girls? Since newspaper sheets are large, you can even create a princess-like dress.
If you make it together and finish with a fashion show, there’s no doubt it’ll make them happy!
Newspaper Spiderweb Circuit
Tear it! Stick it! Crawl through and play! Here’s an idea for a newspaper spiderweb circuit.
You’ll need plastic ribbon (suzuran tape), newspaper, and tape.
This is a great idea when you want to include crawling movements in your circuit.
Some children find tunnels challenging because they’re dark and long.
By tearing and sticking newspaper as part of everyday activities, you can naturally encourage crawling movements! The making process also stimulates children’s creativity—what a wonderful idea.
Fun Games Using Newspaper! Recreation Activities and Games Kids Will Love (41–50)
braid
It won’t make a neat braid like when you use colored construction paper, but you can still have fun braiding with thinly twisted newspaper.
Not only girls—boys who aren’t usually interested in braiding might be eager to try it if it’s with newspaper!
Newspaper Ninja
Why not play Newspaper Ninja using everyday newspapers? All you need is newspaper! It’s simple and fun for both kids and adults.
Hide behind a big sheet for the “cloak of invisibility” technique, tear the paper into shreds for the “clone” technique, or pretend the torn pieces are throwing stars for the “shuriken” technique—make the most of newspaper and have a blast! Finally, don’t forget the “gathering” technique: clean up by putting all the scattered newspaper into a bag.
Do this at a nursery or kindergarten, and it’s sure to be a hit!
