[Childcare] From small to large groups! A collection of fun game ideas
Kids who love to play! Their innocent, adorable excitement as they find something fun every day is a joy to see.
Through lots of play and a variety of experiences, we hope they grow freely in both mind and body.
In this article, we’ll share plenty of fun game ideas for childcare settings.
It’s packed with activities you can enjoy at preschools or at home! Choose games that suit children’s ages and developmental stages, or adjust the rules to match their interests, and they’ll have even more fun.
Enjoy a wonderful time together!
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[Childcare] From Small to Large Groups! A Collection of Fun Game Ideas (141–150)
Hula hoop relay
Instead of spinning a hula hoop around your waist, this game is called “Hula Hoop Pass,” where you pass the hoop along to the next person.
At the start signal, the person at the front threads the hula hoop over their head, feet, and hands to get through it and then passes it to the next person.
Each person passes it on in turn, but if you use your hands to help or let go of the person next to you, you’re out.
Keep your hands firmly linked and move your body to pass the hula hoop to the next person.
Even small children can play, though the hoop might be large and a bit tricky to handle.
Older kindergarteners will likely get really excited and have lots of fun with it!
Bowling
Let’s play bowling—a game that kids and adults alike can enjoy! One of the great things about this bowling activity is how easy it is to make using everyday recycled materials.
You can use empty plastic bottles or milk cartons as pins, and throw a rubber ball; if you don’t have a ball, you can make one easily by crumpling newspaper into a ball and wrapping it tightly with duct tape.
For small children or preschoolers, let them throw from a closer spot, and adjust the throwing distance based on age so everyone can have fun.
Center-Hit Dodgeball
This is a “target-in-the-middle” dodgeball game where you throw the ball at people inside a marked area! In regular dodgeball, you throw the ball at the opposing team, but in this version, players stand around the perimeter of the area and try to hit the people inside with the ball.
You can add a ball each time someone gets hit, give a medal to the thrower who lands a hit, or create your own custom rules to spice it up.
If a teacher stands inside under these rules, even kids who usually fear getting hit and avoid dodgeball will likely enjoy joining in.
[Childcare] From Small to Large Groups! A Collection of Fun Game Ideas (151–160)
Animal Role-Playing Game
The “pretend to be an animal” game helps children learn how to control their bodies by moving in ways they don’t usually do.
Prepare traffic cones to walk around, long benches to crawl under, and foam blocks to climb on or avoid.
Depending on the animals you choose—four-legged ones like bears and cats, flamingos that stand on one leg, or crocodiles that crawl—children move in completely different ways.
It’s a two-for-one activity: they pick up knowledge about each animal while also learning how to move their bodies!
The Child King
Children’s King: a cheerful circle game where everyone surrounds the “king” and sings together! Arrange chairs in a circle facing inward and place one or two chairs in the center for the king.
Then, while singing, the children point to the king, bow to the king, and walk around in circles clapping to the rhythm.
Musical chairs can lead to falls and injuries or take time for kids to grasp the rules, but Children’s King is a very peaceful game where everyone gets a turn to feel like royalty.
It also helps kids learn polite bowing and develop a sense of rhythm.
Seated tag
“We can’t play outside because of the rain, but I still want to move my body as much as possible today!” In times like these, here’s a childcare-friendly game we recommend: “Seated Tag.” First, the children start in a seated position.
The rule is that they must keep their bottoms on the floor at all times.
Set a time limit, then play tag while staying seated.
Since it doesn’t involve running, it’s safe and fun to play indoors.
It also helps build leg strength as kids move using their legs and bottoms, so be sure to add it to your play repertoire!
Word association game
A word-association game where you keep linking words that come to mind from a single item.
For example, if the prompt is “strawberry,” you connect it to words like “red” or “fruit” that you associate with it.
If you link from “strawberry” to “red,” then you continue by linking to the next words associated with “red,” such as “apple” or “fire truck.” Because you’ll encounter many words—including not only the ones you say yourself but also those said by friends and teachers—you’ll build knowledge and improve your vocabulary.
It also helps develop thinking and creativity, so be sure to try incorporating it into play.
