[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 (21–30)
butt-writing (writing letters with one’s butt)
If you’re looking for a game that gets everyone excited and laughing, the “butt-writing” game is perfect.
You don’t need any props, so it’s super easy to enjoy! The rules are simple: the clue-giver writes letters in the air using their butt.
The guessers try to figure out what was written.
It’s great for kids around 4 years old, when they’re starting to read hiragana.
You might start simple by writing fruit names in hiragana.
It’s fun and also doubles as reading and writing practice—two birds with one stone!
Fun for kids and adults! Balloon Battle
Here’s a game called “Balloon Battle” that uses long balloons and round balloons.
Prepare one long balloon for each participant.
After inflating the balloons, each participant holds a long balloon, and at the start signal, they pass the round balloon to the opponent.
The rule is that you can’t use your hands—you must pass using the long balloon.
Balloons are light, and if you misjudge your strength, they’ll drift away.
If you drop the balloon, you lose, so be careful when passing.
The game is basically played by two people, but it could also be fun as a team relay.
Fun for toddlers and up! Find-the-friend game
In the Matching Friends game, one sample illustration and multiple candidate illustrations are shown.
Once the game starts, look through the candidates and find the one that matches the sample illustration.
If you find it, you clear the game! If not, please try again.
The candidate illustrations are very similar to the sample, so you’ll need to pay close attention to the details.
Do your best to find the matching friend for the sample illustration!
Mojo-Mojo Bug
A wiggly-wiggly bug game that combines imitation and tag! After imitating a crybaby bug or an angry bug to the song “Mr.
Bug, Mr.
Bug, here you come,” the teacher’s cue of “Mojo-mojo!” starts a game of tag.
Singing while seated is fine, but if you squat and stand, spread your arms wide, or scrunch your body small to imitate the bugs with big whole-body movements, you’ll boost the amount of exercise.
Make sure you have plenty of space to run around freely before you start and have fun!
Ninja Game
This is a “Ninja Game,” a pretend-play activity kids love that also gets them moving, and it can be played indoors.
As ninjas, the children move while staying hidden: they follow closely behind the leading adult, circling around the spot.
When the adult turns around and says, “Who’s there?” the children must quickly crouch down to hide.
And when you think of ninjas, you think of shuriken.
The adult pretends to throw shuriken at the children’s heads and feet, and they try to dodge them: crouch if it’s aimed at the head, and jump if it’s aimed at the feet.
It’s a super exciting game that even younger preschoolers can enjoy.
butt run
It’s really fun to compete while moving your body as much as you can, like in a footrace.
But indoors it can be dangerous, so you can’t run full speed.
That’s when “butt scoot racing” is recommended.
Sit on the floor with your legs stretched out, and move forward using your butt.
Don’t put your hands on the floor.
Race to see who reaches a pre-set goal first in that position.
You don’t really need any equipment, but having something to mark the finish line makes it even better! It’s recommended from around age three, when kids start being able to move their bodies more energetically.
Rock-Paper-Scissors Train
Even on rainy days, you can get a big group excited with this “Rock-Paper-Scissors Train.” Here are the rules: First, while the music is playing, everyone walks around freely.
When the music stops, you play rock-paper-scissors with someone nearby.
The loser lines up behind the winner and holds onto their shoulders.
Repeat this to form a long train.
The person who ends up at the front at the end is the winner.
It’s great for helping classmates bond! It’s a game kids can play from around age three, once they understand the rules of rock-paper-scissors.