Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for daycare and kindergarten
Even on days when the weather is bad and the kids can’t go outside, they still want to move their bodies and play! At times like that, many teachers and parents wonder what indoor activities to do.
Here, we introduce indoor recreational activities that can be enjoyed at nurseries and kindergartens.
You’ll find lots of ideas that kids can dive into with sparkling eyes—full-body movement games, activities everyone can enjoy together, traditional games, and sensory play.
Have fun staying active with the children, even indoors.
These are also great as references for games at events!
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Indoor games and recreation activities recommended for daycare centers and kindergartens (101–110)
Pull hoop play
@soramame.sensei Super easy to set up! Perfect for cooperative play with friends, too! 🥰✨Kotoba no Kyoushitsu Soramame Kids#SoramameKids#KagoshimaRehabilitation# developmental support (ryōiku)Child Development SupportAfter-school day serviceLet's play at home#Indoor Play#Indoor Play#IndoorPlay#HandmadeToysFocusPhysical play (exercise)Cooperative Play
♬ The comedian’s gallop, a classic foot race song for athletic meet(1265442) – Kids Sound
Compassion is the key to winning! Here’s a fun idea for a Pull-the-Hoop game.
Prepare a hula hoop or a ring made from newspaper, some plastic ribbon (suzuran tape), and start and goal lines.
The person moving inside the hoop should walk in step with the moving hula hoop.
Be careful to keep your feet inside the hoop and maintain your balance! The person pulling the hoop should control the speed and the amount of force to guide their teammate to the goal.
Give it a try!
Shape Finding Game
Let’s develop discovery skills, imagination, and expressive ability! Here’s an idea for a shape-finding game.
It’s a simple yet effective game where you look for shapes in everyday life.
Start with basic shapes like circles, triangles, and squares, and once you get used to it, raise the difficulty with stars, diamonds, pentagons, and more.
This will broaden interest and make the game more fun.
Plus, drawing the shapes you find on paper helps cultivate expressive skills and creativity, which is a great bonus.
It’s a playful way to deepen shape recognition and boost the power of discovery!
Stick-pulling sumo
@cocoskip Hello! This is Cocoskip. In today’s video, we’re playing tug-of-war with a stick. It looks like a simple game, but even adults ended up in a pretty heated match 😂#cocoskipSkip hereChild Development SupportAfter-school day serviceExercise Therapy#After-school day service#Child Development Support (Japan)#CocoSkipChallenge#Indoor PlaysimulationPlayShowdownStaff’s Daily LifeTug-of-war sumo#IWantToBeOnTheRecommendationsI love the admins.
Idol – YOASOBI
Here’s an idea for a sumo-style game using a stick.
You’ll need a pool cue, a mat, and a platform.
It’s a fun game that builds strength and balance! Two players hold a single pool cue and pull against each other, trying to either make the opponent step off the platform or let go of the stick.
It also helps develop patience through focused, physical competition.
Since the game starts with the mat and platform setup, it’s a great activity for after-school day services.
Kids can have fun while boosting their fitness and competitive spirit.
Color Play Game
@cocorurueniwa Today's activity is a color play game! Walk only on the specified color and aim for the goal! Make sure to clearly recognize your own color!#Kokoruru Eniwa#Kokorururu SakuramachiEniwa CityAfter-school day serviceAfter-school day serviceActivityColor Play Game#tiktokvalentine
♪ Tetris – Hiiragi Magnetite
A colorful floor makeover! Here are some play game ideas that use colors.
They’re fun activities that nurture color sense and attention.
Cut five colors of tape into short pieces and stick them on the floor; as children look for and step on each specified color, they can develop their ability to distinguish colors and follow rules.
The game is simple yet helps train reflexes and balance, and it’s perfect for group fun.
Try incorporating it as an activity in your after-school day service.
Ring-Collecting Game
@toiro_efilagroup Stimulation for the brain starts with making things 💡Nursery teacher / Childcare workerChildcare WorkerKanagawaAfter-school day service#toiro# developmental support (ryōiku)#Indoor Playwork
♪ Original song – toiro After-school Day – toiro After-school Day
Fun to make! Fun to play! Here’s an idea for a game where you collect rings.
You’ll need origami paper in your favorite colors, scissors, and glue.
First, cut the origami paper into long, thin strips and glue the ends to make rings! Using colorful paper in the making process can stimulate a sense of color and help develop fine motor skills.
Once the rings are ready, give each person a pair of chopsticks or a straw, and enjoy a game of collecting the rings! It’s a great way to build concentration.
Ring Relay
https://www.tiktok.com/@kidschallengeclub/video/7402061345539083538Here are two ideas for ring relay games.
What you need to prepare are markers for the start and finish lines.
In the first game, each person crawls under the feet of the person in front, then quickly stands up and spreads their legs to form a tunnel, connecting all the way to the finish.
In the second game, players form pairs to make a ring, and the next person in line crawls through as they all move toward the finish.
The key point is that neither game can be completed by a single person.
It’s also fun to compete by team!
Come-here game

Even though the rules are super simple, let’s try playing the “Come Here, Come Here Game,” which kids are guaranteed to love! Divide into a teacher and children.
The teacher gently beckons to the children, saying “Come here, come here.” While the teacher is saying it, the children move slowly toward the teacher without running.
When the teacher suddenly says, “Come here, come here…
It’s a ghost!” the children have to run away so they don’t get caught.
Once everyone gets used to it, you can make it even more exciting by faking them out with similar-sounding words to “ghost,” like “pot” or “mother.”
Butt-walking race
It’s a “butt-walking race” where you move by scooting on your backside.
You can’t use your hands or feet; you move forward by shifting your butt back and forth.
The competition is to see who reaches the finish line first, but moving with only your butt is surprisingly difficult, and even when you try hard, you don’t get very far.
It can be a bit frustrating, but that’s part of the fun, and it always gets everyone excited.
It’s also fun to try doing it backwards!
Rock-Paper-Scissors Balance Game

Here’s a rock-paper-scissors balance game that gets your whole body moving.
Play rock-paper-scissors with your friends.
If you win, do a one-legged balance for 5 seconds.
If it’s a tie, spin around twice and then do a one-legged balance for 5 seconds.
If you lose, spin around three times and then do a one-legged balance for 5 seconds.
For children who find one-legged balancing difficult, it’s recommended to hold onto something while balancing.
When playing the rock-paper-scissors balance game, secure a spacious area and keep a safe distance from one another to ensure safety.
Churippu sharippu

Hold hands with your friends and play while calling each other’s names! Let me share the idea for “Churippu Sharippu.” There’s nothing to prepare, so just hum the song together and play.
There are moments in the song where you call out names, which makes it great for learning your friends’ names.
It’s especially recommended for classes with new or transferring children! You can adapt the way you play, so it’s an idea that children from infants to preschoolers can enjoy.
Be sure to try it in your activities.



