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 activities and recreation games recommended for nursery and kindergarten (131–140)
Rolling Dodgeball
As the name implies, rolling dodgeball is a version of dodgeball where the ball is rolled.
Dodging a rolling ball is very effective practice for tracking moving objects with the eyes.
And because a rolled ball is slower than a thrown one, it’s less likely to cause fear such as “it hurt when I got hit” or “I was scared.” Another plus is that rolling dodgeball is perfect for indoor play.
Choose a spacious area with non-slip flooring, such as where mats are laid out, and make sure there’s plenty of room before you start.
Rock-paper-scissors is fun even in the rain
Here are some rock-paper-scissors games you can enjoy indoors with kids even on rainy days.
“American Rock-Paper-Scissors” reverses winning and losing, so it makes you think.
“Body Rock-Paper-Scissors” is a game where you use your whole body to show rock, paper, or scissors.
It’s recommended to decide in advance what movements will represent rock, scissors, and paper before you start.
In “Newspaper Rock-Paper-Scissors,” you stand on a sheet of newspaper while playing; if you lose, you fold your newspaper once and make it smaller each time.
In “Rock-Paper-Scissors Train,” the loser lines up behind the winner, and the train of players gradually grows longer.
Try these and find your favorite rock-paper-scissors game!
Balloon target game
How about a balloon target game? Prepare several inflated balloons and stick them to a wall.
Instead of using real balls, crumpled newspaper balls are recommended.
Have the kids throw those “balls” at the balloons again and again! You can write numbers on the balloons to keep score, or draw different pictures on them and have the kids aim for the balloon with a specified picture—try adding various rules to make it fun.
Balloon play
A play activity using balloons, which are often used to decorate indoor parties and events.
Children can enjoy the feel of lightly floating balloons by touching or tossing them, while also encouraging their free imagination.
It’s a good idea to make some preparations to prevent balloons from popping, such as placing them in pre-inflated bags.
There are many ways to play, like touching suspended balloons or playing peekaboo.
Why not incorporate these items, which can brighten up a rainy day indoors, into your childcare setting?
fishing
You often see fishing on TV and many children know about it, but aren’t there actually few who have experienced it themselves? It might be difficult to do real fishing depending on the location, but how about trying a version you can enjoy indoors? Attach clips to the fish and a magnet to the fishing rod so you can “catch” them.
You can make the fish out of recycled materials, like toilet paper rolls, capsule toy containers, or empty lactic acid drink bottles.
You could also use materials like raffia tape to represent water and arrange the fish on top.
Let’s draw
Everyone loves drawing.
Try using various materials like crayons, colored pencils, and paints! It’s also fun to make a stamp by wrapping gauze around cotton wool, dipping it in paint, and dabbing it onto the paper.
Choose crayons, paints, and subjects to draw that suit your child’s age.
It’s an activity where everyone’s individuality shines.
Red Light, Green Light
Daruma-san ga Koronda is a game you can enjoy both indoors and outdoors.
Players split into “oni” (it) and “children.” First, the oni goes near a tree or wall, turns their back to the children, and chants, “Daruma-san ga koronda.” While the oni is chanting, the children move closer, but the moment the chant ends and the oni turns around, they must freeze perfectly still.
If anyone moves even a little, they’re out and get caught by the oni.
Children from around the middle to older preschool ages can enjoy this game, and it also works well for mixed-age play by pairing younger kids with older ones, who can lead them by the hand and help them join in.
Ton-ton Tunnel
Adults stand with their feet about shoulder-width apart, and the children crawl on all fours and move forward, passing through the space between their legs.
They advance to the chant “Ton ton ton ton Tunnel,” but the last word, “Tunnel,” gets changed to a different word.
If you’re between the legs when that happens, you get caught.
You have to pass through carefully or make a quick escape… but you end up getting caught anyway, right? (laughs)
Copycat game
Let’s have fun with body mimicry! Here are some ideas for a copycat game that’s sure to make everyone smile.
While copying the teacher’s movements, strike unique poses like animals or heroes and play together.
You’ll find yourselves laughing and saying, “What is this?!” as you move your bodies.
While playing, kids build flexibility and balance, and the best part is learning through fun—“Can you really do this pose?” You might even discover some unexpected moves!
Children’s song game “Zuizui Zukkorobashi”
“Zuizui Zukkorobashi” is a traditional children’s song that has long been loved and is still often sung in preschool settings.
To play, everyone forms a circle with their hands, and one person moves their index finger into each hand circle in time with the song.
The person whose hand circle the finger is in at the end becomes the next ‘oni’ (tagger).
There’s no winning or losing, but it’s a fun song because you move your hands in sequence while singing.
If you want more of a game element, you can play it so that the hand the finger ends up in is out, and the last person remaining is the winner.