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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Recommended Indoor Activities and Recreation Games for Nurseries and Kindergartens (121–130)
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.
Indoor activities and recreation games recommended for nursery and kindergarten (131–140)
The Little Bird’s Move
Let’s play ‘Little Bird Moving House’! First, the children sit in a tucked sitting position (knees up, arms around legs) and move around by scooting on their bottoms.
The teacher should turn into a crab or a crocodile to chase and obstruct the children.
The children try their best to escape while staying seated so they don’t get caught by the teacher.
It’s like a gentle game of tag, but because they’re limited to bottom-scooting, the kids get super excited!
Daikon Game
Do your best not to get pulled out! This is the “Daikon Game” that everyone can enjoy.
First, a few people lie face down on the floor and hold hands.
The remaining people grab the legs of those lying down and pull as if they’re uprooting a radish.
If you let go of hands or get pulled out, you lose.
Usually there’s one person doing the pulling, but if it’s among preschoolers, having multiple pullers could make it even more fun.
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.