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 play and recreation games recommended for daycare and kindergarten (21–30)
Crawling tail-chasing game
Let’s introduce a crawling tail-tag game that gets kids excited.
Give each child a “tail” made by braiding plastic ribbon (like florist’s raffia).
The teacher is “it” and chases the children.
At the start signal, the children crawl away to avoid being caught.
If a child gets their tail taken by “it,” they can rejoin the game after doing five jumps and putting the tail back on.
Try swapping who’s “it” or increasing the number of chasers to keep the game fun!
Run Away from the Hula Hoop Game
Great for group play! Here’s an idea for a “Run from the Hula Hoop” game.
All you need is a large hula hoop.
The rules are simple: children try not to get hit by a hula hoop that a parent or teacher rolls.
The key is to move while predicting the hoop’s speed and direction.
Once everyone gets used to the game, adding variations to how the hoop moves will keep kids engaged and prevent boredom.
Give it a try and include it in your activities!
Hoop Daruma-san ga Koronda
More ways to play! Here are some ideas for playing “Red Light, Green Light” using hula hoops.
You’ll need two balance beams, a hula hoop, a ball, and flat markers.
“Red Light, Green Light” is a game that’s been loved for generations.
Since the rules are easy to understand, many preschools and childcare centers likely include it in their activities.
Using hula hoops, balls, and balance beams expands the possibilities, so it’s highly recommended.
Once children are comfortable with the basic rules, give these variations a try!
Hoop Musical Chairs
Let’s play using both our bodies and brains! Here’s an idea for a hula hoop musical chairs game.
Prepare about 10 small hula hoops in various colors.
As everyone hums a song with a deserted island theme, walk around the hula hoops.
When the teacher calls out “1, 2, 3,” everyone jumps into a hula hoop island.
It gets more exciting if you gradually reduce the number of hula hoops! Once everyone gets used to the game, try specifying which color hula hoop to enter, or call out items related to a color to decide which hoop to use.
Body percussion
Let’s all play together with body percussion—rhythm games where we tap different parts of our bodies! Start simple with clapping and patting your belly, and keep the rhythms short.
Begin at a level everyone can easily imitate, then gradually expand the tapping areas to include your hips and legs.
And call-and-response is important, too.
The kids will enthusiastically answer back!
Signaling Game
A game that helps kids learn traffic signal rules: the Signal Game! In this game, the course is treated like a crosswalk, and players compete to see who can follow the rules and cross safely and correctly.
The rules are: “Green = take one step forward,” “Yellow = take one step back,” and “Red = stop where you are.” The teacher calls out the signal color, and the children follow the instructions as they aim for the goal.
They jump with both feet when they move, so it’s a good workout, too.
Once the children get used to the rules, try increasing the tempo or throwing in feints by saying words other than colors to raise the difficulty!
Newspaper Battle
Prepare lots of balls made by crumpling up newspaper.
Divide into two teams, set your territories, and throw the newspaper balls into the opponent’s area.
You must not throw many newspapers at once or kick them in with your feet.
Pick them up one by one and throw.
The team that throws more newspaper balls into the other side wins.
It’s a game that gets your whole body moving—squat to pick up, stand to throw.
hopscotch
When you think of “kenkenpa,” isn’t it one of those nostalgic games for caregivers and parents too? Kenkenpa is a game where you move forward through rings lined up vertically while saying “ken-ken-pa.” It’s a repeat-and-repeat game that makes you want to do it over and over.
When playing indoors, try making the rings with masking tape or connecting hula hoops with zip ties.
Masking tape toy
Stick 2–3 strips of masking tape horizontally on the wall, leaving a small gap in the middle to form a tunnel.
Then drop balls or beanbags through it—simple and fun.
It helps children develop control of hand strength, aiming skills, and concentration.
You can place a box underneath and adjust how loose the tape is to match each child’s developmental level.
Children with disabilities can also enjoy success at their own pace, building confidence.
It’s easy to start with everyday materials, and it naturally brings smiles to children’s faces!
Group therapy treasure hunt
@bear_kids_official Group Therapy: Treasure Hunt Game. Everyone searched for the treasure using clues! We had fun while nurturing: the ability to act with foresight, comprehension of instructions and memory, and cooperation and social skills.After-school day serviceChild Development Support# developmental support (ryōiku)#ADHD#Indoor Play
♬ Original Song – BEAR KIDS 🧸 Child Development Support & After-School Day Service – BEAR KIDS 🧸 Child Development Support & After-School Day Service
A game where you search for hidden treasures in a room.
As children naturally build concentration and observation skills—and if you turn it into a team game suited to their developmental stage—they also develop communication skills by cooperating with friends.
The sense of accomplishment when they find the treasure boosts their confidence and self-esteem! It’s easy to prepare and not affected by the weather, so you can put it into practice right away.
Since both kids and adults can enjoy it together, it’s the perfect activity for creating time filled with children’s smiles.