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 (31–40)
Various number-taking game
@bear_kids_official ✨Group Therapy: Grab-the-Numbers Game✨ Use all kinds of cards—numbers, symbols, hiragana, and illustrations—to find 1 to 10! Take turns with friends and enjoy the challenge 🎴✨ 🎯Goals: While becoming familiar with numbers and letters, we nurture concentration, coordination, and social skills 💪After-school day serviceChild Development Support#ADHD# developmental support (ryōiku)#ASD#Indoor Play
♬ Original Song – BEAR KIDS 🧸 Child Development Support & After-School Day Service – BEAR KIDS 🧸 Child Development Support & After-School Day Service
It’s a game where you use various cards—numbers, symbols, illustrations, and more—to find 1 through 10! While becoming familiar with numbers and letters, kids develop number recognition, concentration, and the ability to follow rules.
By cooperating or competing with friends, their communication skills improve too.
It’s full of clever ideas that naturally lead to learning through play.
Even adults watching will want to join in.
Give it a try—children and adults can play together and enjoy a great time.
Balloon roly-poly game
@soramame.sensei Let’s make a roly-poly toy with a balloon and play a game! 😊 With friends! With family! An indoor game you can play even on rainy days ☔✨️Child Development SupportAfter-school day service#SoramameKids#StayHomeTime#Indoor PlayParent-child time#HandmadeToyschild# developmental support (ryōiku)translation
♬ A cute pop and bouncy song(1526882) – sanusagi
First, attach a weight to a balloon to make one that pops back up when knocked over.
Create a 3×3 grid on the floor with hula hoops or similar, and you win by lining up three in a row vertically, horizontally, or diagonally! This activity effectively improves motor skills, hand–eye balance, and sense of force control.
Kids are sure to be captivated.
It’s easy to prepare and safe to enjoy indoors, so adults can join in the fun too.
It promotes growth through play, so be sure to enjoy it together with the children!
Let’s go hunting for wild animals.
“Let’s Go on a Beast Hunt” is a game where children move their bodies to music and form groups based on the number of syllables in an animal’s name.
The lyrics describe going on a hunt, and animal names appear along the way.
For example, when “raion” (lion) comes up, it has four syllables in Japanese, so you form groups of four and sit down.
Those who couldn’t join a group continue with the song and try to get into a group next time.
Various animals appear, offering many chances to interact with different friends.
It’s a highly recommended activity.
Eurhythmics
Eurhythmics is so popular that there are even after-school classes for it, and it’s also used in childcare settings.
Eurhythmics is an educational approach that uses music and movement to foster children’s abilities and development.
Its foundation is “immediate response,” where children listen for changes in the music or rhythm and instantly change their movements or poses.
Any movement is fine.
For example, walk to the basic music, jump when a high note sounds, and crouch when a low note sounds.
Kids love both music and moving, so it’s highly recommended!
Saying the same things, doing the same things.
After the call “Say the same, do the same,” someone names a direction like right, left, forward, or backward.
Everyone repeats the call and then jumps in the named direction.
There’s also a pattern called “Say the same, do the opposite,” where you jump in the opposite direction of what’s said.
You can mix it up with variations like saying the opposite, and try different combinations.
Bomb game
The excitement just won’t stop! Here’s a fun idea for a bomb game.
It’s a great way to build concentration and decision-making skills while playing.
All you need is a device that can play music and a ball or balloon.
Have the participants stand in a circle facing each other.
While the music is playing, pass the ball to the person next to you.
When the music stops, whoever is holding the ball loses—simple as that.
It’s sure to be a hit with preschool classes!
Musical chairs
A game of musical chairs where players compete for a limited number of chairs, and the last person remaining wins.
It’s a classic indoor activity that everyone enjoys.
The rule that you must keep walking without stopping while the music is playing adds a sense of tension.
When the music stops, sit on a chair immediately; anyone who can’t sit is out.
If two people end up on the same chair, decide the winner with rock-paper-scissors or a similar method.
One of the perks is that, while having fun, players also get to move their bodies and train their thinking skills.
Why not try playing with popular kids’ songs or nursery rhymes as the background music?
Paper airplane throwing
Here’s a paper airplane throwing game that kids and adults alike can enjoy.
Let’s fold paper airplanes using origami paper or flyers.
The size of the paper matters, too.
One of the fun parts of paper airplane throwing is that the flight distance changes depending on how you fold and throw it! If your flight distance isn’t improving, you might discover ways to make it go farther by trying again and again.
Try a variety of games using paper airplanes, such as high-score battles, cup knockdowns, dog-run catches, and pair catches!
parachute ball
“Parachute play” is a group activity or game where everyone holds the edge of a large round piece of fabric, pulls it taut, and, in time with cues, moves around or raises and lowers it to perform.
It helps develop a variety of senses and skills, including not only a sense of rhythm but also timing, speed, and expressiveness.
Children love moving to music, don’t they? Let’s build a sense of rhythm together while singing!
Treasure Hunt Game
A treasure hunt game is an indoor activity that children can enjoy together with their preschool teachers.
After confirming the room is safe, hide items that children will love so they can freely explore.
By searching for and finding the treasures, they can experience fun and a sense of accomplishment.
Watching them wander around looking here and there is heartwarming.
If they’re struggling and say, “I can’t find it!” the teacher should offer support and search together with them.
A treasure hunt game is a charming activity that can be enjoyed with childcare workers.
