Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for daycare and kindergarten

big-game hunting

[You can also see childcare in action] Ms. Rio’s active play [Big Game Hunting]

Get the fun going! Here are some ideas for the game “Mōjūgari” (Wild Beast Hunt).

It’s a great way to explore number concepts while playing, so we highly recommend it! The call-and-response is done by having children repeat the teacher’s or caregiver’s lines, so keeping it simple and easy to understand is key.

Rules: The teacher or caregiver tells the children the name of an animal.

The children then form groups and sit down in numbers that match the number of letters in the animal’s name specified by the teacher or caregiver.

Start with animals that have fewer letters, and once they get used to it, switch to animals with more letters so they won’t get bored.

Color Search Game

[Color Hunt Game!!] Let's Play at Home with the Kids!!

Let’s look for what colors are hiding around the room! Here are some ideas for a color-finding game.

This activity is appealing thanks to its simple and easy-to-understand rules.

Just color some paper with markers, put the pieces into a paper cup, and you’re ready to play! It feels exciting, like drawing lots.

As you play, it helps improve color recognition, making it a fun and educational activity.

Once you get used to the game, try drawing two pieces of paper and combining the two colors—that sounds fun too.

Give it a try!

Lick of ice cream

Tomobe Kindergarten Sports Day Event Description No. 6: “Lick the Ice Cream”

Aim for the goal while keeping your balance! Here’s an idea for “Ice Cream Lick.” It’s a fun relay perfect for a 5-year-old’s sports day, featuring a quirky, eye-catching ice cream with lots of impact.

Place a large ice cream made from colored plastic bags on a giant cone, and carry it to the finish while maintaining balance! Kids can enjoy it as a relay on their own, or you can adapt it into a parent-child event.

Work together and head for the goal!

Playing with empty boxes

[For 2-year-olds] Playing with empty boxes!

Let’s make the most of scrap materials and play freely! Here are some ideas for playing with empty boxes.

It’s a wonderful activity to enjoy with two-year-olds while bringing out their creativity.

You can add dividers to a box to roll small balls through it, or stack and line up boxes to make tunnels to play with.

Children will expand their own imaginations and come up with many ways to use the boxes.

Through this activity, they can develop fine motor skills and spatial awareness, while enriching their creativity!

UFO Tag

@kidschallengeclub♬ UFO – Pink Lady

Spin around and protect the captain! Here’s an idea for a UFO tag game.

It’s a unique game that really tests teamwork! Form teams of three, hold hands, and dodge the tagger so your captain doesn’t get caught.

Choose a captain among the three and have them wear a bib number so the tagger can easily tell who it is—highly recommended.

The key is to hold hands firmly so no one lets go!

Rock-Paper-Scissors Sugoroku

@kidschallengeclub♬ EMA – go!go!vanillas

Turn your room into a sugoroku board! Here’s an idea for a Rock-Paper-Scissors Sugoroku game.

Sugoroku is a traditional Japanese board game where you advance spaces using dice.

However, in this version, you move forward by playing rock-paper-scissors instead of rolling dice.

The rules are simple: win to advance, lose and return to the start.

Kids can join in easily.

Set up mats, balance beams, and vaulting boxes around the room to represent the spaces.

If you’re playing with a large group, holding it in a gym or hall is recommended!

Cup Game

@.vs9086

This time it’s a “cooperation-required cup game”! Materials: • 4 strings • 1 rubber band • Paper or plastic cups How to play: • Attach the 4 strings to the rubber band. • Line up the paper cups. • Tug the rubber band from four directions to grip the cup and stack them into a pyramid. This game builds fine hand control and concentration. Plus, one person can take the lead by giving instructions, and the other listens and responds. You can’t do it unless the two of you work together. My second son isn’t very cooperative and hasn’t really had experiences of accomplishing something together with friends, so I hope that, even through play, he can gradually gain experiences of achieving something with someone else. If you have paper cups, you can also branch out into other games like: • Sport stacking • Bowling ————— We share fun brain-boosting activities that elementary schoolers will get more absorbed in than a Switch—and that help grow their talents! Check out the other posts, too! —————Elementary school kids' playBrain-boosting playSTEAM education

♬ Cheap and cute athletic meet classic song(1085557) – Kids Sound

A mission you can’t clear without teaming up! Here’s a cup game idea.

Cooperation is a very important skill for 5-year-olds.

Through everyday interactions with friends and family, they begin to learn what cooperation means and why it matters.

By playing cooperatively with friends, children can develop the ability to understand others’ feelings and take turns.

The key to this game is that you cannot complete it without your teammates’ help.

You’ll need paper or plastic cups, rubber bands, and string.

Achieve the mission together with your friends and strengthen your bonds!

Talking Game

@soramame.sensei

How can I get it across?Talking Gameword# developmental support (ryōiku)Let's play together as parent and child#StayHomeTime

♬ Athletic Meet “Heaven and Hell” (No Introduction) – Shinonome

Build thinking and communication skills! Here are some ideas for a talking game.

Talking games are fun activities that use words to strengthen communication and creativity.

Have two people sit facing each other, and place a divider between them so they can’t see what the other is doing.

Once both have the same type and number of blocks in front of them, you’re ready to start! One person assembles the blocks while clearly explaining what they’re doing using only words.

The other listens carefully, thinks through the instructions, and assembles the blocks accordingly.

Give it a try!

Ball-grabbing game

@bear_kids_official

Ball-grab game!!! Touch the body part you hear—like “head,” “tummy,” or “knees.” When you hear “Change,” switch places. When you hear “Ball!” …grab the ball. It helps develop quick reactions, decision-making, and listening skills. For trial visits or inquiries, feel free to contact us via our official LINE or by phone. We look forward to hearing from you!After-school day serviceChild Development Supportgroup therapy (for children)/group developmental support#Child Development Support (Japan)#After-school day serviceJoto WardNoe#abaIndoor exerciseRecommendation

♬ Comical lively cute sports day – SOUND BANK

Let’s control our actions by following the instructions we hear! Here’s an idea for a ball-grabbing game.

In this game, while touching the body part instructed by a teacher or guardian, you quickly react to the word “ball” and pick up a ball placed on the floor.

Once the players get used to it, you can increase the number of instruction words.

For example, start with three words like “head,” “tummy,” and “bottom,” and feel free to adjust the rules according to the child’s level of understanding and responsiveness.

Ball Battle

Build decision-making skills through play! Here’s a ball battle game idea.

For children, decision-making is an essential skill in everyday life and learning.

By developing the ability to think things through and choose, and to act appropriately based on the situation, they grow more independent and learn to think and make decisions on their own.

This time, let’s nurture decision-making skills while playing a ball battle game.

Pair up in twos and face each other; place some colored balls between you and you’re ready to go! If you lose rock-paper-scissors, run away quickly; if you win, watch your opponent’s movements and throw a ball.

Give it a try!