Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for daycare and kindergarten

10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminderkepiko
Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked for 10 years as a kindergarten teacher and for 7 years as an after-school childcare instructor, then took a post as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I also engaged in activities that shared Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational play, working with many children. Afterwards, through freelance writing, planning, and editing work at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and conveying ideas. Leveraging the perspective cultivated in educational settings and my experience as an editor, I aim to deliver practical information—focusing on fields related to music and children—that values both input and output. Hobbies include instruments, singing, handcrafts, toys, drawing, traditional play, the outdoors, books, DIY, and crafts. Special skill: spinning-top tricks.
9 years of experience as a nursery school teacherShibata Risa
I am an active nursery school teacher with 9 years of experience. After graduating from university, I worked at a daycare center. The time I spent happily with children—playing piano, singing songs, and doing finger-play—are priceless memories to me. Currently, while raising three children of my own, I work at an after-school day service, engaging with children and providing individualized developmental support. Drawing on my diverse experiences as a childcare worker and as a mother, I hope to express and convey my thoughts through writing.

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!

Indoor Activities and Recreation Games Recommended for Nurseries and Kindergartens (51–60)

Quick Towel Grab Game

@cocorurueniwa
Today's activity was the quick towel-grab game 🔥 It's a game where focus and reflexes are key‼️ How did everyone do, I wonder? lol#Kokoruru Eniwa #Kokorururu Sakuramachi Eniwa City After-school day service After-school day service Activity Quick Towel Grab Game Don't neglect the girl
♬ Jumbled Mix 2024 with APT – MACHO music

Sharpen your judgment and reflexes! Here’s an idea for a quick-draw towel game.

Prepare white towels and colored flags.

Pair up and sit facing each other across a table.

When the teacher raises a flag, quickly grab a towel.

Once you get used to the rules, it’s even more fun if you increase the towel colors to two or three.

While determining the color of the flag the teacher raised, search among the towels on the table for the specified color and pull it toward you.

Give it a try!

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Talking Game

@soramame.sensei
How can I get it across?Talking Game word # 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!

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Hoop ball throwing

@omiyamichinoko ♪ Classical Medley 2019 (Cover) – Pianica Magician

Hula hoops become the targets! Here’s an idea for a game where you throw balls at hula hoops.

You’ll need two hula hoops, masking tape, and small colored balls.

First, stick masking tape onto the hula hoops to create targets.

Next, throw the colored balls at the hula hoop targets.

When the balls fly just right, they’ll stick to the masking tape with a satisfying plop—it’s really fun! Competing to see how many colored balls stick should make it even more exciting.

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Hoop Tag

@soramame.sensei
Tag, but with hoops! Jump to the rhythm!! It’s great because even kids who aren’t good at running can enjoy it 😊Child Development Support After-school day service child Parent-child time #StayHomeTime # developmental support (ryōiku)Tag Hoop translation
♬ Fun comical busy busy – SOUND BANK

Let’s play by predicting the ogre’s moves! Here’s a fun idea for a hula hoop tag game.

Prepare nine small hula hoops and an easy-to-see marker for the person who’s “it.” On the count of “1, 2, 3,” jump to move into an adjacent hula hoop! You can move the length of one hoop vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.

“It” also moves on the cue, so the key is to avoid landing in the same hoop as “it.” Predict the ogre’s movements and try to escape to the end!

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Indoor activities and recreation games recommended for nursery schools and kindergartens (61–70)

Ball fishing

@yuka_asobi28
Let’s have fun strengthening your core and improve how easily you get tired! 🤭🌟# developmental support (ryōiku)#AtHomePlay #Indoor Play Physical play (exercise)2 years old Core training
♬ familie – Mrs. GREEN APPLE

Here’s a ball-fishing game that helps build both concentration and body awareness.

Wrap transparent tape around the tip of a pool noodle with the sticky side facing outward.

Use the sticky tip to pick up scattered colored balls one by one.

It can be fun to set a time limit and see who can collect the most balls the fastest.

If the pool noodle is too long, cut it to match the child’s height to make it easier to use.

Give it a try!

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mayumi

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Ball shower

@tomonite_official
This looks so fun! ✨ Even on days when you can’t play outside, you can enjoy it at home 😍 Please check the instructions for the materials and products you use, and pay attention to the usage environment and weight limits. Also, when playing, do it together with an adult and keep safety in mind as you use this as a reference. We featured a post from Instagram by @ari_mama.kosodate ✨ Thank you for the wonderful post. ↓↓↓ ＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿【Kids Get Excited! A Shower of Balls】＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿＿ This is Tomonite @tomonite_official. Even on busy days, we want family time to be full of smiles! We share: 🏠 Time-saving housework and parenting hacks 💎 Useful items with great time and cost performance 👶 Relatable parenting moments and heartwarming videos ✨ A request ✨ Your likes and comments are a big encouragement! If you found this post helpful or enjoyed it, we’d be happy if you leave a comment with a 👶 emoji! Please use this idea as a reference while keeping safety in mind. All posts introduced by Tomonite are shared with permission from the original posters. Comments that may hurt others may be hidden by our team. We’d be delighted if everyone could enjoy lots of friendly interactions while keeping the conversation comfortable for all ✨#AtHomePlay Ball play #ParentingHack work
♬ Super Mario Bros. – Overworld – 8-Bit Arcade

Let’s make and play with a ball shower! Prepare some colored balls, a pool noodle, a laundry mesh bag, and pipe cleaners.

Cut the pool noodle in half lengthwise, form it into a ring, and attach the laundry bag to the inside using the pipe cleaners.

Thread the pipe cleaners through the holes of the net and fix it all the way around.

Cut the net where the balls will go in, and the goal is complete.

After you toss the balls in, open the zipper and the balls will pour out from inside like a shower.

Kids will love this ball shower—give it a try!

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mayumi

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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 service Child Development Support group therapy (for children)/group developmental support #Child Development Support (Japan)#After-school day service Joto Ward Noe #aba Indoor exercise Recommendation
♬ 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.

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