Recreation for daycare centers and kindergartens: fun activities for children
Children in daycare and kindergarten are full of curiosity and energy! Still, some teachers might struggle to come up with play ideas.
There are also days when the weather keeps you indoors.
Here, we introduce a variety of activities that children in kindergarten and daycare can enjoy! We’ve gathered fun activities—from dance, exercise, and games to crafts—that are suitable for babies through toddlers.
Active, movement-based play is a big hit, too.
Let children and adults play together and enjoy a wonderful time!
- Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for daycare and kindergarten
- [Childcare] Play Right Now! Recommended No-Prep Games
- [Childcare / Physical Play] Fun Activities to Get Moving
- Popular recreation ranking for toddlers
- [Kindergarten/Daycare] Games and Performances for Fun Events
- Useful for childcare! Today’s recommended recreational activities, including fingerplay and games!
- Fun activities with newspaper! Recreation games kids will love
- Indoor Games for Small Groups: Exciting Recreational Activities
- [Childcare] Full of energy! Indoor activity ideas to get kids moving
- [Parent-Child Rec] Recreational activities and games for parents and children to enjoy together—also great for sports days.
- [Childcare] Recommended for 3-year-olds! Play ideas everyone can enjoy
- [Autumn Activities] Nature Play and Craft Ideas for Fall to Incorporate into Childcare!
- Indoor games for parents and children: fun activities that use the body and the mind
Recreational activities for nursery schools and kindergartens. Fun games for children (1–10)
sensory toy play

Fun for all ages! Here are some sensory toy play ideas.
You’ll need: food storage bags, colored water, oil, adzuki beans, erasers, toy goldfish, beads, bells, hair gel, and tape.
Put the materials you prepared into the bag along with the hair gel! Changing up the colors and textures makes the feel different and more interesting.
Sensory toys are recommended not only for infants but also for preschoolers—they’re engaging to look at and touch, and kids will be totally absorbed.
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.
The ‘It fell, it fell’ game

Let me introduce a quick-reaction game called “It Fell, It Fell.” The teacher says, “It fell, it fell,” and the children ask, “What fell?” The teacher names what fell.
For example, if the teacher says “an apple,” the children should pose as if they’re catching an apple.
If the teacher says “a fist,” the children should protect their heads with their hands so they don’t get bonked.
If it’s “thunder,” they should hide their belly button with their hands.
It might be more fun if you teach the poses to the children beforehand and then start the game so they can join in easily.
Once they get used to it, it’s also recommended to have fun by changing up what “falls.”
Ball fishing
@yuka_asobi28 Let’s have fun strengthening your core and improve how easily you get tired! 🤭🌟# developmental support (ryōiku)#AtHomePlay#Indoor PlayPhysical play (exercise)2 years oldCore 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!
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.



