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 nurseries and kindergartens: Fun games for children (11–20)
Rhythm Play
Let’s try playing by moving our bodies to the rhythm! Rhythm play includes making sounds with your own body—like clapping your hands or stomping your feet—and moving along to the piano played by the teacher.
You can vary your movements to match the music’s dynamics, making them bigger or smaller, and keep moving while the music is playing, then stop sharply when the music stops.
Music lets you play in many different ways.
It’s also great to try instruments: use castanets or tambourines found in nurseries and kindergartens, or make your own instruments with items like plastic bottles and try playing them.
There are many ways to enjoy rhythm play, so try different activities suited to the child’s age.
Nursery School Exploration!
What kind of teachers are in which rooms? Here are some ideas for a preschool exploration! It’s sure to excite not only children who are new or transferring, but also those who are already familiar with the preschool.
With fluttering hearts, let’s explore the preschool together with friends and teachers while wondering, “What do we do in this room?” and “Is it okay to go in?” It can also be a great opportunity to learn rules, such as the promises to keep in rooms with tiny babies or in rooms with a kitchen.
Animal Role-Playing Game
This is a circuit-play activity where children pretend to be different animals as they move through a course and clear obstacles.
Use long benches, colored cones, and blocks to create the course and set up obstacles.
Since they crawl on all fours or jump while acting like animals, they can get plenty of exercise even indoors.
Imitating a flamingo by standing on one leg also helps develop balance.
It might be great for expanding children’s interests to have them try animals they don’t know, too.
Color Touch Game
Move your body while training your memory! Here’s a color touch game idea.
All you need are hula hoops and color markers.
It’s a simple and fun game that kids as young as three can enjoy! Using the hula hoops and color markers, the rule is to touch the color specified by the teacher and then return to your base.
It’s great because kids can move their bodies while memorizing colors.
Start with one color, and as they get used to it, increase to two or three colors to naturally boost memory and reaction speed.
Give it a try!
Rock-paper-scissors is fun even in the rain
Here are some rock-paper-scissors games you can enjoy indoors with kids even on rainy days.
“American Rock-Paper-Scissors” reverses winning and losing, so it makes you think.
“Body Rock-Paper-Scissors” is a game where you use your whole body to show rock, paper, or scissors.
It’s recommended to decide in advance what movements will represent rock, scissors, and paper before you start.
In “Newspaper Rock-Paper-Scissors,” you stand on a sheet of newspaper while playing; if you lose, you fold your newspaper once and make it smaller each time.
In “Rock-Paper-Scissors Train,” the loser lines up behind the winner, and the train of players gradually grows longer.
Try these and find your favorite rock-paper-scissors game!
Balloon Play
Balloons floating softly in the air are very safe, so kids can play with them with peace of mind.
Here are some indoor games using balloons.
The “keep it off the floor” game naturally encourages kids to cooperate, calling out to each other to keep the balloon from touching the floor and getting excited together.
In the balloon passing game, form groups of about six and split into teams.
Enjoy sending the balloon from front to back, or passing it under the knees.
The team that can pass the balloon the fastest wins.
You can also stick a strip of plastic tape across the middle of the room and enjoy balloon volleyball or soccer.
Please choose and enjoy games suited to the children’s ages.
Recreation for daycare centers and kindergartens: Fun children's games (21–30)
Seated tag
“We can’t play outside because of the rain, but I still want to move my body as much as possible today!” In times like these, here’s a childcare-friendly game we recommend: “Seated Tag.” First, the children start in a seated position.
The rule is that they must keep their bottoms on the floor at all times.
Set a time limit, then play tag while staying seated.
Since it doesn’t involve running, it’s safe and fun to play indoors.
It also helps build leg strength as kids move using their legs and bottoms, so be sure to add it to your play repertoire!
