Kids are geniuses at play, aren’t they? They can have a great time even in open spaces without playground equipment, and they come up with ways to play with toys that adults would never imagine! Of course, kids today are creative too, but back in the days before smartphones and game consoles, children played in even more inventive ways.
Many of those old-fashioned games are still fun for kids today.
In this article, we’ve gathered lots of classic, enjoyable games from the past.
We’re also introducing plenty of activities you can try right away, so be sure to check them out!
- Nostalgic games that were popular when we were kids
- Fun Indoor Games for Elementary School Kids Without Any Equipment
- Recommended outdoor games you can enjoy without any equipment
- [Let’s Make and Play!] Handmade Toy Ideas You Can Create Yourself
- [Children’s Club] Easy and fun indoor games. Exciting party games
- A special feature on nostalgic toys and the trends we craved as kids—loads of the things we wanted back then are here!
- [Active Outdoors!] A roundup of garden games you can enjoy with your kids
- [Make with Kids] Handmade Outdoor Play Toy Special
- [For Kids] Today’s Handmade Craft Ideas
- [For Kids] Today's Recommended Recreation Idea Collection
- [List] A roundup of games and recreational activities kids love
- [Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
- Elementary School Fun Day a Big Hit! Indoor Game Idea Collection
Old-fashioned games. Fun children's games (1–10)
Chinese jump ropeNEW!
This is a game where you make a loop out of 2 to 3 meters of flat elastic, like the kind used for sewing, and two people hold it or clamp it around their legs while someone jumps.
It has been popular with children since the Showa era and seems to have been especially trendy in the 1980s.
The jumper hops and twists the elastic in time with a song, and it’s also fun to gradually raise the height when they succeed.
Avoid busy sidewalks and play in safe places like parks.
These days, colorful elastics made specifically for this game are also sold.
Cabbage Patch KidsNEW!
Released by an American toy manufacturer as dolls born from cabbage patches, the Cabbage Patch Kids came with birth certificates and names, and each one had unique features like different facial expressions and hair colors, making every doll one of a kind.
While the head is plastic, the body is made of soft cloth, offering an ideal tactile feel for children.
Since each one is different, some children may have wanted to collect many of them! Their individual personalities likely made doll play even more engaging.
cat’s cradle
Ayatori, the string figure game that Nobita from Doraemon was also good at, uses a looped string to create various shapes.
It’s surprisingly deep, with many techniques to learn.
Some versions can be played by two people, making it a versatile and enjoyable traditional pastime.
If you try it now, you might be able to pull off tricks that once seemed difficult with ease!
beanbag juggling game (otedama)
This is also a truly profound pastime, with many ways to play that go along with various traditional beanbag songs passed down in different regions.
Many of you may have learned it from your grandmother.
If you still remember how, why not teach it to your own children and others?
Ohajiki (traditional Japanese coin-flicking game pieces)
I think quite a lot of people have played ohajiki.
It’s a game where you flick those small glass pieces, kind of like a Japanese kids’ version of billiards.
There are many rules, and besides that, they were handy little toys—you could use them in place of money, learn arithmetic with them, and so on.
origami
Origami is the heart of Japan—Japanese craftsmanship that people overseas admire with longing.
It’s incredibly profound, and a single sheet of paper holds infinite possibilities.
Beyond classics like the paper crane and the chatterbox, why not, now as an adult, try your hand at the challenging models you couldn’t manage back then?
Kendama
Kendama has so many fans that world championships are held—it’s now a cutting-edge pastime.
There are countless tricks, and if you watch today, you’ll see a world quite different from the kendama of back in the day.
With a wide range of colors and designs—from stylish to classic—there are plenty available, so why not give it a try now, whether you’re coming back to it or seeing it for the first time?
Spinning tops
Speaking of spinning tops, I think many people were really into them as kids.
They’re fascinating to watch—so much so that even performers use them.
Wrapping the string carefully and the thrill of getting it to spin well for the first time was immeasurable, wasn’t it? That stance where you drop your hips and flick it out—can you still do it now?
Daruma-otoshi
I remember that Daruma Otoshi was quite difficult.
You don’t see it much anymore except in souvenir shops, but it used to be a popular game with children, too.
They came in sizes from very small to fairly large—I even remember playing a version with cushions during PE class or recreational activities.
It’s a game that really requires some technique.
Beigoma (spinning top)
This is another game steeped in Showa-era nostalgia.
You spin iron tops and smash them into each other to battle.
It offered heated, sumo-like matches.
Just as gear-spun tops that don’t use strings have made a comeback and are popular today, it’s a timeless pastime that remains a close companion to children no matter how many years go by.