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Let's play with paper cups! Crafts and indoor play

Let's play with paper cups! Crafts and indoor play
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Let's play with paper cups! Crafts and indoor play

Did you know that paper cups, which are handy as simple drinking cups, are also great for crafts and indoor play?

When it comes to paper cup crafts, string telephones are the classic example, but they’re also used for a variety of make-and-play projects like kendama and bamboo-copters.

This time, we’ll introduce some activities that use paper cups you likely have at home.

There are plenty of games that use paper cups as-is, so it’s perfect for anyone who wants to start playing right now.

If you’re looking for safe toys or games for children or the elderly, be sure to take a look for ideas.

Let's play with paper cups! Crafts and indoor play (1–10)

[Play] Paper Cup Stacking Competition

Elementary schoolers' serious showdown! Paper cup stacking race★ Who will get the tasty snacks? HUGtto! Precure indoor play game ❤ Miko-chan Friends ❤
[Play] Paper Cup Stacking Competition

It’s a game where you stack paper cups and compete to see who can finish the fastest.

Let’s decide that the bottom row has 4 cups, the row above has 3, and so on.

And instead of just stacking any cups, assign colors—like orange for the bottom 4 and yellow for the second row of 3—and make it a rule that you must stack the cups according to the color for each row.

If you place a cup of the wrong color, you’re out.

This raises the difficulty a bit and should make the game more exciting.

Drawing illustrations on the cups would be cute and likely a hit with kids, too.

[Play] Quick Cup Showdown

Oh no, I burst into tears... Put strawberries on it! Quick Cup showdown!
[Play] Quick Cup Showdown

It’s a game where you stack cups: you line up colorful paper cups in the color order shown on a drawn card, and whoever arranges them fastest rings a bell to finish! You have five colored cups and either stack them or line them up horizontally according to the illustrations on the cards.

Follow not only the colors but also the arrangement exactly as instructed by the cards.

There’s a toy product called Quick Cups that does this, but you can also make a DIY version at home using materials you have—like colored construction paper—and some creativity.

Try drawing your own illustration cards, too!

[Play] Paper Cup Golf

Paper Cup Golf: A Sit-Down Game That Still Gets Everyone Excited
[Play] Paper Cup Golf

How about trying paper cup golf, a game you can play even in a small space with just paper cups and ping-pong balls? Write scores on the paper cups, place them on the floor with the scores facing up, and secure them with double-sided tape.

From a spot a few meters away, decide how many balls each person gets, then roll the ping-pong balls and try to land them in the cups.

You can use lots of cups, and it’s fun to include some with negative points, too.

Since you can play while seated, it also works on a tabletop.

It’s a great activity for young children and seniors as well.

[Play] Cup Slow Challenge

We can’t go home until we successfully complete the worldwide viral “Cup Slow Challenge”!!
[Play] Cup Slow Challenge

It’s a simple yet addictive game using cups.

As the name “Cup Throw Challenge” suggests, it’s a game where you throw cups.

But you don’t just throw them—you try to toss a cup into another cup that’s fixed to the floor or a table.

It’s apparently a worldwide trend, especially on TikTok.

You can aim for a straightforward toss-in or make it bounce first.

It seems harder than you’d think, but the thrill when it goes in is probably huge! With minimal setup, it’s fun for one person or a group, so give it a try.

[Play] Rhythm Play: “Donguri Korokoro”

We played a rhythm game with paper cups and performed “Donguri Korokoro.”
[Play] Rhythm Play: “Donguri Korokoro”

This is a simple rhythm game using paper cups.

Turn a paper cup upside down and tap it on a hard surface like a desk.

You should hear a “kon-kon” tapping sound—let’s use that sound to play! It’s fun to create your own rhythms, but it’s even more enjoyable if everyone works together to perform a song.

By using paper cups of different sizes or changing how you hold the cup, you can produce a variety of pitches.

You can also try making rhythms like a drum set using three types of sounds—low, medium, and high!

[Play] Cup-in Ball Game

Cup Game Challenge ★ Win a prize ☆ Nya-Nya Channel
[Play] Cup-in Ball Game

You can enjoy this game alone, but it’s especially recommended as a recreation activity when lots of friends and family gather for birthday parties or celebrations.

To prepare, arrange paper cups on a table and secure them in place.

Once you have a ball that fits perfectly into the cups, you’re ready to go.

Decide on a throwing line, and from there, throw the ball aiming for the paper cups.

It’ll be even more exciting if you put prizes in the cups or assign point values to them!

[Play] Paper Cup Fan Race

At the starting signal, everyone frantically fans their paper cup with an uchiwa to send it toward the finish line faster than anyone else—this is the Paper Cup Uchiwa Race.

It’s a very simple game that everyone can enjoy, from small children to adults and seniors.

It’s easy, but you can also have fun with mishaps along the way, like the paper cup tipping over or the uchiwa knocking it and sending it flying.

Adults might end up getting more serious about it than the kids! (lol)

[Play] Treasure Guessing Game

[How Dads Play with Kids] Guess-the-Toy Game with Paper Cups / Dad is the Play Teacher – Kirakira Navi –
[Play] Treasure Guessing Game

This is a game you can enjoy with a child in the early preschool years.

You’ll need a few paper cups and a toy small enough to fit inside one.

Choose something that excites your child, like a favorite character.

The rules are simple: place the toy under one of the upside-down cups and play a guessing game with your child to find where it is.

When they find it, celebrate together and praise them enthusiastically.

You can also write numbers on the cups and have them guess by number—that sounds fun too.

[Play] Let’s build a paper cup tower

Let's build a giant tower with bear-themed colored paper cups! Will we fail at the very last one? Leo Smile
[Play] Let's build a paper cup tower

White paper cups are the most common, but there are many varieties, including colored ones and cups with illustrations.

You can easily buy them at 100-yen shops.

Let’s build a giant tower with these cute paper cups! Turn the paper cups upside down and line them up on a stable surface like a table or the floor.

Once the first layer is done, stack more cups on top to make the second and third layers, building higher and higher.

It’s simple to make, but if you’re not careful, it will topple over.

As a variation, it could be fun to design your tower using paper cups on which you’ve drawn your own letters or illustrations.

[Play] Territory-capturing game

2019.09.20 Grandpa and Grandma tried sending the paper cup fort to the base.
[Play] Territory-capturing game

Draw a center line on the table with duct tape or similar, line up paper cups on it, and at the start signal, fan them with an uchiwa (hand fan) to make them flutter forward.

Move the paper cups across the tape into your opponent’s territory from your point of view.

Before the end signal sounds, try to send as many paper cups as possible into the opponent’s territory.

The player who gets more cups into the opponent’s territory wins.

If a cup falls over during play, stand it back up where it fell and continue.

If there are many participants, turning it into a knockout tournament or a team match can make it even more exciting.

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