A roundup of recreational activities and games using paper cups
Paper cups are easy to carry in terms of size and weight, so they’re often used for activities with seniors and in children’s play settings.
By combining paper cups to make simple tools or arranging them in different ways, you can enjoy crafts and games.
In this article, we’ll introduce ideas for recreational activities using paper cups.
We’ve rounded up a variety of options—from those inspired by nostalgic games to highly competitive activities that everyone can get excited about together.
Give paper cup activities a try—they’re great fun for small groups and large groups alike.
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- Team-based recreational activities for adults that are fun even with large groups
- A collection of simple indoor recreational games
- Recreation Activities That Excite Kids’ Clubs! Plans and Ideas Children Will Love
- Let's make toys with paper cups! Simple and fun handmade toys
- Paper cup crafts that elementary school kids will love! A collection of fun project ideas
- A roundup of fun games and recreational activities using balloons
- A roundup of recreational activities for having fun with colored balls
- [Exercise] Recreational Ideas for Olympic Sports
- Fun games using rubber bands. Recreational games.
- [For Adults] Fun recreational games. Perfect for short breaks too!
- Ideas for paper cup crafts for adults: from interior decor to practical items.
- Get the Fun Going! Easy Classroom Games You Can Play at School: Recreational Activities for the Whole Class
Recreation and game ideas using paper cups (1–10)
Valentine’s target gameNEW!
@hirose_ds TranslationElderlyRecreationValentine's Daytranslationpaper cupBalloonTarget practice
♪ One Million “I love you” – FUKI
Let’s have fun with a Valentine’s target game using a paper-cup pop gun! Each target has a single character on it, and together they spell out “I love you.” Can you knock down all the targets and win love? The targets are made from paper cups with hearts that have illustrations and letters on them, but you can use other materials if you like.
Just make sure the targets can be knocked over by the light ping-pong balls fired from the paper-cup pop gun.
People might be delighted if you give chocolate to anyone who manages to knock them all down.
tower
This is a game that tests your sense of balance and concentration by stacking paper cups straight up like a tower.
You alternate stacking the bottoms and rims of the cups, passing the turn to the next person without making the tower collapse.
The more nervous you get, the more your hands may shake and the easier it is to topple, so staying relaxed might be key.
It also challenges delicate hand movements: carefully identify spots that look unstable in the stacked tower and make precise, targeted adjustments only where needed.
Kendama
Let’s recreate the traditional toy kendama—where you toss a ball up and catch it—using paper cups.
It has a simple shape like two paper cup bottoms glued together, making it easy to use and easy to make.
The ball is a piece of paper rolled up and attached to the end of a string; attach the other end by wedging it between the two cup bottoms.
Hold it around the area where the bottoms are joined; adding some decorations there as a visual guide is recommended.
Try experimenting to find the best technique—what angle to hold it at and how to lift the ball for the most effective motion.
Recreation and Game Ideas Using Paper Cups (11–20)
clothespin cup
It’s a simple game where you attach clothespins one by one to a row of paper cups.
The focus is on attaching the pins with one hand to train fine motor skills and concentration.
If the gameplay feels too simple, increase the number of clothespins and have players attach them in turn; the person who knocks over a cup is out.
With some clever tweaks—like using different clothespin colors or arranging the paper cups in certain patterns—you could even add elements of bingo or five-in-a-row.
Bowling
This is a bowling-themed game where paper cups are used as pins, and players throw a ball at them to see how many they can knock down.
The pins are made by gluing together the rims of paper cups and adding marbles inside to give them weight.
If you then add numbers and decorations with origami and set up the pins, it really brings out the bowling vibe.
You can also adjust the number of marbles inside the pins so they’re harder to knock over unless you throw the ball with some force—this variation helps improve hand control and focus on the target, so it’s highly recommended.
Paper cup tower using clothespins
https://www.tiktok.com/@bear_kids_official/video/7520490887428754709Develop fine motor control through play! Prepare paper cups and clothespins and try building a tall tower.
As children play, they’ll think for themselves and experiment with “How can I stack them without losing balance?” It’s an activity where you can watch them learn through trial and error.
At first, it’s great for focusing and working alone.
Once they get used to it, you may see them collaborating with friends to figure out and carry out ways to stack even higher.
Team matches or individual competitions could be fun, too!
crane game
A crane game made with paper cups—the key point is creating a mechanism that firmly grabs the target.
Use two paper cups: cut one into an arm shape wider than the cup’s diameter, fix a straw to it, and thread the straw through a hole in the other paper cup to complete it.
Then line up the prizes on the field and have players compete to see how many they can collect within the time limit.
The fact that the arm isn’t intentionally very strong is also part of the challenge: it tests focus and individual ingenuity—like how quickly you pull the straw and which part of the prize you try to grab.