Popular recreation ranking for toddlers
In this article, we introduce recreational activities for preschoolers in a ranking format!
These activities can be used at daycare centers, kindergartens, and certified childcare centers, and can also be incorporated into everyday play at home.
If you want to know which games are popular with preschoolers, are looking for recreational activities you can use for preschooler-oriented events, or want to make everyday play with your child more fun, be sure to check out this article.
You’re sure to discover games that kids will love!
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- Let's play with a big group! A collection of fun children's recreational activities
- Parent–child interactive play. Fun activities popular in childcare settings and at parent–child observation days.
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- Indoor games that different ages can enjoy! Ideas for fun everyone can get excited about together
- [Children’s Club] Easy and fun indoor games. Exciting party games
Top Recreational Activities for Toddlers: Popularity Ranking (31–40)
Abuku-tatta36rank/position
Abukutatta, which combines singing with movement, is a perfect indoor game for two-year-olds.
Everyone forms a circle and moves their bodies while singing, so they can enjoy interacting with friends.
When the song ends, the child in the center transforms from a bean into the “oni” (tagger)! With spooky sounds, a game of tag begins.
The sudden turn of events makes the children’s hearts race with excitement.
As they experience surprise and a bit of tension, their senses and motor skills are naturally stimulated.
It’s easy to jump into on rainy days or between activities, so be sure to enjoy it together with the children.
sensory bag37rank/position
Why not try making a DIY sensory bag and have some fun? Sensory bags are said to stimulate a baby’s sight and hearing and promote brain development, and you can easily make them with items from a 100-yen shop.
First, put an appropriate amount of different textured liquids—such as liquid laundry starch, styling gel, or baby oil—into a zip-top bag.
Next, add color to the liquid with paint, drop in beads or marbles, and seal the bag tightly with tape so nothing leaks out.
The irresistibly squishy feel is surprisingly addictive.
The sparkle of the beads and the slow, gooey movement of the liquid are fascinating, so babies around 0 years old are sure to be captivated! Give it a try.
Pun Quiz38rank/position
It’s like a riddle and really fun! Here are some ideas for pun quizzes.
By using puns, you can create laughter while learning words—a unique idea.
For example, for the question “What card game is a tiger playing?” the answer would be “toranpu” (trump), a play on words in Japanese.
Try coming up with answers that work like puns.
Children will develop creativity by twisting words to produce funny answers.
It’s something you can enjoy with family and friends while experiencing the fun of wordplay, and it helps build vocabulary and a sense of humor too! Let’s think up questions together, from easy to a bit challenging, and find the answers while laughing.
ring toss39rank/position
Ring toss is said to have originated from cowboys playing by tossing horseshoes.
You often see it at festival stalls and school culture festivals.
Why not enjoy this easygoing game together—the kind you might think, “Hey, I could do that too”? If you don’t have a ring toss set, start by making your own.
With old newspapers and tape, you can easily make the rings.
For targets, filled plastic bottles—like PET bottles filled with water—work well.
It’s likely to be handy for small local events, too!
Playing with plastic raffia (Suzuran tape)40rank/position
Let’s adapt the ways we play to suit children’s development! Here are some ideas for playing with suzuran tape.
Suzuran tape is a thin plastic tape known for its colorful appearance.
Because the material is light and flexible, you can cut it with scissors, tie it, or weave it, allowing for all kinds of creative variations and uses in different games.
This time, let’s try making a suzuran tape curtain, a suzuran tape “bath,” and suzuran tape pom-poms.
It sounds like these activities will spark excitement and fun.
Recreation Popularity Rankings for Preschoolers (41–50)
Daikon Game41rank/position
Let me introduce the “Daikon Game,” a fun activity you can enjoy indoors while moving your body! Get everyone excited by having them pretend to be daikon radishes.
Lie down in a circle holding hands.
Stay in character as daikon and don’t let go of your friends’ hands so the ‘oni’ can’t pull you out.
The child who stays until the end wins! Rules vary by region, but if you link arms instead of holding hands, you can become even stronger daikon! It’s also fun to let the kids come up with ways to avoid being pulled out, so I highly recommend it.
Hana Ichi Monme42rank/position
The traditional children’s song “Han’ichi Monme” has long been loved, and the game played with the song is still passed down today.
As you move and call out in time with the music, warm up your body while having fun.
Split into two teams and sing back and forth.
Try to win rock-paper-scissors and pull a friend over from the other team.
Even if your team gets smaller, raise your spirits with loud voices so you don’t lose to the other team, and enjoy it right to the end—that’s the key.
It’s a game full of fun actions, from movements that match the song to whispery strategy talks.
