Popularity ranking of recreational activities for children
We introduce kids’ recreational activities in a ranked list.
From indoor and outdoor play to large-group activities for schools and events, we’ve gathered the most popular options among the kinds of recreation kids love.
If you’re thinking, “There are so many activities that I don’t know which ones are popular,” or “I want to learn lots of different games,” be sure to check out this article.
Research the most popular activities and enjoy a great time with the kids!
Top 10 Most Popular Recreational Activities for Children (1–10)
Paper Cup Relay1rank/position
Let’s split into teams and enjoy a paper cup relay! Each team, prepare three paper cups.
Place two side by side, then set one on top to start the game.
If you move the two bottom cups left and right with your hands, the top cup will drop down.
If it lands upright without falling over, that’s a success—then switch to the next person.
If the cup falls over, try again and only switch after a successful attempt.
You’ll want to celebrate when you succeed, but remember it’s a relay, so pass it to the next person right away!
9-square tag2rank/position
Let me introduce “Nine-Square Tag,” a game that gets kids using their whole bodies with jumping movements.
Prepare nine circles and arrange them in a 3-by-3 grid.
Be careful not to make the circles too large, or moving between them will be difficult.
The rules are simple: if you land in the same square as someone else, you switch who’s “it.” If everyone calls out together—“One, two, three!”—as they move, it builds a sense of unity.
Once you get used to nine squares, it could be fun to increase to 16 or 25 squares.
It also helps with practicing multiplication, so it’s a recommended game for lower-grade elementary school children.
Chick-chan Mascot3rank/position
Let’s make a chick mascot with adorable, round eyes! Using yellow felt, create a template with a compass and cut out four leaf-shaped pieces.
On one piece, draw the eyes and beak, then stitch them with embroidery thread.
Once the eyes and beak are sewn, align it with the other felt pieces and join them using an overcast stitch.
When you’ve sewn about halfway around the last piece, stuff it with filling.
After adding the stuffing, sew it closed to the end, and it’s complete.
CC Lemon Game4rank/position
This is a competitive game where, in time with the ‘CC Lemon’ chant, you decide actions like attacking or charging, aiming to defeat your opponent.
Depending on the region, the moves and chants can differ, and it may even be known by another name.
The rules test your judgment as you predict how your opponent will act while committing to your own move.
It’s recommended to start at a slow pace to check the rules, then gradually increase the game speed to challenge higher-level decision-making.
Wink Killer5rank/position
Wink Killer is a game you can enjoy without any props.
First, choose one participant to be the Killer.
Make sure no one else knows who the Killer is.
Once the game starts, the Killer eliminates people by winking at anyone who makes eye contact.
The person who makes eye contact should wait a brief moment, then announce that they’re out.
If the Killer eliminates everyone within the time limit, the Killer wins.
Everyone else plays as citizens: avert your gaze while trying to identify who the Killer is.
It’s also fun to add an accomplice role to the game.
Teleportation Game6rank/position
If you have some newspapers, this is a game you should definitely try.
Roll several sheets into sticks with a few people.
Everyone holds the stick they made, stands in a circle, leaves their stick standing, and moves to the next spot.
As you move, the person coming from the next spot must catch the stick you left before it falls.
Since the game is called the Teleportation Game, leave only the stick and move yourself quickly.
Anyone who fails to catch the stick properly is out.
As the number of players decreases, widen the spacing between people.
The distance you move will increase, making the sticks harder to grab and raising the difficulty.
kaleidoscope7rank/position
Let’s make a kaleidoscope that expands into a sparkling view when you peer into the tube, using the shape of a plastic bottle.
You’ll look into the bottle through a hole made in the cap, and the parts inside will add motion to the view.
The contents are finely cut pieces of the plastic bottle; if you color them with markers, the view will shift through a variety of hues.
You can adjust the lighting by how you hold the bottle, and it’s also recommended to line the inside with paper to make the colors appear even more vivid.