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!
- [Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
- [Children’s Club] Easy and fun indoor games. Exciting party games
- Play ideas kids can enjoy from 1st to 6th grade [indoors & outdoors]
- [Elementary School] Quick and Easy! Indoor Recreational Activities Perfect for Lower Grades
- Recommended for upper elementary grades! Exciting indoor recreation and games
- [Elementary School Rec] Recommended Games and Performances for a Fun Party
- Recreation Popularity Rankings for Elementary School Students
- [For Kids] Today's Recommended Recreation Idea Collection
- A big hit at after-school childcare! A special feature on group games and activities you can play without any equipment
- [For Kids] Indoor Fun! Large-Group Recreational Activities and Games
- Liven up your children’s club event! A collection of ideas everyone can enjoy
- Indoor recreation popularity ranking
- [For Kids] Exciting Class-vs-Class Games: Team Competition Activities
Top 10 Most Popular Recreational Activities for Children (1–10)
amulet8rank/position

Omamori charms made from felt are a warm, compact craft that still lets you express your personality.
Cut the felt into the shape of a charm, apply double-sided tape to one side, and form a small pouch.
Fill the pouch with materials that brighten your mood just by carrying them—beads, tiny parts, sparkly stickers, and the like.
Thread a cord or ribbon through it so you can take it with you, turning it into a handy everyday item.
You can freely arrange the shapes and colors, and by choosing a wish or theme, you can add a sense of story to your piece.
Once finished, you can attach it to a bag or pencil case, making it a practical item as well.
Crawling through a spider web9rank/position

Can you make it through without getting caught in the spiderweb? How about turning a thrilling, heart-pounding spiderweb crawl into a Halloween game for kids? Any material works for the web, but thin string can be dangerous if it tangles, so using strips of newspaper is recommended.
They’re not very durable, but they’re safe and easy to dispose of afterward.
Set it up in a hallway or similar space, imagining a spiderweb while leaving gaps for the children to crawl through.
Say-and-Do Game10rank/position

Let me introduce a game called “Follow What’s Said/Do the Opposite.” The teacher plays the role of the leader, and the students are the participants.
When the teacher says, “Say the same, do the same: right,” the students move to the right.
If the teacher says “left,” they move to the left in the same way.
Next, if the teacher says, “Say the same, do the opposite,” then when the teacher says “right,” the students should move to the left.
If the teacher says “forward,” they should move backward.
As you play, your brain might get confused and you may not be sure how to move.
Stay calm, think it through, and give it a try.
It’s also fun to speed it up as you go!
Children’s Recreation Popularity Rankings (11–20)
human disentanglement puzzle11rank/position

The human knot game is a simple, crowd-pleasing activity that kids and adults can enjoy together.
Participants form a circle and hold hands—but you must hold hands with people who are not next to you, and you can only hold the same person with one hand.
Without letting go, twist and maneuver your bodies to untangle the human knot.
As everyone talks and works together to solve it, the excitement naturally builds.
When you succeed, the shared sense of accomplishment brings everyone together and strengthens team unity, making this a highly recommended game.
Epicenter Game12rank/position

If you’re looking for an indoor recreation activity for about 5 to 10 people, the “Epicenter Game” is recommended.
In this game, one person becomes the “epicenter,” and everyone else imitates the actions of the person in that role.
The tagger watches everyone’s movements and tries to guess who the epicenter is.
The epicenter role is especially fun if you time your changes in movement while watching the tagger’s line of sight.
paper airplane13rank/position

Origami that you can make and play with is popular among children.
How about making a paper airplane out of origami and giving it as a gift? There are many ways to fold a paper airplane, but this time we’ll share an idea for one that flies smoothly.
All you need is a rectangular sheet of paper and a stapler.
The steps are simple, so it’s great that you can make it quickly with things you already have at home! After giving it as a present, you can have fun flying the paper airplanes together or folding them together.
Definitely give it a try!
Group shiritori14rank/position

Group Shiritori is a more challenging game than playing Shiritori one-on-one.
Its appeal is that anyone can join regardless of grade level, and you can play it indoors! The key to this game is how quickly the members of a group can communicate with each other.
If the group is too large, communication becomes difficult, so forming groups of two or three is ideal.
Because it tests how well the team can work together, it can also help foster strong bonds among the children.


