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Fun activities, recreational games, and DIY using ropes and cords

Fun activities, recreational games, and DIY using ropes and cords
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We’ve gathered fun rope-based games, recreational activities, and DIY ideas! When you think of ropes, the classics like long rope jumping, tug-of-war, and elements of obstacle courses come to mind, right?

This time, we’ve collected everything from those classics to some more elaborate and quirky ideas! And it’s not always easy to come up with rope-based DIY projects, is it? But actually, there are lots of wonderful DIYs you can enjoy with rope, so we’ll introduce those as well! Use this as inspiration for playing with rope or for when you want to make something!

Fun activities using ropes and cords: recreation games and DIY (1–10)

Challenge the rope crawl!

Matsuyama City Nursery School ★ Trying the rope crawl♪♪ Indoor play is also fulfilling!!
Challenge the rope crawl!

Here’s a simple game using a rope.

You can attach cute newspaper decorations to the rope that kids crawl under, and even small children can do it well and have fun.

For slightly older kids, you could make it more challenging, like a limbo dance, and they’d enjoy it too!

Rope Skipping Song: The Mail Carrier

Mailman / Jump Rope Song (piano with vocals)
Rope Skipping Song: The Mail Carrier

When it comes to rope games, “long rope jumping” (big jump rope) is a classic.

It’s fun just to jump, but it’s even more fun to add choreography to match a song! In this “Postman” jump rope song, the moves require you to crouch down to the floor while jumping, so the difficulty level is high! Give it a try at least once.

Square knot by two people

The reef knot may be familiar to people who use ropes for outdoor activities.

It takes quite a bit of practice to really master this knot.

But here’s a game where two people team up to tie a reef knot using your right hand and your partner’s left hand.

It’s a practical rope game that could be even more exciting as a team time-attack challenge!

Jump Rope Song: Big Waves, Small Waves

When you play jump rope with a long rope, it might be fun to jump along to an old-fashioned jump-rope rhyme.

In this rhyme called “Big Waves, Little Waves,” you first jump over the rope as it gently sways at your feet like waves, and at a certain point in the lyrics, you jump as the rope makes two big full turns.

Give it a try!

DIY Tarzan Rope Using Scrap Materials

Introducing DIY playground equipment made from scrap materials: Tarzan rope edition
DIY Tarzan Rope Using Scrap Materials

The Tarzan rope is a piece of playground equipment that’s hugely popular with kids at parks.

Have you ever thought it could be handmade? If you can make one yourself, your kids will definitely be thrilled! It seems like you’d need some skills to build it safely, but it really makes you want to give it a try.

Challenge together! Tips for jumping a lot in long rope jumping

Challenge together! Tips for jumping a lot in long rope jumping
Challenge together! Tips for jumping a lot in long rope jumping

Speaking of rope-based games, it has to be long rope jumping, right? It’s a classic rope activity, but you usually only get to do it around sports day season, and once you’re an adult, there aren’t many chances to try it.

That’s exactly why you should gear up and take on long rope jumping now.

It’s a surprisingly deep activity—you might just get hooked!

Let’s crochet a stylish plant hanger

Interior Stylist Kanae Ishii’s “Modern DIY for the Clumsy”: How to Make a Macramé Plant Hanger
Let's crochet a stylish plant hanger

Plant hangers you often see in interior design magazines.

It’s surprising that you can DIY these stylish hangers for hanging houseplants from the wall using rope.

If you try making one with techniques like macramé, your room is sure to look instantly chic!