A big hit at after-school childcare! A special feature on group games and activities you can play without any equipment
Many of you may be looking for games that captivate children and are indispensable for the exciting activity time in after-school care.
Group play unique to after-school programs includes plenty of activities—both outdoors and indoors—that get everyone lively and engaged, while naturally nurturing motor skills and communication.
Here, we introduce fun game ideas that spark smiles, such as group shiritori, the telephone game, and DIY archery.
These activities are enjoyable for both small and large groups, so be sure to try them out in your after-school care setting!
A big hit in after-school childcare! A special collection of group play and game ideas you can do without any equipment (1–10)
Who am I?
It’s a quiz game where you personify objects, animals, foods, and more, introducing them as if they were people, and others guess what they are.
The questioner becomes the object and gives clues.
For example, if the answer is “refrigerator,” you might say, “I have several doors,” or “There’s lots of food inside me.” Start with difficult hints and gradually move to easier ones.
It’s simple and fun for young children, too.
Adjust the difficulty based on the players’ ages.
Fun with cards! Pig’s Tail
Pig’s Tail is a game where you arrange a stack of playing cards in a ring and play.
The name may come from the fact that the ring of cards resembles a pig’s tail.
Pig’s Tail can be enjoyed by three or more players, and since the rules aren’t complicated, it’s easy to play casually.
Players draw one card at a time from the ring and place it in the center.
If you draw a card with the same suit as the top card in the center, you take all the cards from the center.
There are also local rules, such as being allowed to return cards from your hand when a Joker appears.
3 recommended activities for a fun party
A fun party that kids can get absorbed in and enjoy.
These parties are often held in the classroom.
Team-based games that everyone can join in really liven things up.
We’ve collected ideas for activities like a game where one team calls out and the other team closes their eyes and guesses who made the sound, or a game where you use chopsticks to move as many plastic bottle caps as possible to the next plate.
Through these recreational activities, the class will grow closer and make great memories.
Please use these ideas as a reference and have a wonderful time.
Teleportation Game
Here’s a teleportation-style game you can enjoy indoors, even with a small group.
Roll up a sheet of newspaper into a long, thin stick; each person holds one and everyone stands in a circle.
At the signal, let go of your own stick, move to your neighbor’s stick, and grab it before it falls—if you manage it, you succeed.
Each time you succeed, take one step back to make the circle larger.
If you fail to catch the stick, you’re out.
As the circle grows and the distance between neighbors increases, the difficulty ramps up, making the game more exciting.
The last person remaining wins!
Telephone game
When it comes to after-school care activities, you can’t go wrong with the Telephone Game! Kids are guaranteed to have a blast.
The excitement never stops as you wait to see how the original phrase changes by the end.
If it turns into something silly along the way, everyone bursts into laughter! It also naturally helps kids develop listening and speaking skills.
Plus, with a few twists, it stays fresh no matter how many times you play.
For example, try conveying the prompt with drawings, or only with gestures.
With a little creativity, the fun is endless.
It’s sure to be a hit with both small and large groups, and it’s perfect for indoors.
Give it a try with everyone in after-school care!
A speed-based mini-game of rock-paper-scissors tagNEW!
https://www.tiktok.com/@playtas.basketball/video/7499051245022350599This is a tag game for pairs.
The rules are very simple: after playing rock-paper-scissors, the winner chases the loser! The loser should run away immediately.
Set a line in advance that counts as a win if the runner makes it there.
Because you have to instantly judge whether you won or lost and act right away, it seems simple but actually makes you use your head more than you’d expect.
It’s also a game that builds concentration.
Even with a large group, you can have everyone start side by side and play simultaneously in a large space like a gym.
Saying one thing, doing the opposite.NEW!
https://www.instagram.com/reels/DSJHw-Ekp-v/This is a tricky game that requires no preparation.
Following the rule “say the same, do the opposite,” if the leader says “forward,” you say “forward” out loud while moving backward.
Doing the opposite of what you say can be pretty confusing.
As variations, you can try “say the opposite, do the same,” “say the opposite, do the opposite,” or gradually increase the tempo.
The more everyone gets confused, the more exciting it becomes, so definitely give it a try.
Yamanote Line gameNEW!
Here’s a game where you clap in time and rattle off the stations on the Yamanote Line.
You can also try different prompts like animal names, flower names, and more.
If your answer doesn’t come out in rhythm, if you repeat something that’s already been said, or if you say something incorrect, you’re out.
It’s long been known by another name, “Kokon Tozai.” It’s a party game you can play anywhere, with any number of people, and without any props.
Whether you’ve played it before or not, give it a try!
The character “ta,” as in rice paddy (the kanji 田 used in “tanbo”).
The Tanbo-no-Ta game is a type of tag played on a court drawn on the ground in the shape of the kanji character for “rice field” (田).
Also known as Cross Tag, the “it” player stands at the center of the 田, while the other players choose a starting square and move clockwise.
The “it” player can move only along the cross-shaped lines drawn in the middle.
Dodge the chaser moving along those lines and advance from square to square.
If you’re touched, you’re out and switch roles with the chaser.
It’s a compact, energetic game that’s fun even with a small number of players.
Tamaire Hoop Rock-Paper-Scissors
Using items makes it even more exciting! Here’s an idea for a Ball-Toss Hoop Rock-Paper-Scissors game.
When you hear “ball toss,” many people probably think of the equipment used at sports days.
This time, let’s try a version you can easily set up indoors.
All you need are some colored balls and small hula hoops.
As an introduction to the game, it’s a good idea to first give players time to freely toss balls into the hoops.
Ultimately, the activity evolves so that the person who wins rock-paper-scissors within each group gets the role of throwing the balls into the hoop.
Feel free to adapt and arrange the game as you like.