RAG Mus...reation For children A special feature of ideas that will be a big hit in after-school childcare
A big hit at after-school childcare! A special feature on group games and activities you can play without any equipment favorite_border Last updated:2026/1/6
A big hit at after-school childcare! A special feature on group games and activities you can play without any equipment 10 years as a kindergarten teacher / elementary school teacher / junior and senior high school teacher / childminder kepiko Graduated from Kunitachi College of Music, Faculty of Music (now: Department of Music Culture and Education, Early Childhood Music Education major). In elementary school, my homeroom teacher was Jun Kusaba, a game researcher. After graduating from university, I worked as a kindergarten teacher for 10 years and as an after-school childcare instructor for 7 years, then took a position as a music teacher at an international school in Singapore. In addition to music education, I engaged in activities that introduced Japanese culture, traditional games, and recreational activities, working with many children. Later, through freelance writing, planning, and editing at Shogakukan, I met many delightful adults and experienced the joy of communicating and sharing. Drawing on the perspective cultivated in the field of education and my experience as an editor, I provide practical information with an emphasis on both input and output, mainly in areas related to music and children. My hobbies include instruments, singing, handicrafts, toys, drawing, traditional games, the outdoors, and books. My special skill is spinning-top tricks.
Keyboard player SAKI I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”
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!
Table of Contents A big hit at after-school childcare! A special feature on group games and activities you can play without any equipment Fun with cards! Pig’s Tail Who am I? 3 recommended activities for a fun party Teleportation Game Tamaire Hoop Rock-Paper-Scissors The character “ta,” as in rice paddy (the kanji 田 used in “tanbo”). Telephone game Small Number Game Sports Rokumushi Simple rhythm game Tag, child-catching demon (a variant of tag called “Kotorooni”/“Kotoro-oni”). Prince Shōtoku game Pin Pon Pan Game 6 Easy Indoor Activities You Can Enjoy When, where, and who game Exercise games you can do without equipment Sitting tag Chinese jump rope Long Tail Pulling Game Birthday line Three fail-safe activities that are guaranteed to get everyone excited A game about finding the correct moves Anything Basket Clap-Clap Game Evolution Rock-Paper-Scissors Without Katakana King Janken Magical Banana A Hit with Toddlers! The Traffic Light Game Outdoor activities: fun games everyone can play together! Werewolf Game for 10+ Players That Even Elementary School Students Can Play! Red Light, Green Light! Mukkuri Kuma-san! Top 5 most entertaining tag games in the world Mr. Wolf, what time is it now? Icebreakers that even elementary school students can enjoy human disentanglement puzzle Fun for elementary school kids! 5 indoor activities Rock-Paper-Scissors Game Jump! Have fun with variations! The ‘Wild Beast Hunting Game’ A rhythm game that toddlers can enjoy Play the Signal Game Indoors! A game developed by NASA You can play it in the classroom too! Haiihadon Arranged ice ogre World Play! ‘Please Statue Play’ Adults going all out at the park! Tag, where kids and adults both have fun: “Hand-Holding Oni (Tag)” Territory game! S-Ken Fun in a group! Daikon-pulling game Traditional children’s game “Abukutatta” Finger Suma: Fun Anywhere Jump, everyone! Post-decision rock-paper-scissors according to instructions How to Make a Block Puzzle to Strengthen Shape Skills 3 fingerplay activities that engage first graders Ball games you can play with two people! Rhythm play with words A number-guessing game that everyone can enjoy, from children to adults Fun music play in nature 7 park games kids can play without equipment Bomb Game Bomb Game Rule Game Birdcage play Weird relay Fish, Birds, Trees G Dodgeball kickbase Cops and Robbers Sandwich Game straw airplane Dodgeball tag Reflex Game Tag (or Tag, holding hands) A Daruma’s Day Newspaper Rock-Paper-Scissors Pyramid Rock-Paper-Scissors indoor hockey game Balloon lifting Hide-and-seek Aiko, then go! everyone game Cup Ball Relay Shooting Catch Ball Scissor Relay A paper cup game that requires cooperation Rock–paper–scissors game using newspaper Shiritori Dance Game Team Gesture Game Competition Ghost Blitz! Rock-Paper-Scissors Wheelbarrow Team Battle Tic-Tac-Toe It varies by region! Okinawa’s Finger-Number Game Nostalgic finger guessing game! Rock-Paper-Scissors Dash Trump & Card Game Say-and-Do Game Group shiritori Balloon carrying race ...to be continued A big hit in after-school childcare! A special collection of group play and game ideas you can do without any equipment (1–10) 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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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!
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