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!
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A big hit in after-school childcare! A special collection of group play and game ideas you can do without any equipment (61–70)
Rhythm play with words
Word Rhythm Play is a game you can enjoy while moving your body, building vocabulary and a sense of rhythm, and training skills like quick thinking and problem-solving.
Listen to the beat and match your words to it.
Any words are fine, but the key is to stay on rhythm.
Start with an easy beat and gradually increase the difficulty.
Once you get used to it, adding handclaps while playing can make it even more exciting.
Fun music play in nature
Let’s move our bodies together and enjoy playful music activities in nature while taking in the scenery and sounds around us.
Placing ourselves in nature and listening to the wind and the sounds of insects stimulates the five senses and helps refresh the mind and body.
As we sing, let’s wave colorful scarves and try moving them while imagining what the wind might sound like.
It’s also fun to sway the scarves with varying strengths, like a gentle breeze or a strong gust.
One of the charms of this play is being able to move freely and express yourself while sensing a variety of sounds—like leaves rustling and water flowing.
7 park games kids can play without equipment
Park games that everyone from small children to adults can enjoy together without any preparation are great because they can be played with whoever happens to be there.
Hopscotch, hand-pushing sumo, number games, playing house, shadow play, and drawing are all familiar activities that don’t require any equipment.
You can also use natural materials like pebbles and sticks, which makes it easy to invent games and come up with original rules with friends.
Let’s make the most of the wide-open space of the park and have fun moving our whole bodies with games that can only be enjoyed in such a setting.
Play the Signal Game Indoors!
The “Traffic Signal Game,” where everyone follows the leader’s instructions, is a play activity that can help develop the ability to listen carefully and the judgment to act immediately.
When the signal is blue, take one marching step; when it’s yellow, shake your head left and right and look around; when it’s red, squat down.
Listen closely to which color the leader calls and act accordingly.
If the leader calls a color other than the three, everyone says “nai-nai” (meaning “no such color”).
There’s no winning or losing in this game, so just have fun moving your body!
Fish, Birds, Trees
Do you know the game called Gyochomoku? It’s pronounced “gyo-cho-moku.” The game starts when the leader calls out, “Gyochomoku, will you say it or not?” and everyone answers together, “We’ll say it, we’ll say it.” The leader then points to someone and says one of “fish,” “bird,” or “tree.” If they say “fish,” you answer with the name of a fish.
If it’s “bird,” give the name of a bird; if it’s “tree,” the name of a tree.
You must not repeat the same category name twice with the same answer, nor give the same specific name twice.
It’s a game that even lower-grade children can play, and if it seems difficult, it’s nice to give hints while playing.
Mr. Wolf, what time is it now?
Let’s play tag while enjoying a call-and-response using the phrase, “Mr.
Wolf, what time is it?” First, choose one player to be “It” (the wolf).
The children face the wolf and ask, “Mr.
Wolf, what time is it?” The wolf answers with various times, and if it’s anything other than “3 o’clock,” the children respond, “Phew, thank goodness!” If the wolf says “3 o’clock,” that’s the signal to start chasing.
Run away so you don’t get caught! Whoever gets caught becomes the next wolf.
A Daruma’s Day
“Darumasan ga Koronda” is a classic recreation game we often played as kids.
There’s a ‘evolved’ version of that game called “A Day in the Life of Darumasan.” As in the original, there is one ‘it’ (the demon/oni), and everyone else starts some distance away.
When the oni says, “Darumasan ga koronda,” the players actually fall down on the spot and show it.
You can also call out other gestures people can do on the spot, like “Darumasan is standing on one leg,” or “Darumasan made a funny face.” It’s a fun game indoors and works well with mixed ages.
Fun for elementary school kids! 5 indoor activities
Indoor recreational activities that you can enjoy for short periods of time—such as on rainy days—are perfect for exercising both the mind and body, since the rules and movements vary by game.
Plus, enjoying each game by working together as a team helps energize communication among participants.
Competing with friends and enjoying games also leads to discussing strategies and experiencing the emotions of winning and losing.
Experiencing fun, joy, and even frustration through physical activity is recommended for fostering a positive mindset.
Balloon lifting
When it comes to soccer juggling, it’s one of those games where you compete on the number of touches and everyone gets excited, right? But when you try to play with a group, sometimes there aren’t enough balls, or it’s too dangerous to play indoors.
Plus, differences in body size and age can affect the results.
However, all those issues can be solved at once by swapping the ball for a balloon! And while it can be discouraging if you can’t keep the count going with a ball, with a balloon you can keep going at a slower pace, making it fun to play.
straw airplane
Popular in after-school care, the “straw airplane” is a fun craft that’s easy to make with a straw and construction paper—and it flies really well.
First, cut off the bendy part of the straw with scissors so it’s straight.
Next, cut two long, narrow strips from the construction paper, roll each into a ring, and tape them to the front and back of the straw.
Using a smaller ring in front and a larger ring in back makes it stable and helps it fly surprisingly far.
Kids are amazed at how it flies differently from a regular paper airplane! You can compete to see whose airplane flies the farthest, try different throwing techniques, and enjoy playing over and over.
