[Play Right Away!] Exciting Recreation Games Recommended for Elementary School Students
Lively, fun recreation games that get elementary school kids excited! Whether in the classroom or the gym, there are plenty of activities that bring smiles to everyone’s faces.
Here, we’ll introduce fun ideas ranging from team-versus-team cooperative games and brain-teasing hiragana quizzes to active ball tag—everything from no-equipment options to games you can enjoy with simple prep.
These games help deepen friendships and reveal new sides of each other, so be sure to enjoy your time with friends through play!
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Sports and Exercise Recreations (1–10)
Target shooting
Fun for toddlers and up! Here are some ideas for a target-shooting game.
Among Olympic sports, there’s shooting, where competitors use firearms to hit targets and compete for accuracy.
This time, let’s play a similar game that focuses on aiming at targets.
You’ll need straws, rubber bands, origami paper, tape, masking tape, scissors, glue, and a toilet paper roll.
Using a toy “gun” made from the toilet paper roll, the simple rule is to knock down the targets.
It’s great because everyone—from toddlers to adults—can enjoy it together.
Number Dodge
Speaking of dodgeball, it’s the ultimate classic game among elementary school kids, but there’s an even more complex variation called “Number Dodge.” Every player wears a bib with a number on it, and if you hit someone whose number is higher than yours, you can send as many players to the outside field as the difference between your numbers.
It’s a game that seems to demand strategic thinking, including who wears which number.
Ball Passing Race
In the “Ball Passing Relay,” players line up single file and pass a ball to the person behind them by sending it under their legs or over their head.
After the person at the front passes the ball, they move to the back of the line, and the ball keeps getting passed until the finish.
When you race against another team, people tend to get flustered and make mistakes, which definitely adds excitement! Be careful if there’s a big height difference among players, as it makes passing more error-prone.
Balloon lifting
If you’re looking for a recreation game that lets you get a bit of exercise, Balloon Lifting is a great choice.
In this game, participants stand in a circle holding hands and do keep-ups using a balloon instead of a ball.
Since a balloon floats down gently, even kids who aren’t good at doing keep-ups with a ball will find it easier, and there’s no risk of injury—everyone can have fun together.
Hula Hoop Competition
This is a game where players race toward the goal while staying inside a hula hoop.
It’s easy to do in various settings like the gym or the schoolyard.
Set a course that goes halfway around the field or one with a turnaround point.
The rules are simple: it’s basically a regular relay with a hula hoop added.
You can run it as an individual event, but pairing up and stepping into the hula hoop together will make the competition even more exciting.
It’s a game that helps kids build friendships and gives them a fun reason to get moving.
Balloon Rally
If you’re looking for a game that captivates elementary school kids, “Balloon Rally” is perfect! Since it uses a light balloon, even children who aren’t good with balls can enjoy it safely.
First, pair up in twos, face each other, and hold hands.
While keeping your hands together, tap the balloon upward as you move forward, and you’re good if you get it into the goal! The goal can be anything that works as a target, like the base of a traffic cone or a hoop made with someone’s hands.
We recommend making it a team competition where the pair that delivers the balloon to the goal the fastest wins! Work together and carry the balloon as a team!
Balloon Tennis
Kids’ smiles bursting with joy! Here are some balloon tennis ideas.
Tennis is usually played with a racket and a tennis ball, right? In the video, they’re using rackets with Anpanman illustrations.
Using larger-than-normal balloons might make it easier to hit with the racket.
Since balloons can easily be carried away by the wind, if you play balloon tennis outdoors, it’s best to choose a spacious area and a day with little wind.
It’s also a fun idea for indoor play.