Get Active! Outdoor Play Ideas for Elementary School Kids

Flying Catch Ball

The “no-English” flying catch ball game is so funny I’m dying (LOL).

This is a game of catch using a paddle-style glove with hook-and-loop fastener (Velcro) and a ball made of a material that sticks to the paddle.

Unlike baseball gloves, anyone can easily strap it on and play.

It became a hot topic when the popular YouTubers Fischer’s streamed a video on YouTube of them playing “No-English Flying Catch Ball,” where they receive a penalty if they speak English during the game.

You can buy a set with the paddles and ball for under 1,000 yen, so it’s recommended for playing in large open areas like grassy fields!

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Kanako

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skateboard

[40-year-old skater] Something that unexpectedly made me super happy at the new Wakamiya Skateboard Park

Skateboarding, still fresh in our memories thanks to Yuto Horigome and Momiji Nishiya winning gold at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, is also hugely popular as an outdoor activity.

It’s a sport where you ride a board with wheels and play while standing on the moving board.

Lovingly nicknamed “skebo,” it includes high-difficulty tricks like jumping and climbing onto elevated spots.

Following the athletes’ success at the Tokyo Games, popularity has surged in Japan, and skateparks are being opened across the country.

On the other hand, late-night practice can disturb nearby residents’ sleep, and there are cases of accidents when people play on the streets.

For these reasons, it’s recommended to skate at designated skateparks.

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Kanako

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kickbase

2019 12 5 Physical Education 5th Grade Kickbase

Wasn’t it around the time the kickbase segment took off on Fuji TV’s popular variety show “Yume ga MORI MORI” that the kickbase boom swept across Japan? Hiroko Moriguchi, Kenji Moriwaki, and SMAP back when they still had six members formed kickbase teams and played against each other.

Those in their 50s might remember it.

If there’s an open space, why not play kickbase together? If you’ve got little kids in the lower grades, you can tweak the rules so they kick a ball placed on home plate instead of rolling pitches.

And if you’ve got mixed-gender teams, add some smart handicaps—like having the boys kick with their left foot—to keep it fun for everyone!

Badminton

Outdoor Badminton! #2 — Practice for Two | YONEX

Badminton, with the recent memorable performances of Japanese national team players like Kento Momota and Akane Yamaguchi, is also a popular sport for outdoor play.

In official matches, players stand on either side of a court divided by a net and rally a unique feathered ball called a “shuttlecock” with rackets to score points.

While matches use a net at the court boundary, for casual outdoor play it’s fun to simply hit the shuttlecock back and forth without a net.

Because the shuttlecock is very light, it used to be easily carried off by the wind, which was a drawback, but recently wind-resistant badminton sets have been developed and become a hot topic.

It can be easy to lose track of your surroundings, so when you play, choose a spacious area and make sure there’s no one nearby before you start!

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Kanako

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hopping

[Hopping] Aim for 100 times! Challenge continuous jumps with the “Sumikko Gurashi” hopper ♡ Challenge 100 times with hopping ♡

A pogo stick is a rod equipped with handles, foot pegs, and a large spring at the bottom.

You hold the handles, place both feet on the pegs, and bounce to play.

Since it’s just a single stick, keeping your balance can be a bit tricky.

Because falling can lead to injury, it’s often recommended for ages 8 and up for safety reasons.

Imported from the United States around 1955, it became a nationwide craze in Japan as a children’s game that tests balance! Also, the Guinness World Record for the highest jump on a pogo stick is 3.378 meters.

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Kanako

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Ball games you can play with two people!

[Game] 2-Player Ball Games: 8 Recommended Activities Even Lower Grades Can Do

Balls are very familiar playthings for children, and the ways to enjoy them are limitless! This time, we’re introducing eight ball games for lower-grade students.

In addition to balls, items like hula hoops are used to help kids improve their physical abilities while having fun.

Basically, children pair up in twos and play by throwing or rolling the ball, or dodging a bouncing ball.

There are also games with sport-like elements—such as Copycat Dribble, Hoop Pass Tennis, and Marker Hockey—so we hope even kids who feel uneasy about ball sports will take this opportunity to get interested.

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sasashina

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Hide-and-seek

[Serious Hide-and-Seek] Playing real hide-and-seek at an elementary school was insanely fun

Even famous YouTubers are getting hyped with hide-and-seek projects.

Sometimes the simpler it is, the more fun it gets! Invite lots of friends and play hide-and-seek.

The first thing you need to decide is the boundaries—clearly set where the play area starts and ends.

Also, make sure no one hides in dangerous places.

As long as you decide those, you can play freely! If the elementary schoolyard is open, playing at school is the safest option.

Having multiple seekers also makes it more exciting!