Elementary School Fun Day a Big Hit! Indoor Game Idea Collection
Here are some active indoor games that will get elementary school students excited at their fun party! Even on rainy days or in cold seasons, if you have games you can really enjoy in the classroom, everyone can have a great time together.
From relay-style games that build teamwork, to brain-teasers that get minds working, to physical activities that get everyone moving, we’ve gathered games the whole class can dive into while cooperating.
Preparation is simple, and they all use familiar materials, so there are plenty you can start right away—give them a try and have fun!
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Indoor games that get the body moving (11–20)
Balloon Soccer
Great for first-time soccer players! Here are some balloon soccer ideas.
Many parents may want to enjoy soccer together with their children.
This is a recommended idea when you’re unsure where to start playing soccer.
All you need is a balloon.
First, use the balloon as a stand-in for a ball and get used to the rules.
It’s good to help kids get a feel for body movement and eye coordination through activities like juggling with the thighs or toes and heading with the head.
Jump, everyone!
It’s a game where everyone forms a circle, holds hands, and jumps in different directions.
Jumping helps develop concentration and a sense of balance.
By moving while listening to the teacher’s instructions, children can build their listening skills and their ability to think about how to move.
When calling out, speak clearly, loudly, and energetically.
Let’s enjoy jump play together—moving our heads as we jump and trying things like hopping on one foot or jumping with both feet.
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.
Blindfold Balance Game
“The Blindfold Balance Game” is a challenge where you blindfold yourself and see how long you can stand on one leg.
It sounds simple, but it’s actually quite tricky.
If you search for “one-leg standing with eyes closed,” you can even find the average time for your age.
Give it a try!
Ring Relay
https://www.tiktok.com/@soramame.sensei/video/7391712836700998919Work together with your friends! Here’s an idea for a hoop relay.
All you need is a hula hoop.
In groups of three or four, hold hands and, without letting go, pass the hula hoop along by stepping your bodies through it until it reaches the last person.
Once you get the hang of it, try increasing the number of participants or competing in teams for extra fun! Also, the smaller the hula hoop, the more challenging it becomes—sure to liven things up.
Give it a try!
Balloon play
You can play lots of fun games with balloons! First, try tossing balloons all around the room.
Just seeing brightly colored balloons will put smiles on everyone’s faces.
If you have drawing balloons, you can draw your favorite characters and play with them.
Turning on some music and doing a balloon dance is also recommended.
Balloon volleyball is a great way to build teamwork, too.
Balloons are easy to clean up, so you can relax even after playtime.
Balloon play sparks everyone’s imagination—give it a try!
Vinyl Umbrella Ball Toss
Tama-ire is a staple event at school sports festivals, but have you ever wished you could play it indoors? In fact, if you use a clear plastic umbrella, you can play tama-ire inside.
It’s easy: just turn the umbrella upside down and hold it like a basket.
If it’s hard to prepare balls, you can simply crumple up tissues or newspaper instead.
Since plastic umbrellas are light enough for small children to hold, everyone can enjoy tama-ire together.
Plastic Bottle Bowling
How about enjoying some indoor bowling using plastic bottles? It’s a simple game where you use plastic bottles as pins and knock them down with a soft ball.
But just lining up the pins is boring! It’s also fun to decorate the bottles together or add weights inside to create your own original pins.
If you use bottles of different sizes, you can vary the scoring.
It’s a two-for-one activity where you can enjoy crafting time while playing the game.
You can freely customize it by changing the distance or making it a team match.
It’s sure to get everyone excited!
Newspaper race
@kazenomori.piconursery You can move your body and have fun even indoors!#Nursery schoolA day at the nurseryNursery teacher / Childcare workerChildcareChildcarenewspaper (newsprint)#Indoor Play#Pico Nursery
♬ Athletic Meet “Heaven and Hell” (No Introduction) – Shinonome
Move your body while sitting? A brand-new kind of footrace! Here’s an idea for a newspaper footrace.
A footrace normally means a short-distance race where you run as fast as you can.
Usually, it’s done by running from a set starting point to a finish line, but this time, let’s try a unique version where you compete while seated: the newspaper footrace.
Once you’ve taped sheets of newspaper together into a long strip, you’re ready.
Spread the newspaper out long from underneath the chair, and using only the strength of your legs, pull the newspaper back under the chair.
It’s trickier than you might think, so give it a try!
Hoop Tail Grab
Let me introduce a thrilling hoop tail-tag game.
Attach a tail to your backside and try to escape within a hula hoop so it doesn’t get taken.
If your tail is taken, the game is over.
Since the space inside the hula hoop is limited, the key is to move your body cleverly to avoid having your tail grabbed.
It may be even more exciting if you set a time limit or prepare extra hula hoops.
If you increase the number of hula hoops, it’s also recommended to add more taggers.