Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for spring
Introducing indoor activities and recreation games perfect for spring!
Spring’s warm, pleasant weather feels great, but there are still days that can be a bit chilly.
As the rainy season approaches and rainy days increase, indoor play naturally becomes more common.
That said, keeping kids who want to play outside entertained indoors can be quite a challenge.
So in this article, we’ve gathered indoor activities and recreation games you can enjoy with children!
From active, movement-based games to sit-down activities that encourage focus, we’ve compiled a variety of ideas.
Use this list whenever you’re unsure what to do for indoor play.
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Indoor springtime activities and recreation games recommended (51–60)
Finger Catch
Everyone stands in a circle.
Hold up the index finger of your right hand, and make a small ring with the thumb and index finger of your left hand.
Next, place your right index finger into the ring of the person to your right.
At the leader’s cue—“kya, kya, kya, catch!”—pull your right index finger out and squeeze your left-hand ring tightly.
If you’re too slow pulling your finger out and it gets caught, you lose.
The leader may also use feints like “cabbage” or “candy.”
Newspaper Rock-Paper-Scissors
A game you can play anywhere as long as you have a newspaper: Newspaper Rock-Paper-Scissors.
Each player takes a sheet of newspaper, places it on the floor, and stands on it.
Play rock-paper-scissors: the winner stays as is, while the loser folds their newspaper in half and stands on it again.
Keep repeating.
The player who can no longer stand on their newspaper, or who loses their balance and steps off, loses.
Standing on one foot still counts as being on the newspaper, so that’s safe.
It’s a game that tests not only your rock-paper-scissors skills but also your sense of balance.
Clay play
Let’s try making seasonal crafts with clay! With the handmade boom, you can now buy clay inexpensively at 100-yen shops and the like.
Clay also lets you create your favorite colors, gives you a lot of creative freedom, and is easy to dispose of, so you can enjoy crafting without hassle.
Among the different types of clay, resin clay is especially recommended.
It’s very safe and easy to handle, and it finishes smoothly, making it perfect for figures and fake food.
Have fun creating pieces that evoke the feeling of spring!
Hana Ichi Monme
An old traditional children’s game, the nursery rhyme “Hana Ichi Monme.” You split into two groups, line up in single file, and face each other to play.
The song seems to vary a bit by region and generation, but the basic way of playing is the same.
While singing, one side advances and the other retreats, alternating back and forth, and then each team sends out a representative to play rock-paper-scissors.
The loser joins the winner’s team, and you continue like this; the team that ends up with more members wins.
It’s simple, but it’s a game you can enjoy indoors.
Indoor springtime activities and recreational games recommended (61–70)
Crawling under the rope
This is a game that can be played by three or more people.
Players either jump over or duck under an approaching rope.
If the rope is long, many people can play at once.
When jumping over the rope, there is a risk of tripping and falling if your feet get caught, so please be careful and enjoy safely.
Box-stacking game
Stack boxes of different sizes, such as candy boxes, and the person who builds the tallest stack wins.
You can also try using items like empty cans or cardboard.
See how high you can build in under one minute.
You can keep trying even if it falls over multiple times.
Shell-matching game
When it comes to popular games from the Heian period, kaiawase (shell matching) comes to mind.
How about trying this traditional game with your child? Kids might be fascinated by the unique shapes of the shells! Traditionally, the game is played by finding the right shell that matches the left shell, but if children are playing, try using the rules of Concentration (memory matching).
For safety, instead of using real shells, it’s best for teachers or guardians to make shells out of construction paper and prepare two of each with the same illustration.
It’s a great game not only for everyday indoor play, but also for events and parties like Hinamatsuri (the Doll Festival), so feel free to use this as a reference.
In conclusion
How did you like the indoor activities and recreational games to enjoy in spring? If you found something that interests you, be sure to try it with your parents, siblings, or friends.
Even kids who usually prefer playing outside might discover a game they try on a whim and end up really getting into!