Indoor games and recreational activities recommended for summer
We’re introducing indoor games and activities perfect for kids in the summer! When you think of summer, many people probably picture outdoor fun like swimming at the beach, playing in rivers, or going camping.
However, it’s not realistic to go out every day during the holidays, and in recent years the extreme heat has made it difficult to spend time outdoors.
Considering children’s safety, it’s not easy to just say, “Go play outside!” For parents in that situation, we’ve gathered a list of indoor activities that are perfect for summer and fun to enjoy together with your kids.
With a bit of creativity, you can enjoy all kinds of play even indoors.
We hope you find these ideas helpful!
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Indoor activities and recreation games recommended for summer (21–30)
Kendama
With kendama, moving the sword in sync with the ball helps develop both the optic nerves and the body’s nervous system together.
It also gradually builds concentration.
Because you play with proper posture, your posture improves as well.
After practicing to a certain extent, if you teach them to use their knees in time with the kendama’s movements, their motor skills will improve even further.
Ball games you can play alone
Here are five ball games you can play by yourself! First: kick the ball yourself, run, and pass it through your legs.
You’ll use your head, too, as you think about how hard to kick.
Second: toss the ball up and pass it through your arms—moving your body is the key.
Third: balance one ball on top of another and keep it still.
Fourth: hold the ball above your head, bend your body backward, pass it through your legs, and catch it—great for flexibility.
Finally, a game using a hula hoop: while the hoop is spinning, move the ball.
You don’t need to throw or kick hard to have fun with any of these, so give them a try!
Coin drop game
Even in the heat of summer, you can enjoy a cool atmosphere with the “Coin Drop Game”! Fill a tank with water and sink glass cups or dishes inside.
Drop coins into the tank—if a coin lands in one of the submerged containers, you score! Using containers of various sizes expands the range of challenges.
You can also assign points based on container size and have players try multiple times, with the higher total score winning to boost the game’s excitement.
If you prepare higher difficulty settings and offer more luxurious prizes for tougher challenges, it will motivate kids even more!
What comes to mind when you think of ◯◯?
It’s a game called “What comes to mind when you hear ◯◯?” The rules are very simple: if everyone’s answers to the prompt match, you succeed.
If the answers don’t match, the game won’t end.
For example, with a prompt like “What comes to mind when you think of sea creatures?”, people might think of jellyfish, sharks, and many others.
Everyone needs to give the same answer.
The more people you have, the harder it is to match answers—and that makes it more exciting.
It’s a fun, highly recommended game to liven up a summer hangout at home.
100-yen store sticker book
Here’s an introduction to sticker books you can buy at budget-friendly 100-yen shops.
Kids really do love stickers, don’t they! Since they tend to stick them all over the place, letting them use a sticker book is a great idea.
There are also sticker books geared toward girls, like pretend-play sets and dress-up dolls, which are sure to spark your child’s fashion sense and love of style!
6 Easy Indoor Activities You Can Enjoy
When rainy weather continues or the heat keeps you indoors, kids can’t move their bodies as much and may start to feel stressed.
Here are some recommended indoor activities that get them moving.
Try simple seated games like “Tonton Surisuri” or finger-play exercises to combine light gymnastics with brain training.
For example, with Tonton Surisuri, sit down and lightly pat one thigh with one hand while you make a fist with the other hand and rub the other thigh.
Doing two different actions at the same time is said to help build attention and provide brain-training benefits.
Give these easy exercises a try and have fun staying active indoors.
Chimney Balloon-Flying Game
Soft, floating balloons don’t hurt even if they bump into you, making them a perfect toy for little kids.
Here, we’ll introduce a game where you use a fan to send balloons flying.
First, tie a string to a plant stand you can buy at a 100-yen shop, wrap an A3-size PP sheet around it, and stand it upright to make a tube.
Stuff balloons into the tube, and your setup is ready.
At the count of “Ready, set, go!”, everyone fans upward from below to launch the balloons and play.
Try turning it into a game by asking, “Who can get the most balloons out?” and have fun!
