[For Kids] Today's Recommended Recreation Idea Collection
When a few kids get together, do you ever suddenly hear, “We want to do something fun!”?
If they spring it on you and you suggest tag or hide-and-seek, only to hear, “We’ve done that,” it makes you want to come up with something new, doesn’t it?
That’s why this article introduces lots of fun activities for children.
It’s updated daily, so you’ll find fresh recreation ideas the kids probably haven’t tried yet!
Be sure to bookmark it and check back every day!
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- [Parent-Child Rec] Recreational activities and games for parents and children to enjoy together—also great for sports days.
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- [Elementary School] Indoor Games and Recreational Activities Recommended for Upper Primary Grades
- A big hit at after-school childcare! A special feature on group games and activities you can play without any equipment
[For Kids] Today's Recommended Recreation Idea Collection (21–30)
Playing shop
Dagashi shops used to be like a dreamland for kids.
These days, it’s getting rare to see the old-fashioned kind.
If you want today’s children to experience some of that fun, a great idea is to play a “dagashi shop” pretend shopping game! All you need to prepare are some dagashi (cheap snacks), a toy cash register or a calculator, and, to set the mood, things like display shelves and price tags.
Then have the children take turns being customers and shopkeepers and do their shopping.
It’s a fun way to practice arithmetic and shopping skills!
Pretending to be at a night pool in the bath
Night pools attached to hotels and the like.
When you’re traveling with the family, having a night pool really gets the kids excited, doesn’t it? Let’s recreate that night pool experience in your home bath! All you need are those glowing toys you often see at summer festivals, sometimes called “pika-pika scoops.” Float various shapes of light-up toys in the tub and play, and you can create a magical, night-pool-like atmosphere! It’s also great for an adult’s relaxation time.
Perler beads
Especially for women, haven’t you played with them at least once? A great recommendation for spending time at home with kids is Perler beads (iron beads).
With iron beads, you arrange beads into your favorite shapes, fuse them with an iron, and make toys like accessories and keychains! They come in many colors and are relatively inexpensive, so they’re highly recommended! You can even create original items inspired by your favorite characters! Since it’s dangerous for children to use an iron by themselves, be sure they always play with an adult.
indoor camping
Let me introduce an “indoor camping” idea that’s perfect for rainy days when you can’t go out and play.
It creates an extraordinary space inside your home and is sure to make even rainy days fun! Pitch a tent indoors and try sleeping in a sleeping bag, cook camp-style meals using outdoor kitchen gear, or change up the lighting—little touches like these can bring a fresh twist to your routine.
For busy adults, it’s also a great way to reset.
Invite some friends over and enjoy an indoor camping experience at home.
Making snacks on a hot plate
When you’re watching TV or browsing online, don’t you sometimes find yourself craving those delicious-looking sweets? If you want to try them but prefer not to eat out, I recommend making snacks with an electric griddle.
The video here shows how to make Baumkuchen! It’s amazing that you can make that Baumkuchen at home—and with an electric griddle, no less.
Do you have an electric griddle lying dormant in your kitchen? This is a great way to spend your time at home if you do.
Online content from zoos and aquariums
Zoos and aquariums let you encounter creatures you don’t usually get to see.
If possible, we’d love for children to be exposed to them from a young age.
While it’s best to see them in person, avoiding crowds is important too, so I recommend online content.
These days, there are plenty of videos on YouTube and elsewhere—long recordings of underwater scenes and footage of African wildlife.
You can even see animals you wouldn’t find in Japan.
Even if you can’t see them directly, it can lead to new discoveries and be a great source of inspiration for kids! If you have a simple projector, you can enjoy it on a big screen with lots of impact, so that’s recommended too!
Crafting with milk cartons
In households with children going through growth spurts, many probably make a point of drinking milk every day, right? And in those homes, you always end up with empty milk cartons.
You often hear that they’re good for recycling, but if you’re not quite sure how to put them to good use, we recommend crafts made with milk cartons! Just paint them to make them colorful and cut them into your favorite shapes, and they become great toys.
They’re perfect for at-home time and fun to enjoy from the making process onward!
Colored water play
It always seems that when a child says, “I want to play with colored water,” we don’t have any paint at home.
In times like that, you can make colored water using tissue paper flowers! This is the soft, colored paper often used to make flower decorations for entrance or graduation ceremonies.
Here’s how to use it.
First, fill a plastic bottle about halfway with water.
Then tear the tissue paper flowers into small pieces and put them into the water.
Using scissors to cut them is fine, too.
Once you’ve added them, put the cap on the bottle and shake it up and down.
And that’s it—your colored water made with tissue paper flowers is ready!
Hiragana Play
When it comes to things you can enjoy at home, crafts are a great choice! Toys you make yourself feel special, and just having them makes you happy.
Here, we’re making a toy that lets you play with hiragana using plastic bottle caps.
To make it, you simply stick your favorite hiragana stickers onto the caps, so even small children can have fun! Stickers from 100-yen shops are perfectly fine.
It’s two birds with one stone—you can learn hiragana while making and playing with the toy!
three-dimensional paper cutting
Let me introduce a “3D paper cutting” project that’s perfect for passing time on a rainy day.
It’s especially recommended for people who enjoy detailed handiwork or are good with their hands.
Prepare a precision craft knife, a cutting mat, and a thin paper called TANT paper.
Cutting out fine patterns requires patience and concentration, so it’s also ideal if you want to immerse yourself in something and relieve stress.
To add a three-dimensional effect, we use pearl-sized beads.
Once you’ve created the rounded shapes, glue the paper layers together.
It’s a project that gives a great sense of accomplishment, so it’s also great as a hobby!
In conclusion
We introduced some recreational activities you can enjoy today. From easy, casual ideas to activities that require a bit of preparation, there were plenty of fun options. This article is updated daily, so be sure to bookmark it and check back every day!