[For Kids] Indoor Games and Activities Recommended for Winter Break
We’re introducing indoor activities for kids that are perfect for spending winter break with family and friends!
It’s important for kids to play actively outdoors even in winter, but when it’s too cold, that’s not always possible.
Plus, winter is the season when colds and other illnesses tend to spread, so to avoid getting chilled, indoor play naturally becomes more common.
So in this article, we’ve put together a list of recommended indoor activities for winter to help you when you’re wondering, “What should we do for fun during winter break?”
We’ve picked out a variety of activities, from brain games to those that get kids moving, so be sure to have fun trying them with your child!
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- [Elementary School] Quick and Easy! Indoor Recreational Activities Perfect for Lower Grades
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- Play ideas kids can enjoy from 1st to 6th grade [indoors & outdoors]
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- [Elementary School] Indoor Games and Recreational Activities Recommended for Upper Primary Grades
- [Elementary School Rec] Recommended Games and Performances for a Fun Party
- [List] A roundup of games and recreational activities kids love
[For Kids] Recommended Indoor Games and Recreational Activities for Winter Break (11–20)
Crane Game Play
https://www.tiktok.com/@miigomama_chiiku/video/7360200508965014802Liven up your indoor time! Here’s how to make a claw machine using paper cups.
First, mark eight equal sections on a paper cup and cut vertically along the lines with scissors.
After cutting all the way around, bend every other section so that four of them are folded.
Cut along the creases where you folded.
Fold the remaining four sections as well.
Fold the tips to resemble the claws of a claw machine.
Place another paper cup on top, and use an awl or similar tool to make a hole; widen it with a pencil until it’s large enough for a straw to fit through.
Cut the tip of a straw into four equal slits, then insert the uncut end through the paper cup.
Secure the cut end with tape.
Finally, pass it through another paper cup with the bottom facing up—and you’re done!
Balloon de Bazooka
@soramame.sensei Inflate a trash bag and transform it into a bazooka! Aim for your opponent’s basket and let’s go! 🌟 Figuring out where to place the ball and how much force to use is trickier than you’d think?! But once you score, it’s so addictive you won’t want to stop! 😆😆 Since the hot days are still continuing, it’s a great option for indoor play, too ❤️#SoramameKidsKotoba no Kyoushitsu Soramame Kids# developmental support (ryōiku)#KagoshimaRehabilitationGarbage bagChild Development SupportAfter-school day service#Indoor Play#IndoorPlaychildRecreation
♬ Fun pop music – masa
Here’s a home-friendly game called “Balloon de Bazooka.” You’ll need a large plastic bag, some colorful balls, and a basket.
First, split into two teams and place a basket in front of each team.
When the game starts, put the colorful balls into an inflated plastic bag.
Then slap the bag to shoot the balls toward the opponent’s basket! The team that gets more balls into the opponent’s basket wins.
While playing, kids can naturally develop skills like adjusting the force of their slaps and controlling the direction of the balls.
Gift hunting
@dori_ismart It's fun from the moment I start getting ready 🥳#GiftHunt#Sweets#AtHomePlay#ChristmasChristmas present
♬ Christmas standard song – 3KTrack
Highly recommended for a party game with kids! Let me introduce “Present Hunt.” First, fill bags with treats or toys the children like.
On each bag, stick a note that tells the next hiding place in sequence.
On the first bag, write where to find the next one.
After writing the clues, hide the second bag at the location written on the first, and so on.
You can make it more exciting by increasing the difficulty with each step.
Kids often come up with surprising hiding spots, so it’s also fun to play adults versus kids.
karuta (traditional Japanese playing cards)
Karuta is a game everyone can enjoy, and for small children it even helps with language learning.
Let’s boost our concentration and give it a try.
You can buy a set or make your own! If you want something more serious, try Hyakunin Isshu, the classic version famous for being featured in films.
cat’s cradle
How about enjoying ayatori, the traditional string game you can play with just a single strand? It’s easy to prepare and great even for small children.
You can also play with two people, skillfully taking the string from each other and transforming it into various shapes!
beanbags
How about otedama, a classic Japanese game? You play by tossing small cloth beanbags.
You can throw several up and try not to drop any, or set a goal and throw toward it to see who can get closest.
With a little creativity, there are lots of ways to enjoy it.
Rock-Paper-Scissors Train
One of the best indoor games for learning group behavior is the Rock-Paper-Scissors Train.
First, children pair up and play rock-paper-scissors.
The child who loses moves behind the winner, holds on, and they connect like a train.
You repeat this, and in the end, the child who remains at the front is the champion.
It helps if an adult demonstrates first so the kids can easily understand the rules.
You can also add variations, such as imitating animals while playing or using foot movements to do rock-paper-scissors.
Try different twists to keep the game fresh and fun.
Bozu Mekuri
Bozu Mekuri is a game played using the picture cards from the Ogura Hyakunin Isshu and the corresponding reading cards.
You place all the cards face down, divided into a few piles, and everyone draws one card at a time.
The action you take depends on the picture on the card you draw.
The player who ends up with the most cards in hand wins.
While rules vary by region and household, the basic idea is that cards with men are called “tono” (lord), cards with women are “hime” (princess), and if you draw a “bozu” (monk)—a card depicting a monk—you have to forfeit all the cards you’re holding.
ring toss
Ring toss is a game loved by people of all ages, where you throw rings toward a target.
Why not try this pastime—also held as a sport—as an indoor activity over winter break? Make rings by forming newspaper into sticks, shaping them into circles, and securing them with vinyl tape.
Wrap construction paper around water-filled plastic bottles to create the targets.
Line the bottles up on the floor and toss the newspaper rings at them.
Making the game together with children fosters a stronger sense of unity and a feeling of accomplishment.
Give indoor ring toss a try—you can stay active even inside!
Sugoroku
A board game where you roll a die and move your piece by the number shown.
It’s a table game that people of all ages can enjoy.
You can buy a commercially available set or make your own.
How about trying your luck for the new year?