Lovely Play & Recreation

[For Kids] Indoor Games and Activities Recommended for Winter Break

20 years of experience as a nursery teacher / kindergarten teacherhiyoko sensei
I’m Hiyoko-sensei, a former nursery school teacher from Hyogo Prefecture. Ever since I was five, my dream was to become a childcare worker, and before I knew it, 20 years had passed since I achieved that dream. Through singing and playing with the children, I kept working with the spirit of someone in their twenties, even as I increasingly felt my physical limits year by year (haha). From here on, I’d like to share helpful information carefully and thoughtfully, drawing on my on-site experience.
Keyboard playerSAKI
I’ve been playing the Electone since I was six, mainly performing Disney music, anime songs, and music from dramas and films. I post performance videos on YouTube and social media, and I also give concerts. Building on my Electone experience, I took up synthesizer and piano during my student years and performed at school-sponsored events. As a writer, I’ve covered not only music-related topics but a wide range of genres, so I hope to draw on my experience to deliver articles that make readers think, “I want to try that!” or “I want to listen to that!”

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!

[For Kids] Indoor Games and Recreational Activities Recommended for Winter Break (21–30)

Spinning a top

[Revised Edition] How to Spin a Top (How to Wrap the String) [How to Spin the Top]

Spinning a top

The traditional game of spinning tops.

At first glance, and when you see someone else do it, it looks easy, but it actually has surprising depth and takes some knack to make it spin well.

Many people probably tried imitating others as children and couldn’t get it to spin properly.

As a toy it’s simple—just the top itself and the string used to spin it—but the way you wind the string is crucial.

Hold the string short, tighten it firmly at the start, then wind it so there’s no slack.

Once you get the hang of how to hold it and how to throw it, you’ll be able to spin it well—and you’ll want to try it again and again.

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Paper balloon play

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Paper Balloon (Nostalgic Old-Time Play)Elementary school entrance exam Ms. Arihime
♬ Lips Are Movin – Meghan Trainor

An old-fashioned pastime, paper balloons are light, soft, and safe to enjoy—highly recommended.

When you blow into one, it inflates into a round shape, and a gentle push with your palm sends it drifting slowly through the air, making it easy even for small children to handle.

Because it falls slowly, batting it up to keep it from dropping or passing it back and forth with friends naturally helps develop balance and coordination.

Choosing colors and patterns adds to the fun, and they can also be used as decorations.

They’re quiet, easy to replace if they break, and safe for indoor play—perfect for quality time with parents and friends.

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rice cake pounding play

[Great Invention] “This is genius!” Super fun, ultra-realistic mochi pounding! #short

rice cake pounding play

Even if you think, “I want to try pounding mochi for New Year’s!” it’s hard to do at home because you may not have the tools, and parts of it can be a bit dangerous for kids.

But if you make some simple tools to simulate mochi pounding, anyone can easily experience it at New Year’s! Prepare two long, narrow strips of thick paper, each about 10 cm wide, and fold them back and forth in an accordion to make spring-like pieces.

Put those into a container to serve as the mortar.

For the mochi, put bubble wrap (or similar) into a plastic bag and place it on top of the “springs.” For the mallet, combine a cardboard tube from plastic wrap with a styrofoam block wrapped in bubble wrap—that’s all you need! You can play with it over and over, so give it a try!

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Milk Carton Stacking Game

Here’s a super easy activity you can do with a milk carton! Guaranteed laughs—this one’s a hit! The Stacking Game! #DayService #ActivitiesForSeniors #Elderly #Seniors #Recreation #Rehabilitation #shorts

Milk Carton Stacking Game

The “Tsumitsumi Game,” made by cutting a milk carton into thin strips, is a simple handmade game you can enjoy with everyday materials.

Players take turns stacking the cut pieces and compete to see how high they can build without toppling the stack.

It’s great for young children to develop fine motor skills, and it also challenges adults’ concentration and sense of balance, making it fun across a wide range of ages.

With simple rules, it’s easy to play in a short time and is recommended for family or friends.

The satisfaction of a successful stack and the funny mishaps when it collapses make for lots of laughs.

Its appeal also lies in the convenience of using recyclable materials and the freedom to change how you play with a bit of creativity.

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buzzing top

https://www.tiktok.com/@lastonemile_slo/video/7452714350651002120

Let’s play with buzzing tops that spin colorful patterns and enjoy the festive atmosphere.

It’s also recommended to make your own buzzing top using cardboard—you can choose any design you like and watch even more vibrant patterns spin.

It’s important to think about color balance as you create it: what color to use for the base, which colors to draw the patterns with, and what color string to use.

Paying attention to how you spin it so the patterns look more beautiful—and finding a method that makes it spin faster—might also be key points.

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Ball fishing

@sa_pon_asobi
#AtHomePlay At-home play #Indoor Play Childcare1 year oldParenting At-home childcare #SimpleAt-HomePlay Simple Play Cold Day Activitiesplay for 1-year-olds; how 1-year-olds playStruggling with parenting #OutOfIdeasForAtHomePlay scrap materialPlay for one-year-oldsRainy day activities
♬ Happy Kids – Syafeea library

How about enjoying some ball fishing with a makeshift fishing set made from cardboard? First, roll up a piece of cardboard into a rod shape and wrap it with vinyl tape.

Secure a vinyl string to the handle with vinyl tape.

Next, crumple scrap paper or newspaper into a ball, place the vinyl string through the center, and wrap it with packing tape.

Leave some sticky surface exposed to create the fishing line.

Now compete to see how many balls you can “catch”!

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flutter-flutter

New Year’s games: How to make the traditional patapata toy (DIY crafts) – Japanese traditional toy

flutter-flutter

The flip-flap mechanical toy has a nostalgic feel, yet it’s always fascinating and fun no matter how old you are.

How about playing with a handmade flip-flap during New Year’s when everyone gets together? First, cut slightly thick paper—like mat board or cardboard—into a rectangle, then connect the pieces with strips of paper cut into narrow bands.

For each rectangular piece, attach two strips at the top and one at the bottom, then fold each strip over and glue it in place.

Once you learn the pattern, you can make it easily while having fun, so give it a try!

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Hana Ichi Monme

Children’s song game “Hana Ichi Monme”

Hana Ichi Monme

It’s a lighthearted game played while everyone sings the traditional children’s song “Hana Ichi Monme.” First, you split into teams, join hands, and face each other as you move and sing “Hana Ichi Monme.” From there, it develops into a negotiation over trading members: the person who gets called out battles with rock-paper-scissors, and the loser joins the other team.

It’s a game where you can enjoy, through the song, the shifting situation as team sizes change.

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Indoor play that even infants can enjoy!

@nexus_official5 ♬ Cute heartwarming BGM(1490583) – sanusagi

We’d like to introduce four types of activities that kids can enjoy energetically indoors, even on cold days.

First is the “Crawling Race,” where parents and children cheer each other on as they aim for the goal.

It’s simple, but full of smiles and lots of excitement.

Next is the “Animal Imitation Game.” Move your body to the fullest by hopping like a bunny or mimicking an elephant’s trunk.

“Balance Play” involves placing a string on the floor and walking along it.

Stepping over and hopping without touching the string helps build leg strength.

Lastly, there’s “Newspaper and Flyer Play.” Tear the paper using your fingertips, crumple it into balls, and use them for other games.

All of these are easy to prepare and perfect for cozy days at home when it’s cold outside.

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A museum where you can learn about nature even in winter!

If you want to connect with nature even in the cold of winter, museums are a great recommendation.

Because most exhibits are indoors, they’re warm and comfortable, so you can enjoy them with peace of mind even on snowy days.

They offer plenty of displays that let you experience the wonders of nature, such as fossils, minerals, animal taxidermy, and plant specimens.

Some museums even host special exhibitions with winter-specific themes, like the mechanisms of snow and ice or the ecology of hibernating animals.

In the hands-on areas, families can learn while having fun with activities like stargazing through telescopes and fossil excavation experiences.

Why not take this chilly season as an opportunity to enjoy the mysteries of nature indoors at your own pace?

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