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] Recommended Indoor Games and Recreational Activities for Winter Break (11–20)

cat’s cradle

[Ayatori] Easy Way to Make a Star – Perfect for Christmas or Tanabata! [With Voice Commentary] String Figures / Grandma’s Ayatori

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!

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beanbags

How to Juggle Three Beanbags [How to Play with Beanbags]

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.

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Rock-Paper-Scissors Train

Yanagi Kindergarten, good friends of the Chick Class! Let’s play energetically!

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.

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Bozu Mekuri

Unexpected excitement during the Bouzu Mekuri game.

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.

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ring toss

Let’s play indoors on rainy days! Ring toss game☆

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!

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Sugoroku

Doraemon♪♪ Sugoroku Game Showdown! Aim for the goal while collecting all kinds of Doraemons! You can watch episodes 1–4 all at once♪

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?

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[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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