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)

Paper balloon play

@yuioishi
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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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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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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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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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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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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