Indoor recess presents a unique opportunity to foster social connections, physical activity, and mental stimulation even within the confines of a classroom or gymnasium.
These activities are crucial for keeping the energy levels of young learners balanced and their minds engaged on days when outdoor play isn’t an option.
We’ve collected the most entertaining and practical indoor recess games designed to keep students active, engaged, and interacting positively with their peers.
From quick-to-organize activities that require minimal setup to more elaborate games that transform classroom spaces into zones of imaginative play, these indoor alternatives capture the spirit of recess while respecting indoor limitations.
The activities featured here aim to make indoor recess a period that students look forward to with enthusiasm.
Recess Games for Pre-Schoolers
1. Paper Airplane Contest
This game idea, the Paper Airplane Contest, involves students designing and constructing paper airplanes to compete in accuracy by throwing them through a hula hoop. The rules are simple: each student gets a sheet of paper to fold into any airplane design within a set time limit.
Learn more: Air and Space
2. The Floor Is Lava
This game idea, The Floor Is Lava, transforms any indoor space into a fun, active play area. The rules are simple: students must navigate the room without touching the floor, using furniture, mats, or designated safe zones to move around.
Learn more: ALSC ALA Org
3. Find The Hidden Object
This game idea, involves hiding a small object under one of three cups and shuffling them. Players then guess which cup hides the object. The simple setup teaches observation and concentration skills.
Learn more: Pinterest/The Eau-T
4. Sight Words Snake And Ladders
“Sight Words Snake and Ladders” is an educational twist on the classic game. Players roll dice to advance on a board, reading sight words on each square they land on. Climbing ladders and avoiding snakes adds excitement.
Learn more: Sight Words
5. Yank Me Game
The “Yank Me Game” involves stacking cups with paper slips between them. Players quickly pull the papers to collapse the cups into a single stack without them toppling. This game sharpens hand-eye coordination and motor skills.
Learn more: Play Activities
6. Balloon Tennis
This game idea involves using balloons and paddles (or swatters) to play a game of tennis. Players hit the balloon back and forth, trying to keep it in the air and within a designated play area.
Learn more: Little Bins for Little Hands
7. Ball Balancing
This game idea, involves balancing a ball on a spoon while walking a designated course. Players must keep the ball from falling off the spoon as they navigate the path. This game develops coordination, balance, and focus.
Learn more: Candice Buckley
8. Balloon Volleyball
This game idea, “Balloon Volleyball,” involves players using their hands or a makeshift net to keep a balloon from touching the ground on their side of a designated area. It promotes coordination, teamwork, and physical activity in a safe and enjoyable manner.
Learn more: Kid Friendly Things To Do
9. Robot Dance
This game idea, involves creating robot figures on popsicle sticks and manipulating them to dance or move in specific ways. Players can make the robots spin, wave, or do other motions using their hands.
Learn more: Sarah J Creations
10. Simon Says
“Simon Says” is a classic game where one player, acting as “Simon,” gives commands starting with “Simon says” (e.g., “Simon says touch your nose”).
Players must only obey commands preceded by “Simon says”; if “Simon” gives a command without saying “Simon says” and a player follows it, they are out.
Learn more: Games4Esl
11. Four Corners
This game encourages strategic thinking, quick decision-making, and social interaction. Teachers and parents can introduce “Four Corners” to students as an engaging indoor game that promotes movement, decision-making skills, and socialization in a structured and fun environment.
Learn more: Play Works
12. I Spy With My Little Eye
“I Spy With My Little Eye” is a classic guessing game where one player selects an object within sight and says, “I spy with my little eye something [color or characteristic].” Other players take turns guessing the object until someone correctly identifies it.
Learn more: Empowered Parents Co
13. Minute-to-Win It
Minute-to-Win It games typically involve completing tasks within a minute using household items or simple materials. One such game idea is “Finding Stuff with Corn,” where participants use a corn kernel to pick up small objects (like paper clips or buttons) scattered on a table, using only the corn and their fingers.
Learn more: Frugal Fun 4 Boys
14. Scavenger Hunt
A scavenger hunt is a game where participants search for specific items or complete tasks on a list within a designated area or time frame. Players or teams race to find all the items or complete all tasks first.
Learn more: View From A Step Stool
15. Walk the Egg
“Walk the Egg” is a game where participants balance an egg on a spoon and race to pass it to a teammate without dropping it. Players must navigate obstacles or a set course while holding the spoon steady.
Learn more: Kid Friendly Things To Do
16. Bring Me
“Bring Me” is a game where a leader or facilitator calls out specific items or objects, and players race to retrieve them and bring them back. The first player to return with the requested item wins that round.
Learn more: Mums Kids Jesus
17. Cup Race
The “Cup Race” with blowing cups involves players using a straw to blow a cup across a designated course to a finish line. Players must navigate obstacles and control their breath to move the cup without touching it.
Learn more: Freebie-Licious Blogspot
18. DIY Ring Toss
Players earn points based on where their rings land. Teachers and parents can introduce DIY Ring Toss to students as a creative and interactive indoor or outdoor activity that encourages problem-solving and friendly competition.
19. DIY Catapult
A DIY catapult is a easy to made device used to launch small objects, often made from materials like card board, bottle caps, and a some DIY balls.
Learn more: What We Do All Day
Recess Games for Older Students
20. Play Uno!
Playing Uno involves using a deck of cards with different colors and numbers. Players take turns matching a card from their hand to the top card of the discard pile by either color or number
Learn more: Asmodee Co
21. Giant Connect 4
Giant Connect 4 is a larger-than-life version of the classic Connect 4 game, where players take turns dropping colored discs into a vertical grid.
The objective is to be the first to connect four discs of the same color vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.
Learn more: A Girl and A Glue Gun
22. Large Tic Tac Toe
Large Tic Tac Toe is an oversized version of the traditional Tic Tac Toe game, played on a large grid drawn on the ground or on a board.
Players take turns marking Xs or Os in an attempt to get three in a row horizontally, vertically, or diagonally
Learn more: Pinterest/Audrey Hakes
23. DIY Getting to Know Jenga Game
The DIY “Getting to Know You Jenga” game involves writing icebreaker questions or fun facts on each Jenga block before playing. As players remove blocks, they must answer the question or share the fact written on it.
Learn more: My Crazy Good Life
24. Pictionary
Pictionary is a classic party game where players take turns drawing a word or phrase assigned to them while teammates guess what it is. Players must convey the word solely through their drawing without using letters or symbols.
25. Hula-Hoop Pass
The “Hula-Hoop Pass” game involves players standing in a circle, holding hands, and passing a hula hoop around the circle without letting go of each other’s hands.
Learn more: Guide Inc
26. Hot Seat
“Hot Seat” is a game where one person sits in the “hot seat” while the others ask them questions. The person in the hot seat answers the questions spontaneously and honestly, often under a time limit.
27. Pool Noodle Battling
“Pool Noodle Battling” involves using pool noodles as pretend swords or battling tools. Participants engage in friendly combat, trying to tap or knock opponents with their noodles while dodging incoming strikes.
Learn more: Therapy Fun Zone
28. Play Jenga!
Playing Jenga involves carefully removing wooden blocks from a tower and placing them on top, one at a time, to build the structure taller and taller.
Learn more: Game On Family
29. Play Chess
Playing chess involves two players moving pieces strategically on a checkered board with the goal of checkmating the opponent’s king. Each piece moves differently, and players take turns making calculated moves to outwit their opponent. C
Learn more: Ipassio
30. Hungry Hippos
Hungry Hungry Hippos is a fast-paced tabletop game where players control plastic hippos and try to gobble up as many marbles as possible from the center of the board using lever-action mechanisms.
Learn more: A Thrifty Mom