Indoor recess games

When it's too wet or too cold to go out, indoor recess can feel long for everyone. Here are ten games that get kids out of their seats in the classroom. Most need no prep, a few need a soft ball or a balloon, and two use the classroom screen.

Moving games with no prep

These work with a whole class and nothing but a little floor space.

1. Four corners

Number the corners of the room 1 to 4. One kid stands in the middle with their eyes closed and counts down from ten while everyone tiptoes to a corner. The counter calls a number, and that corner sits out the next round. The last kid left counts next.

2. Musical statues

Play a song and let everyone dance. When the music stops, they freeze like statues. Anyone who wobbles helps spot the movers in the next round.

3. Simon says

The classic, with bigger moves: hop on one foot, reach for the ceiling, turn around slowly. Our Simon says ideas list has sixty commands to start with.

4. Rock, paper, scissors train

Everyone pairs up and plays one round. Whoever loses joins the winner's train, hands on their shoulders, and cheers them on. Trains play trains until one long line stands behind one champion.

5. Animal charades

One kid acts out an animal without a sound, and the class guesses. Whoever guesses right goes next. After each guess, everyone moves like that animal for ten seconds.

With a soft ball or a balloon

Keep it soft: a foam ball, a beanbag or a balloon.

6. Silent ball

Toss a soft ball around the room without a word. Talk, drop it or make a wild throw, and you sit down until the next round. It's a calm one for the end of recess.

7. Balloon keep-up

In small groups, keep a balloon off the floor for as long as you can. Add a rule each round: elbows only, or nobody touches it twice in a row.

8. Hot potato

Pass a beanbag around a circle while the music plays. Whoever holds it when the music stops does five jumps, then the game goes on.

On the classroom screen

9. Dance-along videos

Put a dance-along on the board and the whole room moves together. Our lists of GoNoodle alternatives and games like Danny Go! have free channels to try.

10. Hopadoo

Hopadoo has free games kids play by moving in front of the camera on a laptop, tablet or phone. They jump the hurdles in a jungle race, step into the lane with the same shape and color in Color & Shape Run, or copy the monkey's poses in Monkey Mirror, which has no jumping at all.

It plays one or two kids at a time, side by side, so at indoor recess it works as a station while the rest play something else. There are no logins and no ads, and the camera video never leaves the device.

Play free

Why the camera? It’s how the runners copy each move, and the video never leaves this device.

Making indoor recess work

• Make space first: push a few desks back, then arms out. If you can touch someone, take a step.
• Agree on a stop signal: a raised hand or a clap pattern, so any game can stop fast.
• Set up stations: a different game in each corner, and groups swap every ten minutes.
• End calm: finish with silent ball or a slow stretch before the next lesson.

Questions

More ideas: Classroom brain breaks for K–2 · Rainy-day activities · All guides