15 NO-PREP INDOOR GAMES FOR YOUR CHURCH’S CHILDREN’S MINISTRY

Sep 27, 2026

15 quick no-prep indoor game ideas designed for church children’s ministry activities. Each game includes simple setup requirements, clear step-by-step instructions, and group-friendly ways to play with individuals, pairs, or teams. Games focus on energetic movement, quick decision-making, and lightweight materials such as cups, coins, balloons or beach balls, and simple scavenger lists, while encouraging participation and fun with minimal planning time for leaders.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryReligion & Spirituality

FormatPDF

Pages4

Reading Time10 min

AccessFree to download

15 No-Prep Indoor Games for Your Church’s Children’s Ministry

Head, Shoulders, Knees, Cup

Pocket Scavenger Hunt

Sit Down If

Heads or Tails

This or That

Beach Ball (or Balloon) Toss

Switch It Up

4 Corners

One Hand, Two Hands, None

Crowd Charades

Line Up

Secret Leader

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15 NO-PREP INDOOR GAMES FOR YOURCHURCH’S CHILDREN’S MINISTRY | | | If you’re like most kids ministry people, you probably havea love/hate relationship with games. They’re a necessaryingredient to an engaging kids service, but between thesupplies, the prep, and the instructions, they can take so
HEAD, SHOULDERS, KNEES, CUP
You can play this simple game with just a few studentsupfront or with your whole group. All you need are somedisposable cups.
z Split everyone into pairs. Put a cup on the floorbetween each pair.
POCKET SCAVENGER HUNT
Make a list ahead of random objects kids or leaders mighthave on them (like a shoe, sock, crayon, or phone) . Then …
z Split into teams that include both kids and adults.
z Call out items, then award a point to each team for
SIT DOWN IF …
In this game, you’ll call out a series of commands startingwith, “Sit down if…”You don’t need to prep anything for thisgame, but you can make a list of ideas, so you don’t needto make them up on the spot.
z Have everyone stand up.
HEADS OR TAILS
All you need for this game is a single coin. Then …
z Have everyone stand up.
z Ask them to pick heads or tails. If they choose heads,they’ll need to put their hands on their heads. If they
THIS OR THAT
This is a spin on the classic game Simon Says, except the | much effort. We get it. So here are 15 games you canplay any time with almost no supplies or preparationneeded. Have fun!
z Call out a series of commands (“Head! Shoulders!Knees!”) and have kids place their hands on the partof their body you just shouted.
z To end the round, yell, “Cup!”The first person fromeach pair to grab the cup from the ground wins.
z Keep playing until only one player remains.
every item they can find.
z You could also play this game, “alphabet style,”whereeach team must find an object that starts with eachletter of the alphabet. (This version works best forolder kids who can spell.)
z Call out a series of “sit down”commands until onlyone person remains. You might tell them to sit downif they are wearing a blue shirt, have their hair in aponytail, have a younger sibling, or if they ate cerealfor breakfast.
choose tails, they must put their hands on their hips.
z Flip the coin.
z If it’s heads, all the heads win and advance to thenext round, and the tails are out, or vice versa. Keepplaying until one or a few kids remain.
leader says, “Do this …” instead of, “Simon says …” | ©2023 Stuff You Can Use. All rights reserved. www. stuffyoucanuse.org z When the leader starts a command with, “Do this,”the kids should repeat it, but if the leader startsa command with, “Do that,” the kids should staymotionless. If a kid misses a motion, they sit down. z z # BEACH BALL (OR BALLOON) TOSS For this game, you only need a few balloons or beach ballsfrom your storage closet. You can play with any numberof students. z Split kids into teams. zz # SWITCH IT UP All you need for this game is a nice open space. z Split kids into two teams. Have them all stand in aline against a wall. z Call out random facts like, “You love ice cream”or z # 4 CORNERS All you need for this game is a room with four corners. z Assign a number to each corner of the room. z Choose one person to be“it”and have them standin the center of the room with their eyes closed (orwearing a blindfold) . z zz Move fast and add fun motions, like jumping jacks,patting your head, spinning in circles, or quacking likea duck. Keep playing until there are only a few winners left. Tell everyone their feet are frozen to the floor andcan’t be moved. Toss a balloon or beach ball to each team. See whichteam can bat it and keep it in the air the longestwithout moving their feet. “You’ve been to the beach.” If the fact applies to them,have them switch walls and run to the other side.There’s no winner in t

FAQs

What supplies are needed for these no-prep indoor games?

Most games require minimal or disposable items such as cups, coins, balloons or beach balls, and simple object lists. Several games can be played with almost no supplies beyond space and the kids themselves.

How does the “Sit Down If…” game work?

The leader calls out commands beginning with “Sit down if…”. Kids follow the conditions, and the game can continue using a prepared list of ideas so leaders do not have to invent them on the spot.

How do winners get determined in the “Heads or Tails” game?

The leader flips the coin. Kids who match the result advance, while the others are out, and play continues until only one or a few kids remain.

Sep 27, 2026

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