Fun Indoor Games for Kids

After a couple days of being stuck indoors do your kids start whining that they have nothing to do?  

Or does the thought of entertaining everyone on a long stormy day make you want to pull your hair out?

I can help!

Kids don’t need to stop moving just because the weather is too hot, too rainy or too cold, there are many ways to move and have fun indoors!

All of these games need very few materials that you probably already have at home. So keep this list handy for anytime you’re stuck indoors and need some inspiration.

Indoor Games That Get Kids Moving

Spy Course

Weave colored yarn up and down and all around a room to create a spy course! Give the kids a mission to retrieve something on the other side without touching the “spy lasers” or just let them play—either way it will be lots of fun!

Balloon Tennis

Create a tennis game that’s safe to play indoors with paper plates and a balloon. Use the paper plates to make the rackets by hot gluing or taping paint stirrers or popsicle sticks to the edge of each plate. Then let the kids play with the balloon as the ball.

Dance Party

All you need to do for this one is turn on some music and tell them to boogie! Get the whole family involved in the dance party or play Freeze Dance and hold your position each time the music stops.

Knee Tag

Depending on the size and layout of your house you may not have the space for the kids to play tag indoors. Tell them they can only walk on their knees or crawl on all fours to play instead. This way they can still move and play with less chance of a crash!

Walk on Stilts

Make DIY tin can stilts at home with large tin cans. Use a can opener with a child safe edge to open the cans so there are no jagged edges and cover the edges with thick duct tape. Then use a nail to poke a hole into each side of the cans. Tie a string inside of each hole for the handles and let kids try and walk around the house on them.

Cushion Hopping

Take the cushions or pillows off your couch and set up them up all around the room. Tell the kids to pretend the floor is water filled with alligators and the only way they can get around the room is to hop safely from cushion to cushion.

Silly Relay Races

Divide the kids into two groups and have them race to see who can do something silly to the end of the room and back. They can try get to the end doing the chicken dance or with a pair of old socks on their heads. Go with whatever is fun for your kids and you have on hand.

Hide and Seek

This classic is a must do indoor game! Make it more active by allowing the kids to change their hiding positions as long as the seeker does not see them. Adults can play to, see who in the family can stay hidden the longest.

Paper Ball Bombardment

Bombardment is similar to dodge ball except that you use many balls at the same time. Put the kids into two teams and divide the room in half. Each team has to stay on their own side and throw the balls at the other team. If you get hit you have to sit out, but if you catch it the thrower has to sit out. When your team catches a ball one of the players that was out get to go back in which keeps it fun for all. Playing with crumpled up paper balls is a safe way to play indoors so raid your recycling bin!

Getting kids up and moving and having fun indoors is easier than you think and lots of fun. Don’t forget to join in and play too!

The best part is that all of these indoor games either require no supplies or ones that you probably already have around the house.

Join in and play too–why should kids be the ones to have all the fun?