15 EASY & ENERGY BURSTING INDOOR GAMES AND ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS.

Indoor games and activities for kids.

There are lots of times where it is unavoidable to be stuck inside with kids.

It could be raining, snowing, too hot and humid or there could even be a pandemic. (crazy how if I was writing this last year a pandemic will never be on my list of reasons to be stuck home, but here we are …)

I think many moms will agree with me that kids plus energy equal chaos.

If I could bottle up and sell all the energy in my toddler, I would absolutely go on a shopping spree with all the money ill make (haha).

However, since that isn’t possible (a mom can at least daydream, right?!) I have to look for creative ways to keep my toddler busy and release all the energy,

Its always a win-win for me, a happy and worn out toddler equals easy bedtime. (and some wine time for this mama)

It is also quite important to give your kids opportunities to engage in movement activities every day and that can be a little difficult when stuck at home.

for me, being stuck at home with an energetic toddler means screaming, (possibly lost my voice a few times), Leaping to save him from falling or hurting himself.

You know how hard it can be to help your child work off all that crazy toddler energy in a positive way.

So, here are a few simple movement activities to try at home to help keep your kids busy and entertained.

It is perfect for when it’s raining, snowing, hot, and humid or like me if you are stuck at home on lockdown due to coronavirus.

Most of these games require a partner, so you might have to hop in and join the fun and maybe get in some exercise in the process. ( win-win).

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Indoor Games and Activities For Kids

1. Sock Toss

This is an awesome throwing activity. I love it because all you need are items already in your house plus a sock is a soft enough safe choice for throwing inside. ( we definitely don’t want any broken tv or lamp).

Grab some socks and ball them up, like you normally would do to keep them together.

You could also make-shift balls other soft items like a wad of newspaper.

Get your clothes hamper or a bucket, and you have a quick activity for your kids to practice their aim.

Make it interesting by seeing who can make the farthest shot.

You could also set-up lines of tape to see how many shots they can make from each one.

2. Obstacle course

This is another one of my favorite easy indoor game idea to get kids moving when you’re stuck inside.

It is very easy to switch up and made different every time so it never gets old.

Make it interesting and engaging by including a variety of motions (jumping, crawling, balancing).

For example, you could encourage your little one to walk across the couch cushions, crawl under the dining room table, climb up on top of the ottoman, and jump down into a pile of throw pillows.

Other obstacles you could incorporate include, hula hoops to jump through, line of tape to balance on, couch cushions to hop between, blanket over 2 chairs to crab walkthrough, stuffed animals to roll over and plastic cups to run around.

You can never go wrong with obstacle courses because they are great for kids of all ages to participate in.

Once they’ve got their obstacle course down, you could challenge them to do it backward or time them to see how fast they can do it!

You could even have them attempt it balancing a bean bag or stuffed animal on their head, or with 1 hand behind their back.

If they get bored, you could tweak this activity in different ways to make it more This activity can be tweaked in different ways to make it more challenging.

3. Do not let the balloon touch the ground

This is the classic game that kids fall for every time. An excellent indoor game and activity for kids.

I got into this with my toddler and oh boy was I sweating and panting afterward.

This is guaranteed to release any pent up energy in your kids.

The rules are simple – hit the balloon up in the air but don’t let it touch the ground.

This game is great for improving arm strength and hand-eye coordination.

4.Sticky Spider Web:

Use painter’s tape to make a web-like design on a doorway opening (idea via Hands On As We Grow). Give your kids some newspaper to scrunch up and throw up at the web.

5.Balloon Waddle

Place a balloon between your child’s knees and have them waddle across the room without dropping it.

Make it more challenging for older kids by having them go around a few obstacles. If they drop it, they have to go back to the start.

6.Balloon Volleyball

Make a “net” by tying a piece of string between 2 chairs and then have your child hit the balloon back and forth by running from one side to the other, trying to keep it off the floor.

If you have 2 or more kids, have them hit it over the net as many times as they can without it falling.

7.Alligator Alley

This game always gets my kid screaming in excitement.

It is an excellent indoor game that kids love.

Simply scatter some “islands” or “boats” across the floor.
You can use pillows, stuffed animals, books, etc,
Then have your kids jump from one to the next without falling into the “water” and risk being eaten by a hungry alligator.

8.Mirror, Mirror

The idea is to get your child to replicate physically what they see. Stand face to face with your child, about a foot apart, and have them attempt to copy all your movements.

Reach up and stretch to the sky
Touch your nose,
do jumping jacks,
make funny faces,
Act like a monkey,

Add your own variations and make it exciting, add moves that involve movement then switch roles and copy your child.

9.Indoor scavenger hunt

An indoor scavenger hunt is a great indoor game and activity for kids.

It is a good way to keep your child busy when you’re stuck at home.

Simply ask your little one to find something – anything – from around the house.

If you can, get your child moving back and forth from room to room, or climbing upstairs and then back down.

Try hiding a few interesting objects around the room and encourage your child to find them and collect them in a bag or basket – just like an Easter egg hunt!

10. Flash Light Scavenger Hunt

If you have a room that can get sufficiently dark by turning off the lights and closing the blinds, send your kids on a Flash Light Scavenger Hunt where they have to find certain hidden items in the dark using a flashlight. (via Hands On As We Grow)

11.Bowling

you can set up your bowling lane with some painter’s tape and use plastic bottles or cups for pins.

Use any type of ball to bowl, attempting to knock down as many plastic bottles or cups as possible.

Keep track of the score, or simply aim to knock them all down in one turn.

I use stuffed animals when playing this game. I stand a few stuffed animals then, encourage my child to roll the ball and knock the toys over.

.12.Egg ‘n’ Spoon Race

This is definitely a classic and never disappoints.

Grab a spoon and any small round object that will fit on top (or if you’re brave and have easy-to-clean floors, go ahead and use a real egg!).

Create a course for your child to navigate through and see if they can do it without dropping it off the spoon.

Once they’ve got the hang of it, go for speed!

13.Hide-and-Seek

My toddler loves this game. The first few times we played it he kept giggling excitedly while hiding. It was too funny.

I had to tell him that giggling in his hiding spot leads me directly to him, hahaha.

To play this game, you take turns to hide and be found.

For younger kids, it’s better to define an area for hiding in other to prevent any form of accidents.

14. Chase Bubbles

We play with bubbles almost every day, it’s a toddler fave.

It is so perfect for days when I feel too tired or lazy for any serious activity. It’s no secret that kids love bubbles.

Make a game out of this by encouraging your little one to chase and catch as many bubbles as they can.

Blow some and challenge your kids to pop them all before they touch the ground, prompting lots of jumping and diving.

This classic activity is a good way to get your child working on many different gross motor skills – running, reaching, standing on tiptoe, squatting, bending, and more.

15.Dance Party

Have your kids twirl and twist their way around the room. Clear out open space, turn on high-energy music, and have a dance-off!

So, the next time your toddler is bouncing off the walls (and driving you crazy), give one of these easy indoor movement activities a try!

What are some of your favorite indoor activities? Let me know in the comments.

Megan

Hi there, Welcome to Parenting Lately. I am thrilled to have you here. I am Megan. A wife and mom of two little ones. Parenting lately serves as a place where you can find useful resources to manage your family and your time effectively while taking control of your finances. Build a life you love while finding balance as a mom. Learn how to make money from home, save money, increase productivity, boost your income, budget, and manage money better. Thank you for stopping by, I hope you find something worth reading, and we can be friends.