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And Since We’ve No Place to Go…Let Us Play!

If you are stuck inside, it can be tricky to keep kids entertained. However, there are so many ways to have fun, learn new things, and stay active as a family inside. From educational games and crafts to dancing and obstacle courses, you can turn any day indoors into an adventure. Whether it’s rainy, snowy, or just too chilly to go outside, you can still have a great time together with these indoor play ideas. So, gather your family, get creative, and remember there’s always a way to play—no matter the weather!

Educational Games: Learning While Having Fun

When you’re stuck inside, why not make learning fun? There are plenty of games that can help kids learn new things while they play.

  • Board Games and Card Games: Games like Scrabble, Uno, Go Fish, Jenga, and Candy Land teach kids about taking turns, problem-solving, and even spelling or math!

  • Puzzle Time: Working on puzzles together is a great way to exercise the brain and develop critical thinking skills. Plus, it’s a relaxing way to spend time as a family.

  • Treasure Hunt: Create a treasure hunt around the house by hiding clues and having your children solve riddles or follow a map. This encourages problem-solving and gives them a sense of adventure. Check out this article for some tips and clue ideas! 

  • Scavenger Hunts can also be simple like finding different kinds of things (think colors, shapes, textures) like find something green, smooth, flat, fluffy, 5 circles, 3 red things or build a rainbow of colors with objects. 

Creative DIY Crafts

Get out the glue, paper, and markers! Crafting is a fantastic way for kids to express themselves and use their imagination. Here are a few easy ideas:

  • Paper Plate Animals: Take a simple paper plate and turn it into any animal you like by adding eyes, ears, and a fun mouth with paper, markers, and glue.

  • Homemade Playdough: Making playdough is a fun activity by itself, and once it's ready, kids can squish, roll, and shape it into whatever they want. Check out an easy, safe recipe here.

  • Painting Party: Set up a painting station with paper, brushes, and washable paint. You can even paint rocks or leaves for a nature-inspired craft!

Check out more easy, fun craft ideas for families in these articles:

Indoor Physical Activities: Staying Active Inside

Even if you can’t go outside, you can still get moving indoors! Here are some fun ways to stay active without leaving the house.

  • Obstacle Course: Use furniture, pillows, and other items around the house to create an obstacle course. Kids can crawl under tables, jump over pillows, and race to the finish line. It’s a great way to get the heart pumping!

  • Dance Party: Put on some music and have a family dance party! Create a family playlist where everyone can add one or more of their favorites. KIDZ BOP also has a lot of kid-friendly versions of popular songs. Dancing is a fun way to burn off energy, and you can make up silly dance moves or have a “freeze dance” contest where everyone has to stop when the music stops.

  • Indoor Bowling: Set up a bowling game using empty water bottles and a soft ball. See who can knock down the most pins! This activity helps with coordination and is tons of fun.

  • Guided Movement: YouTube has a lot of fun, kid-friendly, guided movement activities to choose from and do together, such as yoga (e.g., Cosmic Kids Yoga) or dancing (e.g., GoNoodle, Ready Set Dance). These can help with focusing and following directions, coordination, and bring joy as well as relaxation.

Story Time and Pretend Play

When the weather keeps you indoors, it’s the perfect time to read books and use your imagination.

  • Reading Together: Pick or check-out a book to read aloud or watch a read aloud video on YouTube and snuggle up on the couch. Reading together is a great way to spend quality time and help kids develop language skills.

  • Storytelling: Take turns telling stories. You can use toys or even create your own characters. Kids love making up stories, and it helps them practice creativity and language skills.

  • Pretend Play: Set up a pretend store, restaurant, or space station in the living room–or wherever your child may want to “travel to” in their mind! You can use old boxes, clothes, and toys to create a world of make-believe. Pretend play is not only fun, but it also helps kids learn social skills.

Quiet Time Activities

Sometimes, it’s nice to wind down with a calmer activity. These are great for when you need a little break from all the moving around.

  • Coloring or Drawing: Grab some crayons, markers, and/or colored pencils and let kids color in a coloring book or draw their own pictures. You can even make it a family art project! One fun and simple family art making idea is to play “musical art.” During this activity, whenever the song being played ends or is paused, the picture someone is drawing is passed to the next person (or traded with another person if only two are playing) to continue adding to the artwork. This rotation or trading continues until a predetermined amount of time (e.g., once it returns to the original artist, after a certain number of rotations or songs, etc.).

  • Watching a Movie or TV Show Together: Watching a movie or TV show together at home can be a wonderful wind-down activity for families. With age-appropriate shows or movies, you can not only relax but also create a cozy, shared experience that promotes connection and comfort. The familiar routine of watching a favorite show together can help children feel secure and ready for bedtime, while giving you a chance to unwind as well. Additionally, by not only watching together, movies and TV shows provide an opportunity for you to connect with your child by asking them questions and kickstarting conversations about things you watched together, such as:
    • What was your favorite part about this movie/episode?
    • Who’s your favorite character? Why are they your favorite?
    • Do you connect with any of the characters? Why do you connect with them?
    • What do you think the character(s) were feeling when (situation) happened? Have you ever felt that way?
As you can see, there are so many ways to keep the whole family entertained and active while spending time indoors–and these are only a few ideas! With a little creativity, you can turn any day into a fun, engaging experience for everyone and build connection. Remember–the best part about indoor play is simply being together and having fun!