It’s a total bummer to be stuck indoors, especially when the weather’s the cause. Stir-craziness sets in, and we lose our patience with our kids. In our defense, how many times can they say “bored” before our heads explode? But what if we reframe the situation and think about the opportunity we have to make sweet memories and bond as a family?
These 12 indoor activities for kids are some of our favorite ideas for when you’re stuck inside. There’s an idea for every age, but don’t judge an activity before trying it. You never know what little kid activity your big kid might enjoy.
1. Puppet Show
We’re digging into old-school indoor activities for kids here. Go through the sock drawer and find matchless white socks. Have your kids create faces on the socks using markers, glue, scraps of fabric, pipe cleaners, and any other crafts you’ve got lying around. Push the couch off the wall, and voilà ! You have the perfect stage for a puppet show. Have your kids put on their puppet personas for the storyline and act out a favorite memory or an embarrassing moment. It’s sure to garner some laughs, especially if their siblings are involved.
2. How Cold It Is
This is a fun way for your kids to envision life around the world. First, ask them to think of the coldest place on earth. Then, go to weather.com and type in their answers, one by one in the search bar to find out the current temperature. See who can come up with the coldest location or who can get closest to guessing the temp. Then, warm things up by having them think of the hottest place in the world.
3. Get Dressed Fast
This is a fun indoor activity for kids you can play relay-style with teams, or you can play it with just one child. The goal is to put on an assortment of items as quickly as possible. So, for one child, set the items in front of them: gloves, a hat, a belt, you get the idea. Then, say go! See how long it takes them to get dressed. Let them try it again to better their time. For teams, have each player put on the clothes, take off the clothes, and pass them to the next team member. The first team to finish wins!
4. Fort Film Fest
Build a fort surrounding your family’s TV using tablecloths, blankets or your camping tent. Make sure all of the blinds are closed and the lights are off. Find a trilogy you’ve been wanting to watch. Spread out blankets and sleeping bags, pop loads of popcorn and enjoy a dark, quiet house in the middle of the day!
5. Roller Derby
This was my absolute favorite rainy day activity growing up. Remove anything from the kitchen that’s not nailed to the floor. Let the kids don their roller blades or skates and explore the kitchen on wheels. Don’t worry! your kitchen does not have to be big for them to think this is the best idea you’ve ever had!
6. Tie-Dye Party
You’ll need a couple of boxes of different colored dye kits, some kitchen gloves, and some old white t-shirts. It’s OK if the tees have graphics, as long as the base of the shirts is white. Bind them in different spots with rubber bands. Have the kids dip sections of the shirts into the dye. Ring them out, wash them (make sure you don’t have anything else in your washer), unbind them, and hang them out to dry.
7. Talent Show
Make it quirky, like having your children balance spoons on their noses, or make it real, like showing off what they’ve learned at piano lessons. For the full effect, create a stage by pulling a box spring out from under a mattress.
8. Treasure Hunt
This one takes some pre-planning. Head to the dollar store for low-priced items. Keep them from the clingy hands of your kiddos and stash them in a makeshift treasure box. When the rainy or snowy day arrives, hide the box and create clues and maps that will take them on a fun (and hopefully long) adventure. Try our free printable treasure hunt.
9. LOL
Create a circle by having each family member lay their head on another member’s belly, until everyone is lying on someone else’s belly. One at a time let out a “HA!” from the depths of your belly. Go around the circle once saying, “Ha.” The second go-around, let out two “Ha’s,” the third round let out three. You’re out if your one or two “ha’s” turn into uncontrollable “ha’s” (laughing). The last one left on the floor is the winner.
10. Scavenger Hunt
Send each child off with a list of items to scavenge from around the house. They either can take a picture of the items or actually collect them. Use riddles whenever possible, especially for the older ones. Example: It gives and takes away light. Their answer could be blinds, a light switch, or a lamp. There’s no wrong answer for these riddles, as long as it keeps them guessing—and busy! Don’t want to write your own hunt? Try one of ours.
11. One Sentence at a Time
Create a story with your kids by each of you contributing just one sentence at a time. You’ll never create the same story twice.
12. Video Game Tournament
Pick a game everyone can play, and let the best man (or mom!) win. If your kids normally play video games independently while you get other work done, they’ll get a kick out of you playing with them. Bragging rights are the only prize they’ll want.
What other indoor activities for kids can you add?
