Let’s chat about how we can make sure all of our kiddos have a blast with indoor activities!
We’ve got a whole bunch of fun, exciting, and inclusive indoor activities that are perfect for kids of all ages. Let’s get started!
Balloon Games: A Bunch of Bouncy Fun
Alright, let’s dive into some super fun balloon games! Balloons are amazing because they’re colorful, bouncy, and versatile, making them perfect for kids of all ages and abilities. Here are some great ideas to get started:
Balloon Volleyball:
How to play:
Just like regular volleyball, but with balloons! Have your kids stand on opposite sides of a makeshift net (you can use a string or even a bedsheet) and take turns batting the balloon back and forth.
Why it’s great:
The slow pace of a floating balloon makes it easier for children to follow and react to, plus it’s super fun to watch!
Balloon Races:
How to play:
Have your kids line up at the starting line and give each one a balloon. When you say “go,” they’ll try to push their balloon to the finish line using only their breath or by tapping it with their hands if that’s more appropriate for their abilities.
Why it’s great:
This game encourages focus and coordination, and it’s a great energy-burner.
Balloon Art:
How to do it:
Provide your kids with markers, stickers, or other craft supplies to decorate their balloons, transforming them into imaginative characters or objects.
Why it’s great:
Balloon art allows kids to express their creativity and develop fine motor skills while enjoying a sensory and visually stimulating activity.
Balloon Tennis:
A Whimsical Twist on a Classic Game! Serve up some fun with balloon tennis, a delightful and inclusive indoor activity that offers children of all ages and abilities the chance to engage in friendly competition and develop essential skills. This creative twist on a classic game is easy to set up, adaptable to various skill levels, and perfect for providing hours of laughter and entertainment. Let’s discover how to create your very own court and explore the benefits of this whimsical activity:
How to do it:
To create your court, all you need are some balloons, lightweight rackets or fly swatters, and a designated playing area. Inflate the balloons, and use painter’s tape or string to mark a “net” on the floor or between two chairs. If rackets aren’t available, you can create DIY rackets by attaching paper plates to wooden sticks or using clean fly swatters.
Why it’s great:
Balloon tennis is an affordable and accessible game that can be easily set up and adapted to fit any indoor space, making it an ideal activity for kids of all ages and abilities. It also offers a fun and engaging way to develop hand-eye coordination, gross motor skills, and teamwork while promoting friendly competition and laughter.
Blanket Forts: Cozy, Imaginative Hideaways
Create magical spaces for your kids with the timeless joy of blanket forts! Building a fort is a fantastic way to engage kids of all ages and abilities in imaginative play, cooperation, and even spatial awareness.
Classic Blanket Fort:
How to build: Grab some blankets or sheets, a few chairs or a sofa, and a bunch of pillows. Drape the blankets over the chairs, tuck the edges under the cushions or use books to weigh them down, and voilà – you’ve got a classic fort!
Why it’s great: It’s a simple and quick setup that provides endless hours of imaginative play.
Themed Forts:
How to build: Choose a theme that your kids love, like pirates, space, or a magical forest, and decorate the fort accordingly. Use pillows, stuffed animals, drawings, toys, and themed accessories to create a unique, immersive experience.
Why it’s great: Themed forts inspire creativity and storytelling, allowing your kids to explore their interests in a whole new way.
Fort-making Tips:
1. Use lightweight blankets or sheets to avoid any heavy collapses.
2. Keep an eye on younger kids to ensure they’re playing safely.
3. Encourage teamwork and cooperation while building the fort, as it’s an excellent opportunity to practice communication and problem-solving skills.
Fort Add-Ons:
Ideas: Enhance the fort experience with add-ons like fairy lights, soft cushions, a small table for snacks, or a portable speaker for music or audiobooks.
Why it’s great: Adding extra elements to the fort creates a multi-sensory, immersive environment that caters to the unique preferences and sensory needs of your kids.
Baking a Cake: Deliciously Fun Quality Time
Baking a cake is a scrumptious and entertaining activity that’s perfect for kids of all ages and abilities, but may be especially appealing to older kids. It offers hands-on learning experiences in math, science, and creativity, not to mention great photo opportunities.
Involving Kids in the Process:
How to do it: Assign age-appropriate tasks to your kids, like measuring ingredients, stirring, or even cracking eggs. Encourage them to work together and take turns when needed.
Why it’s great: Baking helps develop essential skills like reading, following instructions, and fine motor coordination. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to bond with your kiddos and create cherished memories or even a lifelong hobby.
Decorating the Cake:
How to do it: Set up a decorating station with different colored frostings, sprinkles, and other edible decorations. Let your kids unleash their creativity by designing their own cake masterpiece.
Why it’s great: Cake decorating encourages artistic expression and fine motor skills, and it’s a deliciously rewarding way to showcase your kids’ unique talents.
Measuring and Mixing:
How to do it: Choose a kid-friendly cake recipe and gather all the necessary ingredients and tools. Encourage your kids to help measure, pour, and mix the ingredients, following the recipe step by step.
Why it’s great: Baking a cake provides a hands-on opportunity for kids to practice math skills like measuring, counting, and following sequences, while also developing fine motor skills and coordination.
The Science of Baking:
How to do it: Discuss the science behind baking, like how ingredients react with one another, the role of heat in the process, and the transformation from batter to cake.
Why it’s great: Explaining the science of baking helps kids develop a better understanding of chemistry and physics while nurturing their curiosity and critical thinking skills- all while crafting something delicious to enjoy!
Dance Party! Get Your Groove on and Shake off Those Wiggles
Let’s get moving and shaking with some super fun dancing activities! Dancing is a fantastic way for kids of all ages and abilities to express themselves, improve coordination, and burn off some energy. Here’s how to get your groove on:
Freeze Dance:
How to play: Play some of your kids’ favorite tunes and encourage them to dance their hearts out. Randomly pause the music and have everyone freeze in place. The goal is to hold their pose until the music starts again.
Why it’s great: Freeze dance helps improve listening skills and body awareness, and it’s a blast for kids and adults alike!
DIY Dance Party:
How to do it: Create a playlist of upbeat, kid-friendly songs, dim the lights, and use flashlights or glow sticks for a fun party atmosphere. Encourage your kids to show off their best dance moves and join in the fun.
Why it’s great: A dance party is an entertaining and inclusive way for the whole family to bond, have fun, and get some exercise.
Dance Games:
Ideas: Create a “dance obstacle course” with fun challenges like hopping on one foot or twirling around or consider playing “Simon Says” with a dance theme.
Why it’s great: Dance games encourage creativity, physical activity, and social interaction, making them perfect for kids of all abilities.
Do a Science Experiment: Curiosity and Learning in Action
Ready to spark some curiosity and have a blast with hands-on learning? Science experiments are a fantastic way for kids of all ages and abilities to explore the world around them and learn new concepts in a fun, interactive way. We’ve got a bunch of fun science experiment suggestions and articles here:
Volcano Experiment:
How to do it: Create a mini volcano using clay or playdough, a small container, baking soda, and vinegar. When you’re ready for the eruption, add a few drops of food coloring and vinegar to the baking soda and watch the magic happen!
Why it’s great: This classic experiment teaches kids about chemical reactions while offering a visually exciting, hands-on experience.
Chromatography with Markers:
How to do it: Have your kids draw a line with a washable marker on a coffee filter or paper towel. Fold the filter or towel and place the end in a shallow dish of water. As the water travels up the paper, the colors will separate, creating a beautiful effect.
Why it’s great: This simple experiment introduces kids to the concept of chromatography and provides a stunning visual representation of how colors can be mixed and separated.
Indoor Obstacle Course: Action-Packed Adventures at Home
Get ready for a thrilling, action-packed indoor obstacle course adventure! Creating an obstacle course is an excellent way to keep kids of all ages and abilities engaged, active, and entertained.
Planning the Course:
How to plan: Consider your available space and the ages and abilities of your kids. Incorporate a mix of physical challenges, puzzles, and tasks to keep things interesting and adaptable for everyone.
Why it’s great: Planning the course together encourages teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity, ensuring a fun and inclusive experience.
Obstacle Ideas:
Ideas: Include activities like crawling under tables, jumping over pillows, balancing on a line of tape, solving simple puzzles, or tossing beanbags into a basket.
Why it’s great: A variety of obstacles allows kids to practice different skills, like gross motor coordination, balance, and critical thinking.
Safety First:
Make sure to clear the area of any hazards, use soft materials whenever possible, and keep a watchful eye on the kids as they navigate the course. Ensuring a safe environment means kids can focus on having fun and challenging themselves without the risk of injury.
Paper Airplanes: High-Flying Fun and Creativity
Time to take flight with some high-flying fun! Making paper airplanes is one of the classic kids indoor activities that spans generations.
Folding and Flying:
How to do it: Help your kids follow the step-by-step instructions to fold their chosen design. Once the planes are ready, take turns launching them and see whose plane flies the farthest or has the most impressive tricks.
Why it’s great: Folding the airplanes helps kids develop fine motor skills, patience, and focus, while the flying aspect adds a fun, competitive element.
Customize and Decorate:
How to do it: Provide markers, stickers, or colored pencils for your kids to personalize their planes with unique designs, colors, or even names.
Why it’s great: Customizing their planes encourages self-expression and creativity, while also giving kids a sense of ownership and pride in their creations.
The Science of Flight:
How to do it: Discuss the basic principles of aerodynamics, such as lift, drag, and thrust, and how these forces affect the flight of their paper airplanes.
Why it’s great: Exploring the science of flight helps kids develop a better understanding of physics and engineering, encouraging curiosity and critical thinking skills.
Crafts with Toilet Paper Rolls: Upcycling Fun for Little Artists
Animal Pals:
How to do it: With some paint, markers, googly eyes, and other craft supplies, help your kids turn toilet paper rolls into their favorite animals, like a lion, a penguin, or a butterfly.
Why it’s great: Crafting animal pals encourages creativity, fine motor skills, and helps kids learn about different creatures in a fun, cheap, hands-on way.
DIY Kazoos:
How to do it: Decorate the rolls with paint or markers, then cover one end with wax paper secured with a rubber band. Poke a hole in the side and let your child hum into the open end to create kazoo sounds.
Why it’s great: Making DIY kazoos combines art and music, allowing kids to explore their creativity and express themselves through sound.
Marble Run:
How to do it: Cut the rolls lengthwise and tape them together to create a series of interconnected tracks on a wall or a large piece of cardboard. Release a marble at the top and watch it race down the tracks.
Why it’s great: Building a marble run helps children develop problem-solving, engineering, and fine motor skills while offering a thrilling, interactive experience.
Tornado in a Bottle Craft: A Whirlwind of Fun
Gather the Supplies:
What you’ll need: Two empty 2 liter bottles, duct tape, water, food coloring (optional), and glitter or small beads (optional).
Why it’s great: This activity uses simple, everyday materials, making it an affordable and accessible craft for everyone.
Assembling the Tornado:
How to do it: Fill one bottle about two-thirds full with water. Add food coloring and optional glitter or beads for extra flair. Connect the bottles using duct tape, then flip them over upside down and swirl to create a tornado effect.
Why it’s great: Assembling the tornado is a hands-on learning experience that helps children develop fine motor skills, understand the science behind vortex formation, and get excited about science and nature.
Expanding the Learning:
Ideas: Use this craft as a springboard to explore more weather-related topics, like how tornadoes form, the importance of storm safety, and other weather phenomena.
Why it’s great: Expanding on the learning encourages curiosity and helps children develop a deeper understanding of the world around them.
Tea Party: Fancy Fun!
Setting the Scene:
How to do it: Set up a table with a pretty tablecloth, colorful plates, teacups, and a teapot, or whatever you have on hand to elevate the atmosphere. Encourage your child to help with the setup and to dress up in their fanciest outfit for the occasion.
Why it’s great: Involving your kids in the preparation encourages creativity, cooperation, and attention to detail while making them feel excited and invested in the activity.
Tea Party Treats:
Ideas: Offer a variety of kid-friendly finger foods like mini sandwiches, fruit, cookies, and cupcakes. You can also prepare some herbal or fruit tea, hot chocolate, or lemonade to enjoy.
Why it’s great: Preparing and enjoying tea party treats helps children follow directions, practice table manners, and learn social skills like sharing and taking turns.
Imagination:
Ideas: Encourage your kids to create stories and scenarios around their tea party, like hosting a gathering for their favorite storybook characters or imagining they’re attending a royal ball.
Why it’s great: Imaginative play helps children develop language, social skills, and creativity, making the tea party a fun developmental activity.
Indoor Garden: Cultivating Green Thumbs and Life Skills
Bring nature indoors and nurture your kids’ green thumbs with an indoor garden!
Planting and Caring:
How to do it: Provide each child with a pot, soil, and their chosen plants or seeds. Teach them how to plant and care for their plants, including watering, pruning, and providing proper light.
Why it’s great: Participating in the planting and care process helps kids develop responsibility, patience, and an understanding of the natural world.
Creative Containers:
How to do it: Encourage your kids to decorate their plant pots with paint, stickers, or other craft supplies, adding a personal touch to their indoor garden.
Why it’s great: Personalizing plant containers allows children to express their creativity and develop a sense of pride and ownership in their gardening efforts.
Sensory and Tactile Activities: Engaging the Senses for All Abilities
Sensory and tactile activities make for some fun indoor games for engaging and stimulating kids’ senses, especially for those who are neurodivergent. These activities cater to various sensory needs and can be easily adapted to suit children of all ages and abilities.
Sensory Bins:
You can easily buy different themed sensory bins and we own a few ourselves, but you can also make them fairly cheaply too!
How to do it: Fill a large container with materials like rice, beans, sand, or water beads. Add small toys, scoops, and other items for your kids to play with.
Why it’s great: Sensory bins offer a hands-on, exploratory experience that helps children develop fine motor skills, focus, and creativity while catering to their sensory needs.
Playdough or Clay:
How to do it: Provide your kids with playdough or clay and encourage them to create shapes, sculptures, or even practice forming letters and numbers.
Why it’s great: Working with playdough or clay is a calming, sensory activity that promotes fine motor skills, creativity, and even early literacy and numeracy skills, all while having fun!
Bonus: You can choose to make your own playdough to take the fun experience to the next level! Just make sure you’re watching your very little kids, because homemade playdough contains a lot of salt that can be dangerous if a small child eats too much of it.
Other sensory ideas to consider for your home: ball pits, kiddie pools, sensory swings, balancing steps, fidget toys, mini trampoline, and a bouncy house.
Free Printable Activity Sheets: Educational Fun for Preschool and Kindergarten
Add a touch of educational fun to your indoor activities with our free printable activity sheets! These resources are perfect for preschool and kindergarten-aged children, offering a variety of skill-building exercises that can be easily adapted for different abilities. Click here to see a list of free printable activity sheets we have provided to our readers.
Persistent Parent
Classic Games: Timeless Fun for All Ages
Rediscover the joy of classic games for an entertaining and inclusive indoor activity! These timeless favorites are perfect for kids of all ages and abilities, offering endless fun and valuable skill-building opportunities.
Board Games:
Ideas: Choose from an array of classic board games like Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, or Sorry!, making sure the game is suitable for the ages and abilities of the children playing.
Why it’s great: Board games promote strategy, problem-solving, social skills, and patience, while also providing an engaging and enjoyable experience for everyone.
Card Games:
Ideas: Introduce your children to simple card games like Go Fish, Old Maid, War, or Crazy Eights, adapting the rules and gameplay to accommodate their abilities and understanding as needed.
Why it’s great: Card games help develop memory, strategy, and social skills, while also offering a portable and versatile activity that can be enjoyed anywhere for an entire lifetime.
Traditional Games:
Ideas: Share the joy of traditional games like Duck, Duck, Goose, Simon Says, or Hide and Seek, adapting the rules and gameplay to ensure they’re inclusive and engaging for all participants.
Why it’s great: Traditional games offer a multi-sensory, interactive experience that promotes physical activity, social skills, and connection, while also bridging the gap between generations.
Tips: Encourage collaboration, communication, and good sportsmanship throughout the night. Praise your kids for their efforts and remind them that the goal is to have fun, not just to win.
With these fantastic free printable activity sheets and classic games, your kids will enjoy hours of educational fun and skill-building entertainment. Both activities cater to a wide range of ages and abilities, ensuring an inclusive and enjoyable experience for everyone involved.
Movie and Popcorn Night: A Cozy Family Bonding Experience
Curl up on the couch and create lasting memories with a movie and popcorn night! Perfect for kids of all ages and abilities, this activity offers a fun and relaxing way to spend quality time together as a family.
Popcorn Bar:
How to do it: Set up a popcorn bar with freshly popped popcorn and a variety of toppings like melted butter, salt, cheese, caramel, cinnamon and sugar, or chocolate. Encourage your children to customize their popcorn, experimenting with flavors and combinations. Eating popcorn with m&m’s mixed in is a hit in our house!
Why it’s great: A popcorn bar allows kids to express their creativity and preferences in a safe family-related activity. Plus, it adds an extra element of excitement to the whole movie night experience!
Comfy and Cozy:
How to do it: Set up a comfortable viewing area with blankets, pillows, and dim lighting. Encourage your kids to wear their favorite pajamas or onesies, and bring their favorite stuffed animals or blankets to snuggle with during the movie.
Why it’s great: Creating a cozy atmosphere enhances the family bonding experience, providing a safe and inviting environment for everyone to relax and enjoy some quality time together.
With these movie night ideas, your family can enjoy a cozy and memorable bonding experience and another beautiful memory. Movie night is perfect for kids of all abilities, offering an inclusive and adaptable option for fun and engaging indoor activities.
P.S. For an outdoor movie experience, check out our article here:
DIY Puppet Shows: A Stage for Creativity and Imagination
Puppet Making:
How to do it: Provide your kids with materials to create their own puppets, like socks, felt, googly eyes, straws, coffee filters, stickers, paint, marker, yarn, fabric, and more. Encourage them to design and craft unique characters that reflect their interests and imagination.
Why it’s great: Puppet making allows children to express their creativity and develop fine motor skills while enjoying a sensory and visually stimulating activity.
Storytelling:
How to do it: Encourage your kids to create stories and scenarios for their puppet characters, using their imagination and language skills. They can either write a script or improvise, depending on their age and abilities.
Why it’s great: Storytelling through puppet shows helps children develop language, creativity, and social skills, fostering their ability to think critically and express themselves effectively.
Puppet Show Performance:
How to do it: Set up a simple stage for the puppet show using a table, a curtain, or a cardboard box. (Kids love boxes!) Encourage your children to perform their puppet shows for your family or friends, working together to bring their stories to life.
Why it’s great: Performing a puppet show promotes communication, teamwork, and public speaking skills while offering a fun and engaging activity.
Yoga for Kids: Mindfulness and Movement
Introduce your little ones to the physical and mental benefits of yoga with kid-friendly yoga activities! Perfect for children of all ages and abilities, yoga offers a mindful and inclusive approach to movement and self-awareness.
Kid-Friendly Poses:
How to do it: Teach your kids age-appropriate and accessible yoga poses, using visual aids, props, or modifications as needed. Encourage them to focus on their breath and body awareness, exploring the poses at their own pace.
Why it’s great: Kid-friendly yoga poses promote flexibility, strength, and balance while offering a calming and grounding sensory experience.
Yoga Stories and Themes:
How to do it: Create a yoga story or theme, incorporating the poses into a narrative that engages your kids’ imaginations. For example, embark on a jungle adventure, with each pose representing a different animal or element of the journey.
Why it’s great: Yoga stories and themes help children develop language, creativity, and focus while providing a fun and engaging context for their yoga practice.
Guided Relaxation:
How to do it: End your yoga session with a guided relaxation exercise, encouraging your children to lie down and focus on their breath as you gently guide them through a visualization or body scan.
Why it’s great: Guided relaxation promotes mindfulness, self-awareness, and stress management skills, offering a soothing and calming experience for children of all ages and abilities.
Storytelling: Nurturing Imagination and Language Skills
Unleash your kids’ imagination and enhance their language skills through storytelling activities! Storytelling offers a fun and engaging way to promote creativity, communication, and critical thinking.
Storytelling Circle:
How to do it: Form a storytelling circle, where each family member takes turns sharing a story or continuing a story started by someone else. This collaborative approach encourages active listening, communication, and teamwork. It’s also great for practicing patience and taking turns.
Why it’s great: A storytelling circle promotes social skills, cooperation, and empathy, while offering a fun and engaging indoor activity for the whole family.
Storytelling Props:
How to do it: Provide your children with props, such as costumes, puppets, or toys, to help bring their stories to life. Encourage them to use the props to act out their stories, enhancing the storytelling experience.
Why it’s great: Using storytelling props helps children develop fine motor skills, creativity, and self-expression, while also giving a sensory and visually stimulating activity.
Indoor Scavenger Hunt: Adventure and Discovery at Home
Transform your home into a thrilling adventure with an indoor scavenger hunt! Perfect for children of all ages and abilities, scavenger hunts offer a fun and engaging way to promote problem-solving, collaboration, and even some physical activity. Let’s check out some exciting indoor hunt ideas:
Theme-Based Scavenger Hunts:
How to do it: Choose a theme for your hunt, like pirates, animals, or colors. Create a list of items or clues related to the theme, and hide them around your home. Encourage your children to work together to find the items.
Why it’s great: Theme-based scavenger hunts engage children’s imaginations and interests while promoting critical thinking, teamwork, and memory skills.
Sensory Scavenger Hunts:
How to do it: Create a hunt that encourages your children to use their senses to find items or complete tasks. For example, they might have to find something soft, locate a specific sound, or guess a scent.
Why it’s great: Sensory scavenger hunts help children develop sensory integration and awareness, while offering a multi-sensory, interactive experience.
Educational Scavenger Hunts:
How to do it: Design a scavenger hunt that incorporates educational elements, such as math problems, spelling challenges, or history facts. This allows your kids to practice their academic skills while enjoying a fun and engaging activity.
Why it’s great: Educational scavenger hunts promote learning, problem-solving, and cognitive development in a playful and interactive way.
Reading: Unleashing the Power of Imagination and Learning
Ignite your kids’ passion for reading and open up a world of imagination, learning, and adventure! Perfect for kids of all ages and abilities, reading offers a diverse and engaging way to develop language, cognitive, and social skills. Let’s explore some captivating reading-related activity options to spark your kids’ love for literature:
Book-Themed Activities:
How to do it: Plan activities, crafts, or games based on your kids’ favorite books, allowing them to interact with the stories and characters in a more tangible way. For example, they might create artwork inspired by the book’s illustrations, act out scenes from the story, or participate in a themed scavenger hunt.
When Sarah was a kid, her mother let her pick out a rock, wash it, and help make “stone soup” after reading the book. It’s a memory she still cherishes, so don’t underestimate the value of incorporating an activity related to a new or favorite book into your kids busy life.
Why it’s great: Book-themed activities help children develop a deeper connection to the stories they read, fostering creativity, comprehension, and critical thinking skills.
Reading Challenges:
How to do it: Encourage your kids to participate in reading challenges, such as reading a certain number of books, exploring different genres, or completing a book bingo card. Celebrate their achievements with small rewards or recognition to keep them motivated and engaged. (We all remember Pizzahut’s “Book It” program right!?!?)
Why it’s great: Reading challenges promote a sense of accomplishment, curiosity, and self-directed learning, helping kids to develop a lifelong love for reading and exploration.
With these captivating reading activities and ideas, your kids will enjoy hands-on learning experiences that promote creativity, critical thinking, and essential life skills. Reading is perfect for kids of all abilities, offering inclusive and adaptable options for fun and engaging indoor activities.
Exploring the World Without Leaving Home: Global Adventures from Your Living Room
Introduce your kids to the wonders of the world without ever stepping outside your home! Perfect for kids of all ages and abilities, exploring the world through indoor activities offers a unique and engaging way to learn about diverse cultures, geography, and history. Let’s embark on some fascinating global adventures that transport your kids to far-off lands and broaden their horizons:
Virtual Field Trips:
How to do it: Take advantage of technology and embark on virtual field trips to famous landmarks, museums, and cultural sites around the world. Explore interactive online exhibits, watch educational videos, or join live-streamed tours to immerse your kids in the global experience.
Why it’s great: Virtual field trips offer an accessible and immersive way for kids to learn about the world, fostering curiosity, critical thinking, and a sense of global citizenship.
