Looking for more fun ideas? Here are 25 more indoor fun ideas for kids.
1. Have an Indoor Camp-Out
What You’ll Need:
- Kid-sized tent
- Flashlights
Make it Happen:
- Set up tent.
- Turn out the lights.
- Camp-out in your living room!
Other Thoughts: Microwave s’mores are a fun addition to this activity.
What You’ll Need:
- Graham crackers
- Chocolate bars
- Marshmallows
- Microwave
Make it Happen:
- Put 1/2 graham cracker topped with some chocolate and a marshmallow in microwave.
- Microwave on high for 15 seconds.
- Place other cracker on top and smoosh.
- Allow to cool for 30-ish seconds before digging in.
2. Play Board Games
What You’ll Need:
- A board game (for little kids try Candy Land, Chutes & Ladders, or Connect 4, big kids will like Monopoly, Scrabble, and Clue).
Make it Happen:
- Follow the directions included with the game.
Supplemental Resources:
Here are some of the best kid-friendly board games on the market:
Amazon: Candy Land
Amazon: Chutes & Ladders
Amazon: Connect 4
Amazon: Monopoly
Amazon: Scrabble
Amazon: Clue
3. Put on a Play
What You’ll Need:
Make it Happen:
- Try a re-enactment of a classic fairy tale. Goldilocks and the Three Bears or Jack and the Beanstalk are great choices. Or let your kids come up with their own creative ideas.
4. Make a Blanket Fort
What You’ll Need:
Make it Happen:
- Drape a blanket over some chairs or a table and voilà, instant fun.
5. Veterinarian Fun
What You’ll Need:
- Doctor’s kit
- Stuffed animals
Make it Happen:
- Let your kids play doctor to their stuffed animals.
6. Nursery Rhymes
What You’ll Need:
Make it Happen:
- Take turns reciting classic nursery rhymes from memory (think Humpty Dumpty, Old Mother Hubbard, Hey Diddle Diddle, etc.)
7. Write a Letter
What You’ll Need:
- Lined paper
- Pens or pencils
- Envelopes
- Stamps
Make it Happen:
- Determine who you will write to (grandparents really love to get letters by snail mail, but you can also create letters for friends).
- Write letter on paper.
- Fold letter and place in envelope.
- Address the envelope and place a stamp on it.
- Put the letter in the mailbox.
8. Cook Something
What You’ll Need:
- You and your kids
- A recipe (if you need ideas for kid-friendly foods to cook, check out the Better Homes and Gardens New Junior Cook Book or Betty Crocker Kids Cook!)
- Ingredients
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Pots and pans
- Stove top, microwave, and/or oven
Make it Happen:
- Clean cooking area.
- Wash hands.
- Follow your recipe.
Other Thoughts: I find that my kids are much more likely to try new foods that they have helped prepare. If you have a picky eater this activity just might help encourage them to try something new!
Supplemental Resources:
9. Play Hide-and-Seek
What You’ll Need:
Make it Happen:
- Decide who will be the “seeker” first.
- The “seeker” covers their eyes and counts to a per-determined number (20, 50, 100… whatever suits you).
- The “seeker” searches until they have found all of the “hiders”.
- The last “hider” found is now the “seeker”.
10. Play a Card Game
What You’ll Need:
- Cards (you can buy specialty decks or just go with the standard 52 card deck)
Make it Happen:
- Follow the directions in your specialty card deck, or follow the link to easy card game for kids in the Supplemental Resources section.
Supplemental Resources:
Here are some good specialty deck games:
Amazon: Uno
Amazon: Phase 10
Amazon: Skip Bo
And here is a link to some kid-friendly standard deck card games:
10 kid-friendly card games
11. Play Dress-Up
What You’ll Need:
- A dress-up trunk, old Halloween costumes, or parent’s clothes.
Make it Happen:
- Dress up!
12. Play with Your Food
What You’ll Need:
- Marshmallows
- Small pretzel sticks
Make it Happen:
- Use marshmallows and small pretzel sticks to build houses, cars, or whatever else you can think up.
13. Make Shadow Puppets
What You’ll Need:
- A dark room
- A lamp or flashlight
Make it Happen:
- Set up stationary light source in a dark room so that light projects onto a blank wall.
- Make shadow puppets.
Supplemental Resources:
Here is a good how-to video:
How To Make Shadow Puppets With Your Hand
14. Secret Messages
What You’ll Need:
- Printer paper
- White crayon
- Watercolor paint
Make it Happen:
- Write a message on white paper using a white crayon.
- Paint over the paper with watercolor paint to reveal the secret message.
15. Make a Movie
What You’ll Need:
Make it Happen:
- Bust out the video camera and let the kids write, direct, and film their own movie.
Other Thoughts: You will want to be the camera person for younger kids.
16. Build a Zoo
What You’ll Need:
- Legos or wood blocks
- Plastic animals
Make it Happen:
- Use legos or wood blocks to create a zoo for the plastic animals.
17. Build a Puzzle
What You’ll Need:
Make it Happen:
- Build the puzzle.
18. Tell Knock-Knock Jokes
What You’ll Need:
Make it Happen:
- Tell knock-knock jokes. Don’t know any? Make some up, buy a book, or see the Supplemental Resources section below.
Supplemental Resources:
19. Learn Some Fun Yo-Yo Tricks
What You’ll Need:
Make it Happen:
- Follow the directions in the videos (see Supplemental Resources below).
Supplemental Resources:
20. Try Some Finger Play Songs
What You’ll Need:
Make it Happen:
- Teach finger play songs to your kids (some good ones are Itsy Bitsy Spider, 5 Speckled Frogs, and The Wheels on the Bus).
- Repeat several times until your kids have the motions down.
21. Play With Cars, Trains, Dolls, or Whatever Other Toys Your Kids Already Have
What You’ll Need:
- Toys your kids has sitting around
Make it Happen:
- Play! Once you get started, you may be surprised how much fun you find yourself having!
22. Play in the Tub
What You’ll Need:
- Kids (in bathing suits or birthday suits, depending on their ages and your preferences)
- A bathtub
Make it Happen:
- Get those kids in the tub and let them play.
Other Thoughts: Try adding bubble bath or colored fizzing tablets for extra fun.
23. Karaoke
What You’ll Need:
Make it Happen:
- Set up Karaoke machine according to manufacturer’s instructions.
- Pop in your cd and let kids sing away!
Other Thoughts: Don’t want to invest in the whole Karaoke machine? That’s fine too. Just get a hold of instrumental versions of favorite songs and let kids belt it out.
Supplemental Resources:
Just in case you’re looking for a karaoke machine:
Amazon: JYX Karaoke Machine
24. Put on a Puppet Show
What You’ll Need:
- Puppets (make your own out of paper bags or socks, or buy a set).
- Puppet theater (make your own out of a cardboard box, or buy one).
Make it Happen:
- Set up your theater and be the audience while your kids put on a show.
25. Watch Old Family Movies From When You Were a Kid
What You’ll Need:
Make it Happen:
- Snuggle up and share memories of your childhood with your kids.
Also See:
25 Indoor Arts & Crafts Projects for Kids
25 Indoor Active Play Ideas for Kids
25 Indoor Learning Activities for Kids