I rely on indoor games all year round. See, I live in the Deep South, where outdoor conditions during most of the year are best described as sauna-like. The oppressive heat and high humidity levels translate into lots of time cooped up inside with the kids. While watching hours of television and building castles out of couch cushions can be fun for a day or two, it gets old pretty fast. And I don’t know about your kids, but when my kids get bored, I find them doing things like cramming deflated balloons down the sink drains. You know, just to see what happens.
Yeah … no.
Because I like to stay one step ahead of the madness (and I’m sure that you do too!) I have compiled a list of fun and creative indoor games that your kids can play so that you can do something else … like take a nap.
More Imagination Builders:
- Amazing Sensory Play Ideas (& How Sensory Play Benefits Kids)
- 29 Indoor Games Your Kids Will Absolutely Love
- Fun Car Games That Will Entertain Your Kids for Hours
Indoor Games Your Kids Can Play on Their Own (So You Can Do Something Else)
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Streamer Hallway Maze
Cheap, fun, and easy: my three favorite words. Pick up a few rolls of crepe paper and some masking tape to create a hallway maze for the kids to weave their way through. Or even better, hand your oldest child a step stool and have her tape up a paper obstacle course for the younger ones!
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Secret Service Mission
It's like a scavenger hunt on steroids! Assign each child a "top secret mission," kick back, and watch the magic happen. You can assign anything from chores to good deeds. Either way, it's a win-win for everyone.
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Marshmallow Sculptures
You need only three things for this activity: tiny marshmallows (stale ones work best!), toothpicks, and creativity! The possibilities are endless; you can build skyscrapers, forts, and towers. Adding in small action figures to play inside the creations will take the entertainment to another level.
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UNO Workout
Kids need to get their wiggles out or they will destroy your home. Trust me, I speak from experience. This exercise game using a deck of UNO cards is the perfect solution. Each color matches an exercise!
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The Combination Man Drawing Game
This game is great for a mixed age group. Simply pass a sheet of paper around from person to person, taking turns drawing sections of a human body. Pure entertainment!
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LEGO Zip Line
Bring out your child's inner scientist and challenge her LEGO proficiency with an indoor zip line course. This fun activity is a great way to practice physics and problem-solving skills, as well as show off mad LEGO ingenuity!
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Stained Glass Mosaic Luminary
This is a four-day-long project, so prepare yourself for a mess, but the end result makes it so worthwhile! It's the perfect activity for your detail-oriented, budding artist.
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Design Your Own Paper Dolls
Have your child create his or her own paper dolls or super hero characters. Not only are there endless possibilities for imagination and story-telling, but they can easily travel with your child when you go on errands or a car trip.
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Rescue The LEGO Men
Keep your children entertained with this super-smart idea: freeze their LEGO men (or other tiny figurines) in ice! Let them figure out how to rescue the men while you tackle your to-do list.
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Paper Airplane Target Practice
Your kids will fine-tune their paper airplane making and flying techniques with this fun activity. To ramp up the fun, encourage them to make up rules and a points system!
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Indoor Balloon Tennis Game
Who doesn't love a spirited game of balloon tennis? Smacking balloons with fly swatters is the answer to occupying a high-energy child who is cooped up indoors.
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Hip Waddle
Teach your kids how to do the hip waddle. Give them a ball and tell them to hold it between them as they waddle around -- it's much easier said than done!
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Laundry Basket Skee Ball
With a few simple items, your kids can set up an amazing skee ball game that doubles as a race car ramp.
