Inside: 5 Fun Indoor Games for Kids to Play at Home. Collaborative post.
Nothing beats quality time spent with the family. Whether you’re all stuck inside due to inclement weather or need a break from your regular activities, having a few fun indoor games up your sleeves can provide hours of entertainment for everyone in the house.
You don’t need a lot of expensive toys or gadgets to keep them busy; all you need is some creativity and enthusiasm. From games that require just two people to classic board games, there are many fun indoor activities that your whole family can enjoy.
- Mancala
Easy to learn and fun to play, this board game will keep the kids entertained. If you need to learn how to play mancala, it’s simple: each player takes turns picking up stones from the holes on their side of the board and placing them individually in each hole. The goal is to collect as many stones as possible and move them onto your opponent’s side of the board.
The game is suitable for ages six and up and can be played by two to four players. For those who like a bit of competition, the game can be played in teams. You can even set up a mini-tournament and award the winner a little prize. If you don’t have a mancala set, you can easily make one with recycled items like bottle caps, beads, or shells.
- Charades
Charades is a classic family game requiring minimal props and minimal effort. Each player takes turns guessing the word or phrase that someone else is acting out without speaking any words.
It’s great for kids of all ages, even adults can enjoy the fun! If you have a large family, you can divide into teams using a Team Picker Wheel and act out different themes or categories like animals, movies, books, and more. The great thing about charades is that they can be adapted to any situation, and you can even make up your own rules.
- Balloon Tennis
This fun game requires no fancy equipment, so you only need some balloons and two racquets or makeshift paddles (you could use a pair of rolled-up socks). Each player takes turns hitting the balloon back and forth in a game of “volleyball.”
The goal is to keep the balloon off the ground and in play for as long as possible, with the person who fails to hit it back losing the point. You can also set up a net or boundary lines around the playing area to make things more interesting. To take it a notch higher, you can add obstacles, such as chairs or stools in the middle of the room. This will make it more challenging for players and give them an added element of surprise. Just be sure to think about safety before you set up any obstacles.
- Scavenger Hunt
A scavenger hunt is always a hit with kids; it’s like a game of hide-and-seek but with an added twist. Everyone will be divided into teams and given a list of items to find around the house. The first team to collect all the items on the list wins.
You can make the game even more fun by assigning tasks such as taking a selfie with a specific item or writing a story about a particular character in the house. If you are a work-from-home parent, you can use this activity as a great way to break up the monotony of working from home and get everyone in the family involved.
- Indoor Putt-Putt
You don’t need an entire golf course to enjoy a fun game of putt-putt. You may have many items lying around the house that could be used to make a miniature version of the game. For example, you could use empty boxes and cans as obstacles, old plastic cups as flags, and paper balls (or socks) as golf balls.
Setting up this game is half the fun; once it’s ready, let the kids take turns trying to get the ball into the cups or obstacles. You can even set up a scoring system to track who wins. It is an excellent way for kids to get some physical exercise too. A few rounds of indoor putt-putt can help burn off excess energy and prepare them for bedtime in no time.
Family time is essential, and these simple indoor games can help make it even more memorable. Get creative and brainstorm some of your ideas, you never know what kind of fun your family might have.