50 indoor physical activities for kids (2024)

Whether we like it or not, there are days when we have to stay indoors. But indoor activities can be just as fun as outdoor ones when you have a list of great ideas for your kids.Whether your space is large or small, there are so many opportunities for your kids to move and have fun! Here are 50 indoor activities for your family to try.

1. “Butterfly” catch

Pick up some craft feathers from the dollar store, throw them in the air, and have your kids catch them with a butterfly net.

2. Roll & jump!

Have kids roll on the floor while others jump over them. Or, if this is too challenging, have your kids lie still while others jump.

3. Freeze dance

Freeze dance is always a favourite! Have your kids dance while you play music. As soon as you stop the music, your kids must freeze in place until the music starts again. If you want to add a bit more movement to the game, have whoever moves when they’re supposed to be frozen touch their toes five times before the music starts again.

4. Twister

Pull out a Twister game board or make your own with six rows of coloured circles on it (you can cut circles from cardboard) with a different colour in each row. With at least two players playing at once, have your kids place either a left or right hand or foot on one circle at a time. You can use a spinner to pick which colour and which hand or foot. Prepare for twisted-up kids!

5. Bean bag darts

Use painter’s tape to create a “dart board” on the floor. Start by making a large rectangle and make smaller rectangles within the large one. The middle or smallest rectangle will be the bullseye.

Have kids take turns aiming for the bullseye by throwing bean bags towards the board. The start line can be close for younger players and further out for older ones. Assign values for each rectangle or see whose beanbag comes closest to the bullseye after a few chances.

6. Colour quest

Provide your child with a piece of paper with five colours either written out for the older crowd or with the colours drawn with pencil crayons for kids not yet able to read.Send your child on a hunt to find a certain number of items of each colour.

7. Bubble-wrap stomp

Kids love this game of jumping, dancing, or running on bubble wrap as they pop the bubbles away!

8. Snowball fight

Have a much drier snowball fight indoors by scrunching up paper into balls and throwing them (gently) at friends and family.

9. Laundry basket rides

Have your kids pull each other or their stuffies in laundry baskets for bucketfuls of fun.

10. Hide and seek

It’s always fun to see the spots kids can find to squeeze into!

11. Juggling

Start your child off with scarves to get used to the throwing and catching of two items. Eventually your child can use rolled up socks, beanbags, balls, or even balloons to practice throwing the items between their hands.Learning is half the fun!

12. Door frame high jump

How high can your kid jump? Have them hop beside a door frame or wall and mark the highest spot they reach. Can they jump even higher? (Using painter’s tape to mark the spot will make sure no permanent spots are left on your walls!)

13. Standing hot potato

It’s an all-time favourite at birthday parties. Have your kids stand in a circle or across from each other if there are only two players. Hand one player the “potato” (this could be a beanbag, a ball, or even a real potato). Start playing music and have the kids throw the potato back and forth. Stop the music and whoever is holding the potato is out.

14. Pillow case race

Hit the linen closet and pull out some pillow cases (preferably not the slippery silk ones). Have your kids step into one case each, hold onto the sides of theirs, and jump from one point to another.

15. Yoga

Yoga is a wonderful activity to improve your child’s balance, strength, endurance, and mindfulness. Learn some simple poses and practice together.

50 indoor physical activities for kids (1)

16. Hula hoops

There are SO many ways to use a hula hoop. Spin it around your waist or use it to skip. Use some of our ideas or let your kids’ imaginations run wild.

17. Astronaut walk

Your child will feel like they’re walking on the moon when you make their own space boots. Tie sponges to the bottom of their shoes and send them off on an expedition.

18. Frozen toys

Take a selection of your kids’ small toys, pieces of Lego, or beads and place them in empty tubs. Fill the tubs with water and put them in the freezer overnight. Provide your kids with toy hammers and spoons to excavate the items.

19. Blow the cups down

Line up plastic cups at the edge of a table and have kids use paperplates or fans to see how fast they can blow the cups off.

20. Slithering snake

Take a rope and turn it in a circle on the floor. Have your kids jump over the rope as it comes to them. Turn it slowly for the younger kids and fast for the older ones.

21. Hokey pokey

Talk about a fun and silly game.Sing the song (or find a video of it) and follow the actions. Put your right foot in, take your right foot out … don’t forget to shake it all about!

22. Build and smash

Use blocks, paper cups, cardboard boxes or empty plastic tubs. See how high you can build a tower then knock it down with a rolling ball.

23. Balloon keep up

How long can your kids keep a balloon up in the air without it hitting the ground? To make it more challenging and fun for older kids, change up the rules and have them keep the balloon up without using their hands.

24. Wheelbarrow walking

In this fun game, one player is the wheelbarrow and the other is the driver. The wheelbarrow puts their hands on the ground and the driver holds the wheelbarrow’s legs in the air. The wheelbarrow walks on their hands while the driver holds their legs and drives them all around. Have the driver maneuver around a couch or between pylons.Check out this page for more detailed instructions.

25. Dramatic!

Have your child or children come up with an idea for a show. It can be a story they already know (such as a fairy tale) or they can make up a whole new one. Have them find props and costumes, rehearse, and put on the show for the family or friends.

26. Simon/Simone says

Pick one player to be Simon/Simone who will give instructions to the other players. If Simone says an instruction with their name as part of it—ie. “Simone says touch your shoulders”—then all players must touch their shoulders. But if Simone says “dance” without saying “Simone says” first, the players must not dance. If they do, they’re out. Have the last person still in the game take over the role of Simone/Simon in the next round.

27. Kitchen band

Set your band members around the kitchen to gather up their instruments. Between spoons, pots, plastic tubs or bowls, or muffin tins, musical masterpieces are just waiting to be created.There’s nothing like a kitchen dance party!

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28. Paper airplanes

There are so many types of paper airplanes you can make. When you’ve found one you like, see how far your child can throw it. Can they throw it further?

29. Hopscotch

Make your own indoor hopscotch course using painter’s tape. The course can be as long as you want or have space for. Once your kids have hopped the course, see if they can double hop on each box or alternate feet on the way up and the way back.

30. Bean bag balance walk

Can your child walk from one point to another balancing a beanbag on their head? Once they have conquered walking with one, how many more could they add?

31. Hop challenge

Set up a start and finish line and have your child start at one end. Have them jump with two feet from one end to the other. Next, have them jump to the other end on one leg. Then using the other leg. Got that down pat? Can they do each of the jumps backwards?

This Inuit game will keep your kids aiming high! Hang a ball on a string or rope on the top of a door frame. Have your kids tryto kick the ball with one foot and land on the same foot with which they kicked. Keep raising the ball until only one person can successfully kick it and land properly. Your kids can stand still to kick, or can run and jump at the ball.

(For younger kids, have them practice landing on both feet until they get the hang of the game.)

33. Charades

Have a set of cue cards with pictures or words of things that your kids can act out. No ideas for things for your kids to act out? Use a random charades word generator.

34. Bowling

Find at least six items to use as bowling pins such as empty milk cartons or water bottles. Set up the pins and have your child use a foam ball to try to knock them down.

35. Mini golf

Make your own indoor course using blocks, pool noodles, wooden train tracks for walls, empty tin cans for tunnels, cardboard for ramps, and any other pieces you can imagine for your dream range.

36. Indoor curling

Use painter’s tape to make the area you aim your curling rocks into. Make an outer circle 60cm in diameter, an inner circle 30cm in diameter, and a bullseye 5cm in diameter in the middle. Use unwrapped bars of soap for your rocks.And sweep! If you could use a refresher on the game, here’s everything you need to know.

37. Cheerleading

Your kids can perform their own routine by learning the basic cheer motions and jumps.

38. Lego amazing race

Gather up Lego or blocks and choose three different locations in the house such as a dining room table, coffee table, or desk. At each location, leave a pile of blocks, a picture of something for your child to build, and a picture of a motion. In order to move from one location to the next, your child must build what’s in the picture then perform the action.

An example could be to have your child build something as simple as a fence or bridge or as complex as an animal. Each piece of Lego must be used. The child must then perform an action such as a snake wriggle to the next Lego location.And while you’ve got the Lego out, here are 10 Lego game ideas to get your kids moving!

39. Indoor camping

Provide your kids with blankets and sheets and let them build their own tent or fort. They can hang sheets on a table and “camp” underneath or create a roof between a couch and a chair.

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40. Toy wash

Kids love to play with water! Fill a bin with warm water and give your children a selection of their toys to wash.

41. Sensory bags

For kids of all ages, sensory bags are a fantastic activity to engage a child’s senses. Making a sensory bag is easy and inexpensive.

Fill a Ziploc bag with any items, from hair gel or shaving cream mixed with buttons and coins to rice or beans. Whether the bag is squishy or dry, the possibilities are endless. Seal the bag tightly and double bag it to ensure no leaks occur.

The bags can be duct taped at the edges for further sealing and can be taped to your floor, a chair, or window to be explored.

42. Walk the tightrope

Help your child develop their balance skills while having fun on a variety of “ropes.” Use painters tape to make a “balance beam” on the floor or lay down a pool noodle or actual rope. Have your child practice walking forwards, backwards or while holding an object in one hand.

43. Yo-yos!

Move from the simple up and down method to learning some awesome tricks. There are some great videos to teach your kids a ton of tricks.

44. Mirror mirror on the wall

Choose one child to be the leader and the other to be their mirror. The leader will make a motion that their partner has to imitate as if they’re looking into a mirror. The leader can wave, touch their toes, march in place, or perform any other action they can imagine. After a set amount of time, have the players switch roles.

45. Conga line

It’s not just for weddings! Teach your kids this classic party dance in a few easy steps.Line everyone up and have them place their hands on the shoulders of the person in front of them. Play your favourite playlist and have the leader of the line snake the group around your home. Show your kids how to step, step, step, kick. Pump it up with some shake, shake, shake, kick moves.

46. Pillow walk

Set up a line of bed or couch pillows on the floor and have your child walk from one end to the other. Can they balance their way from one end to the other?

47. Wrap and run

Provide one roll of toilet paper per two players. Have one child wrap their partner from head to toe like a mummy using the entire roll. All limbs must be covered. Can your mummy run from one spot to another? If there is more than one pair of players, see which team gets their mummy to the finish first.

48. “Frisbee”

While you may not want a traditional disc zipping towards windows or pets, there are safer options that are just as fun. Use lids from empty yogurt tubs orpaper plates to make your own flying fun.

49. Jacks

It’s a game of bouncing, catching, and grabbing. How fast can your kids go?

50. Tissue dance

Have each child place a tissue on their head, cue up the music and let the dancing begin. Can your kid keep the tissue balanced for a whole song?

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Insights, advice, suggestions, feedback and comments from experts

Based on the information provided, here are some concepts related to the indoor activities mentioned in the article:

  1. Craft feathers: Craft feathers can be used for various activities, such as creating artwork, costumes, or decorations. They can also be used in games like the "Butterfly" catch mentioned in the article.

  2. Twister: Twister is a popular game that involves players placing their hands and feet on colored circles on a mat while following the instructions given by a spinner. It is a fun and interactive game that promotes physical activity and flexibility.

  3. Bean bags: Bean bags are soft, small bags filled with beans or similar materials. They can be used in various games and activities, such as bean bag darts or balancing games.

  4. Freeze dance: Freeze dance is a game where participants dance to music and freeze in place when the music stops. It is a fun way to encourage movement and coordination.

  5. Yoga: Yoga is a physical, mental, and spiritual practice that originated in ancient India. It involves a series of postures, breathing exercises, and meditation techniques. Yoga can help improve flexibility, strength, balance, and mindfulness.

  6. Hula hoops: Hula hoops are circular plastic hoops that can be twirled around the waist, arms, or legs. They can be used for various activities, such as spinning, jumping through, or creating obstacle courses.

  7. Hopscotch: Hopscotch is a traditional children's game played with a grid of numbered squares drawn on the ground. Players take turns hopping or jumping through the squares while avoiding stepping on the lines or losing balance.

  8. Lego: Lego is a popular brand of interlocking plastic bricks that can be used to build various structures and objects. It encourages creativity, problem-solving, and fine motor skills.

  9. Bowling: Bowling is a sport or recreational activity where players roll a ball towards a target, aiming to knock down pins. It can be played indoors using makeshift bowling pins and a soft ball.

  10. Mini golf: Mini golf, also known as miniature golf or putt-putt, is a scaled-down version of golf played on a small course with various obstacles and challenges. It can be set up indoors using household items and encourages hand-eye coordination and precision.

These are just a few concepts related to the indoor activities mentioned in the article. If you have any specific questions or need more information on a particular activity, feel free to ask!

50 indoor physical activities for kids (2024)

FAQs

What are good physical activities for kids? ›

Make physical activity fun. Fun activities can be anything your child enjoys, either structured or non-structured. Activities can range from team or individual sports to recreational activities such as walking, running, skating, bicycling, swimming, playground activities, or free-time play.

What is 10 indoor game? ›

Popular Indoor Games
ChessA strategic board game for two players.
JengaA tower-stacking game with wooden blocks.
PictionaryA drawing and guessing game.
TwisterA game involving balancing on colored circles.
Snakes and LaddersA dice game on a board with snakes and ladders.
5 more rows
Mar 18, 2024

What are the physical activities for a 13 year old? ›

Given the opportunity and interest, teens can get health benefits from almost any activity they enjoy — skateboarding, touch football, yoga, swimming, dancing, or kicking a footbag in the driveway.

What are 5 active physical activities? ›

Walking, running, dancing, swimming, yoga, and gardening are a few examples of physical activity.

What are fun activities for 6 9 year olds? ›

Enjoy large-muscle activities like jump rope, bike riding, roller blading, ball games and hopscotch. Also enjoy fine motor activities like drawing, braiding, cutting, jigsaw puzzles, weaving, wood work and simple sewing. Make use of reading, writing and simple math in games and toys.

What are some active activities for kids? ›

Help your kids get more physical activity
  • Walking the dog. Do morning stretches or yoga. ...
  • Do they get recess? Encourage them to play active games and use the playground equipment. ...
  • Walking or biking home from school. Playing team sports like soccer or basketball. ...
  • Take a walk before or after dinner. Start a family dance party.

What are simple physical exercises for children? ›

Instead, kids can do push-ups, stomach crunches, pull-ups, and other exercises to help tone and strengthen muscles. They also improve their strength when they climb, do a handstand, or wrestle. Muscle strengthening and aerobic exercises like running, jumping, and hopping, also help build strong bones.

What is the best indoor recreational activity? ›

  • Yoga and Pilates: Yoga and Pilates are excellent low-impact workouts that can help improve flexibility, strength, and balance. ...
  • Dance: Dancing is a fun and challenging way to stay active indoors. ...
  • Board Games and Puzzles: ...
  • Creative Hobbies: ...
  • Virtual Reality: ...
  • Cooking and Baking: ...
  • Indoor Gardening: ...
  • Virtual Tours and Museums:

What are the best indoor games for kids? ›

Indoor party games for kids
  • Hide and seek. Materials: places to hide. ...
  • Musical chairs. Materials: music; chairs. ...
  • Broken Telephone. Materials: two or more players. ...
  • Freeze. Materials: music and a lot of laughter! ...
  • Pictionary. Materials: Pictionary game or a pad of paper and pens, plus a timer. ...
  • Hot potato.
Nov 13, 2020

What is a popular indoor game? ›

Five popular indoor games are chess, table tennis, Scrabble, charades, and Monopoly. These games are great for entertainment and can be played inside the house.

What is physical activity for youth? ›

Children and young people should do a range of different activities across the week. Examples include: walking to school or walking the dog. playground activities, including jumping, running and catching.

How much physical activity do 12 year olds need? ›

The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition [PDF – 13.5 MB], issued by the US Department of Health and Human Services, recommend that children and adolescents ages 6 through 17 years do 60 minutes (1 hour) or more of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity daily.

What is the physical activity for ages 6 17? ›

The amount of physical activity children need depends on their age. Children ages 3 through 5 years need to be active throughout the day. Children and adolescents ages 6 through 17 need to be active for 60 minutes every day.

What are 10 benefits of physical activity for kids? ›

The benefits of physical activity for children
  • improved cardiovascular fitness (heart and lungs)
  • maintenance of a healthy weight.
  • improved posture.
  • better sleep patterns.
  • increased self-esteem and confidence.
  • improved concentration.
  • help with relaxation.
  • building stronger bones and muscles.

How should a child get physical activities every day? ›

Encouraging your child to move more

5 to 12 years: at least 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity every day to increase the heart rate. That includes fast walking, riding a bike or scooter, playing, running and participating in organised sports.

What are the best physical activities for a 3 year old? ›

Walking, playing, exploring your backyard, or using playground equipment at a local park can be fun for the entire family. Also, these games provide fun and fitness for parents and toddlers: Walk like a penguin, hop like a frog, or imitate other animals' movements.

How can I make my kids fitness fun? ›

Neighborhood games like relay races, scavenger hunts, hide and seek, and three-legged races. Simple activities like jumping rope, hula hooping, and dancing. These are all great ways to make fitness fun for kids! Try to involve enough activity to get kids breathing heavy and a little sweaty.

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