indoor

It is great for everyone to get outside daily but sometimes we are stuck inside, often due to stormy weather or extreme cold temperatures. It may be easy to default  to ‘screens’ like video games, iPads, and scrolling on smartphones, but there are lots of things your child can do that involve creativity, brainpower, and just simple play. Use your judgement with the following activities depending on the age of your child.

Art- In addition to drawing and painting, don’t forget Play-doh (home-made Play-doh recipe on-line), cut or torn paper, collages, etc.

Baking (with good supervision of course)

Crafts- Local craft and dollar stores have inexpensive materials appropriate for different ages. “C” can also be for ‘Charades’, the classic guessing game.

Dancing- Put on the classic music you grew up with and rock out with the kids!

Eggs- Use paints or markers to decorate the shells of hard-boiled eggs.

Fort- Let you child get creative making a fort of boxes, blankets, chairs, etc.

Giggling- Tell jokes, riddles, do hand clap routines, etc.

Hair- Have fun with wacky hair styles for the kids (and maybe for you—let them play hairdresser!).

Indoor scavenger hunt- Give kids a list of colors, shapes, and specific items to look for in one room or small area of the house.

Jump rope- This is great indoor exercise if you have enough space.

Kitchen duty can be fun when kids come up with a (simple) menu and you prepare food together.

Listen to music- Consider exploring music of different cultures and parts of the world.

Make music- Use real instruments or pots and pans, shaking a jar of beans, etc. Have a musical parade through the house- noisy but fun!

Necklace– Dye tube-shaped pasta using a small amount of food coloring mixed with white vinegar and let dry. Thread on yarn for a cute necklace (make big enough to go over the head).

Obstacle course-Your child can create a course with cardboard boxes, towels as ‘water’ to be jumped over, a length of string as a ‘tightrope’, throw pillows as rocks to be stepped on with the floor as ‘hot lava’, etc.

Pretending- Kids love to pretend, whether it is acting out a fairy tale or pretending to be a teacher. Endless options!

Quiet activities like puzzles and Legos are a nice way for your child to play independently.

Reading- The reader (either you or your child) can use funny voices and exaggerated emotions which make it very entertaining. Or try Racing in unusual ways: crab-walk, bunny hopping, while holding a big spoon of water, etc.  

Seal, swan, snake- Take turns acting like different animals and see if others can guess which critter is being imitated. Also do some ‘Science experiments’—you can find many ideas on-line.

Tell stories about when your kids were little or make up stories together about adventures their stuffed animals might have. There is a lot of guidance on-line for storytelling.

Uno or other kids’ card games are simple, fun and can encourage good sportsmanship.

Vet office for stuffed animals- Set up a pretend animal clinic- use a flashlight and other household items as ‘instruments’ to examine the ‘patients’.

Writing letters- Teach your kids this ‘lost art’ and let them experience how happy the recipients will be to get an actual letter!

X marks the spot- create a simple map of one room in the house and hide ‘treasure’ (small things like fridge magnets) and put an X on the map for their location. See how your treasure hunters do without too much help.

Yarn- Kids can learn finger knitting, crocheting, or standard knitting with on-line instruction.

Zinnia seeds- Plant zinnia or other (small) flower/ herb seeds in cups with seed or potting mix. A small UV light or a spot on a sunny windowsill will be needed once the seeds sprout.