Being a mom for four can be exhausting on a good day, but add in cold (or hot!) weather when sending kids out to play is not an option and you have chaos. I soon learned I needed to learn some survival skills. The most useful skill on days like this is to have some activities that will burn off some energy and keep them busy. Close behind is having the right supplies at your fingertips.
The first thing to go into your Indoor Survival Bag is a running list of games that your child (or children!) enjoy. The second thing is the supplies: masking or painters tape is a must, crepe paper or yarn, laminated shapes – especially circles, squares cut from cardboard, paper, rubber bands, straws, balloons, bean bags, Beanie Babies, Solo cups, and anything else that comes to mind. You are going to feel like a modern day Mary Poppins.
Great Inside Games for Kids
Here are some of my kids’ favorite indoor games.
Red Light, Green Light
This game has been popular for many, many years and kids still love it. Choose one person to be the “traffic cop”. Everyone else lines up on the other side of the room. When the traffic cop says “green light,” he turns away from the group. The group is now free to get to the light, or in other words where the traffic cop is standing (you might want to add your own rules about running, sliding, skipping, etc. depending on the space you have).
However, when “red light” is said, the traffic cop spins around and anyone he sees moving toward him goes back to the starting line. The first to reach the traffic cop takes his place and is the new one. You can shake things up a bit by introducing a new colored light, giving some variations on how to move: run on green, hop on purple, skip on orange, etc.
Recommended ages: 3+
Mother, May I?
Who doesn’t love this game? One player is “Mother” and the rest of the group are the children. They take turns asking Mother if they can take steps forward – “Mother, May I take three giant steps?” Mother can either answer “Yes, you may” or “No, you may not” or “No, you may not, but you can take three baby steps.” The children then do whatever the “Mother” said they can do.
Get creative with the “steps” – they can be skips, somersaults, hops, or whatever else you come up with. If the children forget to say the words “Mother, May I” they go back to the starting line and begin again. The first to reach “Mother” is the new “Mother” for the next game.
Recommended ages: 4-9
Crepe Paper Maze
This is really fun but it does require some set up time. Kids love pretending to be a Ninja Warrior, getting past laser beams and making it to the other side without being detected. Tape crepe paper – or string – across a hallway, going high and low, diagonally, straight across, and in all directions. The goal is to get from one end of the hall to the other without touching the crepe paper. You can make it more difficult for older Ninjas and easier for younger ones.
I love this activity because it can entertain one child or three; you can set a timer or try to beat a time; and it’s not only movement but problem solving.
Recommended ages: 3+
Captain, Yes Captain
Captain, Yes Captain is just like Simon Says except it is active and coded words are used instead of clear commands. Before the game begins, the Captain tells the group what the coded words are and what they mean. If someone doesn’t remember what one of the code words means, they’re out of the game and must “walk the plank” (which can be as simple as walking around the room).
Here are some ideas for Captain commands:
“Bow”: run to the front of the room
“Stern”: run to the back of the room
“Row”: drop to the ground and begin rowing your arms
“Salute”: stand straight and salute the Captain
“Captain’s Quarters:” run to the Captain
“Shark!”: run to designated bases
When the Captain yells, “Shark!” Everyone has to run to a specific base to stay safe from the shark. The last person to arrive gets eaten by the shark and is out of the game. The Captain continues to call out orders until there is only one sailor left and that person becomes the new Captain.
Recommended ages: 4-10
Hide and Seek
This is a game that all ages love – I have even played it with teenagers. . . in a dark house – but that’s a story for another day. And if you need a few minutes to just breathe, when it’s your turn to hide find a really good spot! If you are playing with more than two, try mixing things up and having one person hide and everyone be the seekers.
Recommended ages: 2-adult
Build a Giant Racetrack
Use masking tape to tape off streets in every room. Make the track big enough for matchbox cars and throw in some variations like a ramp over a book, or tunnel. You can even let the track take over the entire house.
Recommended ages: 1-6
Build a Fort
We love to pull all the cushions off the couches, bring in chairs, step ladders, then grab all the blankets, sheets, and anything else that drapes and put them all together to build a fort. For a younger child, one small fort is plenty, but as they grow older the fort gets bigger and bigger. If you have more than one child, you can make connecting tunnels. Such a great place for tea parties or to count a pirate’s booty.
Recommended ages: 2-12
Zombie Tag
This is a fun form of tag because well, it has Zombies!
To start, the Zombie stands in the middle of the room. Everyone else lines up on one side of the room, at your command everyone races to the other side. If the Zombie tags someone then he becomes an extra zombie for the next round. The game goes back and forth, adding more zombies, until there is only one survivor.
Recommended ages: 3-10
The Shape Game
Spread some cut out shapes onto the floor, you can even use tape to hold them in place. Have your child/children stand on their favorite shape. Give them fun directions to follow to the next shape: “skip to the circle,” “hop to the square,” or “run to the diamond.” This is a great way to learn shapes (numbers or colors also work) as they burn off energy.
Recommended ages: 2-8
Hot and Cold
This is such a simple game. All you need is something to hide. Depending on the age of your child/children, it can be small or big. The finder goes into another room while the hider hides the object. When the finder comes back, the hider will say “you are so cold” or “getting warmer” or “you are getting really hot!” depending how close the finder is to the object.
Basically the closer to the object the finder gets, the hotter he becomes. We like to use descriptive words, like “you are burning!” When the finder finds the object, choose a new hider and finder and start again.
Recommended ages: 4-10
Cross the River
Imagine that there is a roaring river right in the middle of your house and that everyone needs to get across to the other side. The only way to cross is to step on rocks (think about your Survival Bag), but only one person can fit on a rock at a time. Everyone is going to have to work together to make it.
The object of this game is, of course, to cross the river. You can make it as simple or hard as needed for your group. For 1 or 2 small children, they can use as many rocks/pillows as needed to jump across. For a group of 3-6 kids between 5 and 7 years old, one rock will be perfect.
For older (or more adventurous) kids, give them one less rock. It’s fun to figure out how to do this, but here’s a hint: the first person puts their rock down, steps on it, and then takes the next rock and places it within stepping distance and moves onto it. Now that you have 2 on rocks, pass the 3rd rock up and it continues until everyone is across.
Recommended ages: 2-10
Sharks and Minnows
Kids love this game and they don’t care if it is played inside or outside. It is a perfect game for small children to start learning how to play tag. But older kids love it too – something about the thrill of trying to outrun sharks, I guess.
You can play it with two or as many as you want – in fact, invite the whole neighborhood! The more there are, the more fun it is. Most of the group are “minnows” and stand on one side of the room. There are just one or two “sharks” and they stand in the middle. The shark calls out “Fishy, fishy, cross my ocean!”, at which time the minnows try to run to the other side without getting touched. But if they are tagged, they become sharks and the game continues until there are no more minnows.
Recommended ages: 3+
Obstacle Course
This has been a favorite of my kids and grandkids. It works for any age and for one or several kids and keeps them entertained for hours! You don’t need any special equipment – just look around your house and you will be surprised what you can use – blankets, jump rope, chairs, step ladders, exercise balls . . .
As you start to build your course, keep in mind the age, skills, number of kids, the amount of space you have, etc. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
10 jumping jacks
Run around a chair while balancing a beanbag on your head
Do a ring toss
Somersault from one station to another
Jump into and out of a hula-hoop five times
Walk on a balance board (or 2×4 or a rope)
Crawl under a string that is tied between two chairs
Crawl under or over chairs
Throw a beanbag into a basket
Slide down flattened boxes from the couch to the floor
Roll on a giant ball
Do a crab walk between stations
Climb on a chair and jump onto a pile of pillows
Recommended ages: 2-12
Target Practice
Gather empty 2-liter bottles, water bottles, paper towel rolls, or whatever else you can think of and set up a “shooting” range. Grab some Nerf guns and see how many targets can get knocked over and from what distance. No Nerf guns? No problem, grab some beanie babies, bean bags, or other soft objects.
Recommended ages: 2-12
Animal Charades
Write down as many animals as you and the kids can think of or find pictures of animals for younger kids. Cut them up and put them in a bowl to play a game of charades. Everyone gets a turn to pick a piece of paper from the bowl and then act out that animal. When they get bored with animals, try switching it up to a different category like movies, vocations, etc.
Recommended ages: 5+ yrs
Balloon Tennis or Balloon Volleyball
Grab that yarn from your kit and make a net by tying it between two chairs (or whatever else you have handy). If there are more than two kids, see how many times they can volley the balloon back and forth over the net. Or for added fun, grab some plastic spatulas or wooden spoons to use as racquets.
Recommended ages: 4-10
Hopscotch
Why not bring an outdoor game inside? Hopscotch is a great game to play inside – just grab your tape or better yet cardboard squares and a marker and you are ready to go. You will need 10 squares and numbers 1 thru 10.
There are a few variations of hopscotch and it really doesn’t matter how you make the grid, it’s all about hopping. Use the tape to make the hopscotch grid on tile, wood, or an unfinished basement floor.
The first player tosses a marker on a square (we like to start with one and work our way up to 10) and then hops from square to square – either on one foot or on two, skipping the square with the marker. When she gets to 9 and 10 she turns around and hops back, stopping to pick up the marker on the way.
Recommended ages: 4-12
Hot Potato
I keep a special ball just for this game. It’s one of those ones that is squishy and bright – the kids love it – but really any ball, bean bag, or Beanie Baby will do. Everyone sits on the floor in a circle. When the music starts, the ball gets passed around the circle. But when the music stops, whoever is holding the potato is out.
The circle gets smaller and smaller until there is only person one left. There is no need to eliminate players if younger kids are playing; they just laugh and laugh to pass the potato. Kids of all ages love this game.
Recommended ages: 2-10
Musical Chairs
Musical Chairs is a great game to play if you have a group of kids. All you need is a chair for each person, but before you start, take away one chair; there should be one less chair than the number of players.
When the music starts, everyone walks or dances around the circle of chairs. As soon as the music stops, everyone sits on a chair. The person who is without a chair is out of the game. Take away another chair and start the music again. The game continues like this until there is only one person and one chair.
Recommended ages: 4-10
Beanie Baby Basketball
This is a fun activity that also works on math skills – at least for the older kids. Set a basket or box in the middle of the room. Scatter circles with numbers between 1 and 10 written on them – the 1 goes closest to the basket and the 10 is the farthest.
Each player is given a Beanie Baby or colored bean bag. On “go”, everyone races to a circle and tries to make a basket. If they make it, they pick up the circle, grab their Beanie Baby and run back to home base where they deposit their circle. They run back to another circle and try for another basket. I love this game as much as kids do because it is so adaptable: if you have a lot of kids, make it a relay but it is just as fun for one player.
Recommended ages: 4-12
Paper Airplanes
No matter how old your kids are, they will always love playing with paper airplanes. It’s the perfect indoor activity for both kids and adults. There are some great directions online and YouTube. You can find some easy instructions in many places online.
Recommended ages: 3-12
Dance Party
Who doesn’t love a dance party? Tell Alexa to play some music and start dancing! If you want to get really ambitious you can teach an old time dance like “The Twist”, “The Hustle”, or “The Boot Scootin’ Boogie”. Or try having one person stop the music and everyone else freezes – if someone moves, they’re out. Last one standing wins – super fun! Your kids are sure to have their own favorite songs, but if you need some suggestions to get your groove on, try these:
“Shake it Off” by Taylor Swift
“Uptown Funk” by Marc Ronson
“Happy” by Pharrell Williams
“Dynamite” by BTS
“When Can I See You Again” by Owl City
“I Like To Move It” by will.i.am
“Dance Monkey” by TONES and I
Recommended ages: All
Keep the Balloon Up
What kid doesn’t love balloons? This is such a simple game: try to keep the balloon from touching the floor for longer than anyone else or longer than the previous record. Or count how many times the balloon can be hit before it touches the ground.
Two things to keep in mind: kids can get a little wild with this so make sure they won’t be around breakable treasures, and balloons are a choking hazard for young kids so make sure that they are supervised by an adult.
Recommended ages: 1-10
Ping Pong Catch
Grab some Solo cups and some ping pongs or other small balls. Try to catch the balls in the cups. It works best if you start close together and once that is mastered, take a few steps back.
Recommended ages: 4-12
Bowling
Make your own bowling alley! Use some tape to outline the lane and plastic bottles or cups as pins. Any kind of ball will work – rubber, soccer, basketball, you name it! Set the pins up in the traditional way or set them up as a pyramid for a fun variation.
Recommended ages: 4-12
Alligator Alley
Kids of all ages love this game . . . I think it’s the scary thought of getting caught by an alligator. Grab some things that will work as islands, like pillows, and randomly put them around the room. Choose someone to be an alligator who hangs out in the water. Everyone else jumps from island to island, but if they fall off the alligator just might eat them . . . or tickle them!
Recommended ages: 3-10
Duck, Duck, Goose
Young kids love this game and older kids are really good at playing it with them. This game can be played with 3 or 4 kids, but it is much more fun with at least 6.
Everyone sits in a circle and someone is chosen to be the Goose. The Goose walks around the circle, taps everyone on the head and says “duck, duck, duck,” until he calls “goose”. The person that gets tapped is the new goose. The new goose chases the old goose around the circle and back to the empty spot. The one that doesn’t get a seat is then the Goose.
Recommended ages: 3-8
The Rock
This is the simplest game to play with young kids. All you need is a blanket to cover Mom, Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, or older siblings to form the “rock”. The rock stays still until it doesn’t! This rock has hands that can reach out and grab when no one is watching. Lots of squeals with this one.
Recommended ages: 1-5
Jacks
This game is great at building hand-eye coordination. It can be played with multiple players or with just one. A set of jacks can be found at most toy stores and are relatively inexpensive.
The player throws the jacks, think small and not too close together or too far apart. If two jacks are touching (we used to refer to that as “kissing”) you can throw them again. Toss the ball straight up, let it bounce once, pick up one jack, and catch the ball in the same hand.
After you catch the ball, move the jack to the other hand. Repeat until all the jacks are picked up or a foul occurs. A foul is any of the following: missing the ball, not picking up a jack, picking up the wrong number of jacks, or dropping a jack. If a foul happens, it is the next person’s turn. The first round is called “onesies”. The second round is “twosies” and so forth.
Recommended ages: 6-12
Build a Tower
Set out as many Solo cups as you have and challenge the kids to a tower building contest. Kids love this. I love it because it provides mental stimulation and helps with hand eye coordination. You will be amazed at how high they can build.
Recommended ages: 1-12
FAQs
What makes a good indoor kids’ game?
Kids love simple games that are easy to learn and not complicated to play. Using supplies you have on hand can make a game that will entertain kids for hours. As long as it’s safe and age appropriate, kids can enjoy playing lots of games inside.
What outdoor games can also be played indoors?
A lot of outdoor games can be adapted to play inside. Hide and Seek, Hopscotch, basketball, and an obstacle course are all easy to play inside with just a few adjustments. Kids love playing variations of these games when they can’t go outside.
How old do kids need to be to play indoor games?
There are a lot of simple inside games that can be played by children as young as 1 year old. More complicated games can be played by older kids. Even older kids and adults can enjoy playing games together indoors.
