Indoor Activities For Kids
Bored? Stuck inside and stuck for something to do? We've brought together all sorts of indoor activities for kids to
inspire you - useful during long holidays, rainy days, or any time you just need an idea for something new to do!
Sort through the toy cupboard:
It’s surprising how much fun this can be! Get everyone together and aim to clear one shelf or drawer. You will
probably find that old treasures are rediscovered, odd pieces can be thrown away, and some things will be ready
to be passed down or sold. If you are not sure whether to get rid of some of the toys, try packing them away in a
box and hiding them in a dark corner of the cupboard for a few months. When they come out again they will either
cause a sensation or not, which will make it easy to decide!
Have a pillow fight:
Make sure you use old pillows and don’t use feathers if someone in the house is allergic to them, though!
Record the sounds around you:
Get out a recorder (if you don't have a digital recorder you might have a recording facility on your phone or
laptop) and make a project out of recording everyday sounds. Try water running in the bath, someone ringing the
bell and opening the door, flushing the toilet! It certainly makes you think about things a little differently
than usual! Suggest that some friends or neighbours do the same thing and then get together to see if you can
identify each other’s sounds!
Make a story CD:
Grab that digital recorder, phone or laptop, find a story you enjoy, and make your own story CD! Each child
can read for a while, or can take on the part of a particular character. Make the appropriate noises too! You
will probably have to practice a few times to get the hang of it, and be prepared for lots and lots of giggles!
When you are finished, perhaps you could burn a CD. Audacity
is free recording software for the computer, if you want to get really professional.
Tip: a home-made story CD makes a great present for a child who has to go to hospital or is bedridden for a time.
Build a town (or zoo, or farm, or jungle):
Gather together all your building blocks, cardboard boxes, cars, animals, figures and other useful bits and
pieces and create your own town, zoo, farm, jungle... ! Make it as big and as exciting as you want, but remember
that you might have to clear it away soon! Perhaps you can find a large board or table top that you could use?
Make books:
Gather some scrap and craft paper supplies and make some books! They can be as simple as our folded
origami booklet - use these to write your own comic books, mini journals or stories or fill them with drawings and lists!
Alternatively try our recycled
notepads for a worthwhile activity. Make a stack and give them as gifts, perhaps? Perhaps you have a boring exercise
book lying around the house? Why not decorate it so that you have your own personalized notebook?
If you would prefer a print, cut and staple activity, have a go at our penguin booklet - it's very cute!
Have a jigsaw afternoon:
Get out all your jigsaws and invite some friends around with theirs too! Clear plenty of space and have a marathon jigsaw
session! Some libraries have jigsaws you can borrow too, and you can often find jigsaws for sale very cheaply at charity shops
(thrift stores) and car boot sales (garage sales). Tip: if you buy your jigsaws second-hand and the box has seen better days,
cut out the picture and store it in a ziploc bag with all the pieces. Here's a more thorough explanation of
our family's jigsaw storage method.
Have a mammoth junk modelling session with friends:
Invite a few families around and ask them to bring their craft-cupboard junk with them – boxes, containers, and other bits
and pieces. You provide glue, sticky-tape, scissors, and encouragement. You could make houses, or creatures, or boats, or modern
art – or you could all combine together to make one giant model!
Play card games:
Get out some old playing cards and have a game! Try snap or racing demon or beggar my neighbour – all traditional games which
are just lots of fun! If you need more inspiration we have the instructions for lots of card games for kids
that you will enjoy.
If you prefer,
you can also play card games on the computer! This can be a good way to learn new games so that you can play them when you have
friends around, or when you need to pass the time on your own.
Online Card Games For Kids
Play patience:
There are some great patience games which are particularly suited to children, being lots of
fun and teaching card and number skills (and patience!) too. Try “Roll Call” to get you started.
Make a card house:
If you don’t know any good card games, build a card house instead! Start by balancing two cards against each other so that they stand
up in an inverted V-shape. Take it from there!
Make an indoor obstacle course:
Check with an adult that this is OK first! Use easily-movable furniture (kitchen chairs, coffee tables) to create a course. Create a
tunnel to crawl through with a blanket draped over low tables, or space cushions around the room to use as stepping stones. You will
have lots more ideas!
Create your own library:
Is it easy to find the exact book you are looking for in your house? Why not set up a library system! Sort your books by category or
author, or alphabetically by title. Perhaps you could have one shelf for stories, another for picture books, and another for non-fiction
and reference books? Keep some space on your bookshelves for a basket or box specially set aside to keep your borrowed books from the real
library, so that you can track them down faster when it is time to return them!
Do you lend books to friends? How do you keep track of who has what? Can you set up a system with home-made old-fashioned library cards
so that you know who is reading what? Have you got bookplates in your books so that everyone knows who they
belong to? What about putting up a chart, with space to add the titles of books you would like to read in future? We've also got a
simple library chart you can print out to list books that you have borrowed.
Practice balancing:
Balancing is fun! Try walking the length of the room with a book on your head! When you can do that, try balancing two or three!
Walk the tightrope:
Place a long length of string on the floor and practice “walking the tightrope”. Use a short garden cane (older kids only – be careful
with the ends!) to help you balance!
Create an indoor den:
A few blankets and tablecloths can create the most wonderful indoor den. Drape blankets between sofas and chairs, over stepladders and
clothes-dryers, or tie the ends to cupboard knobs and door handles. Once the den is created find some special snacks, colouring pages and
pencils, some music, a torch or two, and camp out for a while!
Play with string:
Older children can create some wonderful inventions with a ball of string and their imagination! A toilet roll and a sloping length of
string make a great message chute or rocket. Get some action toys involved too: try making them a lift (elevator) out of a box or a basket
and hoist them up! Adults should supervise constantly if there are younger kids around.
Make a rubber band ball:
Collect all those loose rubber bands (elastic bands) and make a rubber band ball. When it is big enough, watch it bounce!
Make a paper clip chain:
You can spend hours (well, minutes, anyway!) linking paper clips together. If you have coloured paper clips, make a pattern as you go.
Make a fishing game:
Cut fish shapes out of cardboard or craft foam and attach a paper clip to each “nose”. Make fishing rods out of garden canes and string,
and tie a small magnet to each end. See how many fish you can catch! Older kids can write a number on the underneath of each fish which
will be their score when they catch it.
Play dice games:
Dice games are brilliant for rainy afternoons. You need hardly anything to get you started and you can play on your own or with a
group of friends. Mixed ages play well together, too.
Dice games for kids
Don't forget we've got hundreds more ideas, crafts and printable activities on the website - have a good look around!
You might also enjoy:
Make your own games
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