Playing indoor games can be fun for kids of all ages. It encourages creativity and imagination while teaching hand-eye coordination. It also helps youngsters develop problem-solving skills and a productive attitude.
Use painter’s tape to create straight or curved lines for children to walk on. This is a simple activity that promotes kindergarten preparation and builds motor skills.
1. Simon Says
This classic game is a great way to get the wiggles out and improve listening skills. It’s also a good activity for practicing social skills, because kids are required to follow instructions while still maintaining focus and staying calm.
For a fun twist, try “Simon Says Red Hands.” The leader claps their hands and the other players must perform the action that matches the rhythm of their claps. If they fail to comply, they must “go out” and the last player left is the winner.
This game is a great indoor activity for all ages and can be played with a group or between two people. It is a great way to develop quick thinking, and it can also improve hand-eye coordination. It’s also an excellent way to help children with anxiety, as it can teach them to control their emotions and not let their worries or fears overwhelm them. The best part about this game is that it requires no set-up or cleanup. All you need is a deck of cards! This is the perfect indoor game to play when you’re stuck at home or on-the-go.
3. Bubbles
Bubbles are fun and offer a great opportunity to work on sensory exploration in a fun pop-tastic way. Chasing and popping bubbles helps develop hand-eye coordination and can also be a great way to work on navigation skills in an outdoor environment (see this article for more tips). Adding extra challenges to bubble activities can help children learn more about the materials they are working with while having fun. For example, using different sized or shaped wands to create a bubble can be a great way to practice fine motor skills (see this article for more info). You can also try making rainbow bubble snakes like the one pictured above from Housing a Forest to encourage pincer grip and other small-muscle movements.
Playing with bubbles in a group can help children build social skills as well. For example, playing a game of bubble tag or chasing bubbles with friends can help children understand how to interact with one another in a safe manner while still having lots of fun. Counting bubbles can also help kids with their number sense.
4. Walk on a Line
In a world that is so focused on the sense of sight, help children develop their sense of touch by using a line to walk on (UW). Clear the floor, stick down some painter’s tape or other types of flexible lines and see who can walk across them longest. Try putting the line up at different angles, making spirals or zig-zags to test their balancing skills. They can also add a twist by walking on the line backwards or with their eyes closed to challenge themselves even more.
Another fun physical indoor game is creating a treasure hunt that requires the kids to use their problem solving skills to follow clues around the house. Younger kids can play with picture clues and older kids can make the clues more difficult by writing rhyming or simple word-based clues.
Other great indoor games include musical chairs, a scavenger hunt and a variety of board games that are a classic way to get kids excited about their time at home. Try a new game with your child every few days to keep them engaged during the dreary winter weather!
5. Marble Run
Marble Run is a classic children’s activity that supports learning about relative position, gravity and motion. It’s a great way to engage kids in a design and build challenge that is reminiscent of playground equipment (without the choking hazard of course).
A marble maze or run can be an excellent STEAM learning activity for older students or those who require higher levels of engagement. It’s also a fun precursor to more elaborate marble runs that take a bit more time to plan and construct.
This DIY marble track is easy to make and a great opportunity to talk about inclined planes (or ramps) and velocity. The process of tapeing each tube in place and testing the speed at which the marble travels down it is an excellent opportunity to practice fine motor skills as well.
Kids love collaborating with one another on these projects and they are often surprised by how fast the marbles roll down the track. They can also play with rolling down different’marble alternatives’ like pasta shells or gemstones to explore other properties such as size and weight.