Indoor Activities For Kids: 16 Inside Activities Keep Kids Busy

Are you a working homeschooling mom stuck inside with your kids? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with these 16 fun indoor activities for kids.

Storms, sicknesses, and situations beyond our control can keep us and our families indoors for an extended period.

Or maybe you are trying to work from home and need a few more ideas to keep your kids entertained so you can work for 5 minutes in peace.

pin image text says 16 inside activities for kids with small crafts on table

Whatever the situation, having a list of indoor activities for kids can be a lifesaver.

As a fellow working homeschooling mom, I understand the importance of picking engaging and screen-free indoor activities that can keep your kids busy while you work.

So, before we dive into the list of indoor activities for kids, let me share a few tips with you.

How to Pick the Right Indoor Activity for Kids

As a busy working mom, your time is valuable. When picking indoor activities for your kids, it’s important to choose ones that fit your schedule. Don’t choose an activity that takes two hours if you only have 30 minutes available. This will only lead to stress and frustration for both you and your kids.

Remember, it’s the little things that matter when it comes to building strong relationships with your kids.

By connecting with them on a daily basis, you can learn more about what’s going on in their lives, their fears, dreams, concerns, and cares. This connection leads to stronger relationships, reduced stress, and a happier family life.

So, when picking indoor activities for your kids, consider the amount of time you have available and choose activities that allow you to connect with your children.

Play allows kids to practice what they are learning

Let’s now dive into the list of indoor activities for kids that you can enjoy together.

16 Indoor Activities For Kids

When choosing indoor activities for your kids, it’s important to consider their age and interests. Keep in mind that not every child loves slime or building with Legos for hours on end.

Go through the list and jot down any ideas that fit your family’s interests and preferences. These indoor activities for kids are sure to keep your children entertained and engaged, while allowing you to work or take a well-deserved break.

1. Family Fun Board Games

When you’re stuck inside, dust off those board games that have been hiding in the cupboards. Family game night is a great way to have fun and spend quality time together. Here are some of our favorites:

Even Steven Odd (you can read my review of Even Steven Odd )
Scrabble
Monopoly (great for when the power goes out)
Boggle (a fun way to challenge your vocabulary)
If you have teenagers, check out our favorite educational games for teens.

Disclosure: I may receive commissions for purchases made through links in this post.

Educational Insights Even Steven’s Odd, Dice-Rolling, Adding and Subtracting Challenge Game, Fun & Fast-Paced Family Game Scrabble Crossword – Classic Board Game – 120 Letter Tiles – 4 Racks – 1 Letter Bag – Instructions Included – for 2 to 4 Players – Gift for Kids 10+Monopoly Board Game The Classic Edition Boggle Board Game 1976

Playing board games is a great indoor activity for kids of all ages. It’s a fun way to pass the time and bond with your family. So, grab a game and get ready to have some fun!

2. Get Creative with Playing Cards

Playing cards is an excellent way to pass the time and keep boredom at bay. All you need is a deck of cards, and you’re ready to play.

Here are some fun games you can play with a regular deck of playing cards:

Crazy 8’s -Learn how to play Crazy 8’s.
Go Fish! – Learn how to play Go Fish!
Concentration – Find the Concentration rules.

If you have other types of card decks, such as Skipbo, Wizard, or Uno, you can play those too.

Mattel Games UNO Card Game for Family Night, Travel Game & Gift for Kids in a Collectible Storage Tin for 2-10 Players [Amazon Exclusive]Mattel Skip-Bo Card Game 100% Plastic Wizard Card Game

Playing cards is a great indoor activity for kids of all ages, and it’s a fun way to spend time with your family. So, shuffle up and deal!

3. Puzzles To The Rescue

Puzzles are a great indoor activity for kids of all ages. They’re not only fun, but they can also be educational.

Here are some ideas for puzzles to try:

For younger kids, look for puzzles with large pieces that are bright and colorful or wooden jigsaw puzzles. You can find these at your local dollar store.
Floor puzzles are always fun and provide a bigger challenge for older kids.
Brain puzzles, such as a Wooden Tetris Puzzle, are a great way to challenge their problem-solving skills.

Peaceable Kingdom Hoot Owl Hoot Floor Puzzle – Giant Floor Puzzle for Kids Ages 5 & up – Great for Classrooms 6 Pack Wooden Puzzles for Kids Ages 4-8 Jigsaw Puzzles Preschool Learning Educational Toys for Toddlers Boys Girls

Puzzles can keep your kids entertained for hours and are an excellent way to sneak in some learning. So, gather around the table and get ready to put your puzzle skills to the test!

4. Have Fun in the Kitchen with Your Kids

When your kids are getting restless, invite them to join you in the kitchen for a fun baking session. Baking not only keeps them busy but also teaches them valuable life skills.

Pinterest is a great resource for finding new recipes and ideas for kids to try. Here are some of our favorite recipes:

Encourage your kids to experiment with different ingredients and flavors to create their own unique recipes.

Don’t forget to use these recipe cards to keep track of the changes they made and their favorite recipes.

5. Cooking Ideas For Experienced Cooks

If your kids are experienced in the kitchen, let them create a meal based on something they are learning about. There are many resources you can use to find recipes that match your child’s interests:

Story of the World Activity books includes recipes to try. Let your child cook one for dinner.
Around The World Stories offers a range of stories and recipes from different countries. Have your child pick a recipe to make.
Pull out a cookbook such as Kid’s Around The World Cookbook and let them pick a dish to make.
Check out this Kid-Friendly Cookbook for more recipe ideas.

6. Add Art To Your Day

Art is a great way to add fun to your day and take a break from the kids.

Create a basket or box filled with construction paper, colored pencils, stickers, glue, and other supplies. Toss a tablecloth on an old table or your kitchen table and let the kids go crazy while mom grabs a cup of coffee to chill.

Did you know Jodi has a free art program for kids? It is called Shape & Form.

Or, if your kids have an interest in bugs, be sure to check out these art activities:

Make it stick with this fun bug art for kids.
Make paper plate bugs. Use a book or something to walk you through it easily.
Color Pops Paint-Your-Own Rocks: Ladybugs & Dragonflies

ZMLM Paper Plate Craft for Kids: Toddler DIY Art Paper Craft Kit Supply Project Activity Girl Boy Gift for Age 3 4 5 6 7 8 Years Old Kid Toy Preschool Birthday Game Party Favor Christmas Children Gift ZMLM Art Craft Gift for Kids: Paper Plate Art Kit for Girl Boy Toy DIY Animal Art Supply Projects Toddler Creative Activity Children Preschool Classroom Party Favor Bulk Birthday Christmas Game Crafts

7. Have A Indoor Snowball Fight

Did you know you can have a snowball fight at any time of the year, even indoors?

You can buy artificial snow for indoor games on Amazon, or you can make your own snowballs using white socks balled up or extra-large cotton balls.

Here are some steps to get started:

Gather a bunch of white socks or cotton balls
Divide your family into teams
Create a boundary line in your room or living space
Start throwing snowballs at each other!

To make it more challenging, you can set up obstacles or create rules like no hitting above the shoulders or no throwing at close range.

8. Indoor Relay Race

Have an indoor relay race! You can use eggs or cotton balls for a less messy solution.

Another option is to create an obstacle course. Just put it somewhere you won’t need to complete it to get to the bathroom!

Use these two ideas when kids need to burn off that extra energy.

Indoor activities for kids of all ages, girl playing with art supplies

9. Create A Puppet Show

Creating a puppet show is a great indoor activity for kids! With a little imagination, you can create your own puppet show with just a light source and a surface to cast the shadow on.

Here’s how:

Create your puppets using paper, cardboard, or any other material you have on hand. You can draw or cut out characters, and attach them to sticks or straws.
Set up a light source behind a table or screen, and position it so that the light shines on the table or screen.
Stand behind the table or screen with your puppets, and move them around to create shadows on the table or screen.
Use your hands and fingers to create different shadow shapes and movements. Learn 3 basic shadow puppets here to get started.
Use your imagination to come up with a story, and let your puppets bring it to life in a shadow puppet show.

10. Read Books With Your Kids

Reading is a great way to relax and spend time together. If you love reading out loud to your kids, grab a treat they made earlier and a book to read.

To keep little hands busy while listening, provide coloring books and crayons or blank paper for doodling.

If you don’t enjoy reading aloud, you can always try audiobooks. Gather around the table, snack on treats, and listen to an audiobook. Audible Premium Plus is a great source for audiobooks, and you can even get up to two free audiobooks.

To keep little hands busy, add a coloring book and crayons or blank paper for doodling.

Try Audible Premium Plus and Get Up to Two Free Audiobooks

11. Building & Creating Toys

Building and creating toys are a great way to keep kids entertained while indoors. My in-laws delivered a massive container of Lego when my son was born. It turns out each family member had saved the Lego from each generation and added kits to it. We have continued this tradition adding to the collection over the years.

Lego is a perfect example of a toy that can keep kids busy for hours of play. It’s not just fun, but it’s also an excellent way to improve spatial awareness, problem-solving, and creativity.

Other great options for building and creating toys include Duplo, which is great for little ones, and wooden blocks that can be stacked, arranged, and knocked over.

LEGO DUPLO Classic Deluxe Brick Box 10914 Starter Set – Features Storage Box, Bricks, Duplo Figures, Dog, and Car, Creative Play, Great Early Learning Toy for Toddlers Ages 18+ Months LEGO Classic 10717 Bricks 1500 Piece Set – Encourages Creativity in all Ages – Ideal for Creators of all Ages – Brick Separator Included Melissa & Doug Standard Unit Solid-Wood Building Blocks With Wooden Storage Tray (60 pcs) – Classic Blocks For Toddlers Ages 3+

So, when you’re looking for indoor activities to keep your kids busy, try dragging out those building toys

12. Water Fun!

When you want to add some water-based fun to your indoor activities for kids, try these ideas:

Water balloon fights: One brave mom I know lets her kids have water balloon fights inside the house. If you’re willing to take the risk, make sure to supervise and watch out for broken balloon pieces.
Water table: Bring the water table inside and let the kids play with it in a designated area. You can add some toys, like plastic boats or rubber ducks, to make it even more exciting.
Sensory bin: Create a sensory bin filled with water beads, plastic sea creatures, and scoops for your little ones to explore and play with. This is a great way to encourage sensory play and tactile exploration in a safe and contained environment.
Bath time fun: Move bath time to the middle of the day and let your kids have some extra time to splash around and play in the tub. You can even add some fun bath toys or bubbles to make it even more enjoyable.

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14. Boxes Of Fun

When you need some peace and quiet, try using “quiet boxes” for your kids. These boxes can keep them entertained for a while without making a lot of noise.

I have created several resources for quiet boxes because quiet boxes are great for all ages and are perfect for finding indoor activities for kids.

Quiet boxes for kids:

I’ve created a printable list to make it easier for you to create your own quiet boxes for your kids.

You may want to build busy bags if noise is not a factor. Busy bags are similar to quiet boxes but include noisy items such as harmonicas, flutes, etc. Here are 101 ideas for you to help you get started.

Screen Activities For Kids

The following activities include screens. I’ve shared how I handle screen time for our kids here.

Each family has its own rules, but if you are okay with some screen time for your kids, you may like these activities.

1.Movies & Documentaries

Movies and Documentaries are great indoor activities for kids. Here’s how to keep them entertained:

When your kids are sick or feeling down, put on their favorite movie and give them blankets and a pet to cuddle with. It will help them rest and relax.
You can also use YouTube to learn new skills or find entertainment. For instance, Tasty has many videos on baking and cooking, which can be a great inspiration for kids to try new recipes.
There are many how-to videos available on YouTube, covering pretty much every topic. It’s an excellent resource for kids to learn new things and stay entertained.

2. Online Games

Digital games can be a fantastic way to keep your kids entertained while also incorporating learning. Here are some tips to help you make the most of this indoor activity:

Look for games that involve teamwork or collaboration. These can help kids learn how to work together effectively and communicate better.
Some online games can also teach kids valuable skills like coding, time management, and financial literacy. Make sure to choose games that align with your child’s interests and learning goals.
If you’re concerned about screen time, set clear limits and boundaries for when and how long your child can play.
Consider playing games together with your child to make it a fun bonding activity.

Stardew Valley: Collector’s Edition – PlayStation 4 Family Farm Seaside

My daughter and I, for example, love playing farming games together. With so many options available, you can easily find games that your kids will love and that will keep them engaged and learning.

3. Virtual Field Trips

With the power of the internet, you can take your kids on a virtual field trip without leaving the house! Many museums, zoos, and national parks offer virtual tours and educational programs for free.

You can also explore famous landmarks and cities from around the world using Google Earth. It’s a great way to teach your kids about geography, history, and culture while having fun from the comfort of your own home.

Here are a few websites to get started:

More Activities For Kids

Working from home while taking care of children can be challenging. While screens can be a useful tool to keep kids entertained, it’s important to balance screen time with other activities.

If you are a work-at-home mom, try these 9 screen-free sanity savers today!

Being stuck inside doesn’t have to be stressful or annoying. Try one of these indoor activities for kids today!

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Jen Mackinnon

Hi, I’m Jen. I help working moms juggle their career and homeschool their kids by providing support, systems and tools. You are warmly invited to Join the Online Community Here!