Kids spend more time at home due to the chilly weather outside and new COVID variants coming up. Moreover, no school and online learning have increased indoor time, so there should be more fun games to play at home with kids.
Spending the entire day at home makes the young ones very bored. Kids often get cranky and irritate parents. Sometimes, they also stick to their phones, tablets, and screens for long hours. Consistent and long hours of free and screen time is not beneficial for growing kids. Kids should indulge in fun activities and games to play at home to utilise their free time.
What types of fun games to play at home with kids?
There are many options for indoor games for your kid. It depends on their taste, mood, and age for what type they enjoy the most.
Here is a list of the topmost loved games to play at home with kids using no or very few extra tools.
They are for kids of different age groups and moods. So get the best one for your child and indulge them in activities and games to play at home.
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Sock Toss
Sock toss is like an in-house basketball game. A bunch of socks tied together is used instead of the ball and a clothes hamper as the basket.
The basket is placed at a specific distance where kids throw the socks or other small plastic items in the basket. The number of successive throws at different distances is a win for them.
The game uses very few tools, just the basic things we have at home. Moreover, it’s exciting for the kid, to throw the items at varying distances and get scores. It is enjoyed by toddlers above 2 years and even older kids till ages 12-14.
The activity can also be played to sort things out. For instance, after the kids’ playtime with toys, they can be given a task to put them back in the toy basket likewise in the game. This way they learn to clean up the mess in a playful way.
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Building with blocks
Blocks and puzzles excites kids and is a classic toy for all kids. They enjoy playing with colors and shapes and learn about them.
Kids perform small building tasks. They do it with good insight and attention. This develops their creativity skill and adds a great activity to do at home.
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Treasure hunt
An in-house game where the parent or an elder hide a few basic things in hidden places of the house. Kids find the hidden treasure using some hints and tips.
They enjoy the game and get motivated after successive wins in finding the treasure. Kids between 4-12 years enjoy the game. They find it even more interesting when played with a few fellows. In addition, it is played with more enthusiasm and joy for who finds the treasure first. Moreover, the game can be played when someone can’t find a lost thing. Kids search every small corner and might get the treasure out!
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Simon says
A really fun game mostly played in gatherings in the ’90s. It is a classic game and played by all family members. Moreover, it adds to a great family time together.
A person instructs kids to do a task as: “Simon says.. Brush your teeth” or “Simon says.. Wash your face”. The kids enjoy acting in each activity. Little ones also learn to do basic things. A little audience of family members can choose the best one performing and add more fun to the game.
The game requires no tool, just a little space to play.
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Play-dough
Some colourful play dough and little tools are required for the game. Kids can make different colorful shapes by molding and rolling the play dough.
They can do tasks to make specific shapes and learn about shapes and colors while playing this way.
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Kids yoga
A small yoga mat or carpet is required for this. This sets up a mini home gym for the kids for their physical flexibility and fitness.
Many kids enjoy such activities when done with an elder or parent and imitate their elders. This adds to their physical fitness and when done daily, adds to their routine and lifestyle.
Parents can get along with their little ones in basic yoga or aerobics and have a fun time together. This adds as a great physical activity for both and improves health and wellness.
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Musical chairs
A game that requires some music and a few chairs placed in opposite directions. Kids of all age groups enjoy the game, even elders at time do enjoy.
Players walk around the chairs while music is played and sit on them while the music stops. Number of chairs is 1 less than the number of players. So on every try, one person skips out. Running around the chairs and grabbing your seat is the fun and exciting part. The person who succeeds each time to sit wins the game.
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Sorting
Any kind of sorting can be played as a game. For instance, sorting same color balls, colored pencils, wardrobe items, books, etc. This game helps in a child’s cognitive development. They learn to assemble things well.
Moreover, its makes them well-groomed and trained to sort and assemble their belongings properly. So, it’s also a great game and activity for the child’s personal development.
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Charades
A classic game that the entire family can play. It requires two teams, where one member from team A acts and team B guesses the character, song or movie. In addition, it be played the other way round, where the same team act on a character given by another team and its fellow team members should guess to win.
The team with more correct guesses and lesser wrong ones wins the game. It’s an amazing amusement for a group of friends together and for kids of all ages with good thoughts and insight. Moreover, even elders enjoy the game.
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Freeze and dance
A little space and some music are required for the game. Kids dance when music is played and on turning off they should freeze.
The game is similar to ‘statue’ played in the ’90s. It’s a great indoor physical activity and entertainment for kids using no tools at all.
The activities listed above are mostly with adequate physical activity. They ensure the child and parent have enough activity when staying at home also. Adopting more physical indoor activities fills the need for outdoor activities well and ensures that kids stay active and energetic.