Indoor or Outdoor, kids love games. But during last year we witnessed this unexpected pandemic situation where we had to spend more time indoor. Indoor games for kids have positive side effects besides fighting boredom. It leads the children to learn how to use their body strength for physical activities which requires their input either using brain or muscles that in turn strengthens their physical build-up. The use of cognitive skills and other physical parts of body makes the kids stronger and they learn to make most of their independent decisions all through the indoor games for school kids. These aspects are really important and should be given the same weight as providing them healthy meals.
Here a list of epic indoor activities for kids have been presented which would lighten up the mood of children for fun games to play inside.
Table of Contents
Hangman
Hangman is an old and classic indoor game for two or more than two players. This fun game have been going since a long time and is still a popular choice for its energetic and tactical way of engaging the players.
Things you need to play
The only thing that is needed is a place to write and an object to write with like;
- Marker and board.
- Paper and pen
- Chalk and smooth surface (can be board or cemented floor)
How to play
This engaging activity requires only one person to draw small blanks after thinking of a word in their mind. The other players guess the words one by one until the blanks are filled. There usually is specific amount of chances given to the wrong choice of words by the audience players. As they run out of chances one by one, the engaging player draws the structure of hangman one by one until he is hung by a rope attached to a pole.
Pros
- This game can improve the vocabulary skills in young children.
- As it involves the exciting opportunity of learning about something new therefore it adds on to the knowledge of the child.
- It is a great game to learn correct spellings of the pertaining words.
Card games
Kids enjoy these games as it mostly opts for a fun time during their stay inside the home.
Things you need to play
- A deck of cards – it can either be memory cards, colorful cards, numbering cards and crazy eights.
How to play
- Memory cards – The memory card often have pictures of objects. Parents align the cards and turn it over for the child to take a look and after a few seconds they ask the child to try and pick the cards with same picture.
- Crazy eights – In this game the deck of cards with different numbers have to be rid of as soon as possible. The first one to rid of the cards will be the winner.
- Go fish – is one of the popular card games where two or more than two players can participate. The deck includes 52 cards so the cards are divided considering the number of players. This game includes the collection of same cards like collecting queen, king or 8’s. The winner is the one who collects all the cards and get rid of them before the other players.
Pros
- This game is valuable to young children for using their logical reasoning in order to find the correct card through number or color identifications of the cards.
- The children show their cognitive capability to find the hidden card amongst the other cards which is good in molding and sharpening their skills.
Lego or building blocks
The building blocks and especially Lego are one of the most popular indoor fun activity.
Things you need to play
- Building blocks / Legos
How to play
As Legos and other building blocks have small pointed ends that connects to the other alternative piece, therefore kids use this as a way to form different structures such as trucks, train, or any other challenging task according to their age.
Pros
- Improves dexterity skills.
- Builds the organization and concentration skills in children.
- Enhances creativity and learning in children.
Hot wheels
Children or mostly boys of young age prefers to play with toy cars. The extreme likeness towards the wheeling games is beyond measures.
Things you need to play
- Tapes
- Cars
How to play
Put tapes across a smooth floorboard to mark the racing track for the cars. Children find it more entertaining to stay with the tape-drawn boundary and win the race. In some cases, parents build Lego tracks for their children to enjoy the hot wheeling.
Pros
- Improving the sense of control in children.
- Entertaining due to the hurdles faced in the track.
Words search or country search
Word search is more of a mind consuming game where the children needs to be attentive of the word grid.
Things you need to play
- Word grid board
How to play
The players are presented with a word grid board that can vary depending upon the size of the board. Children are asked to find certain words it can either be written in normal format, upside down or backwards.
Pros
- The children pays more attention to keen things as a result of this game.
- Improves the spelling problem in children.
- Enhances cognitive ability.
Snake n ladder
Snake and ladder is one of the classical old fun indoor games that entangles the player in more than one way.
Things you need to play
- Snake and ladder board.
- Dice
- Coins or the moveable pawns.
How to play
The game can be played between three or more than three players. The dice is shaken and dropped to see what number has rolled out. Move the pawns according to the numbers till it reaches the end. Take the ladder to climb up the rows of number or if the pawn appears to fall in the mouth of a snake then it moves down till the tail of the snake.
Pros
- Enhances the critical thinking in children.
- It helps in the development of cognitive skills.
- Kids learn to deal with logical reasoning via this game.
Chess
I was thinking whether to include this or not, just because the game of Chess has more rules than the others in this list. But I couldn’t help, this is THE KING of the board games. So here we go.
Things you need to play
- Chess Board with all the pieces
How to play
I don’t think this is the best place to list all the rules and tricks of Chess. So I recommend to have a look at this link to get an idea. Please teach your kids how to play Chess, you won’t regret it.
Pros
- Helps to develop numerous skills such as problem solving, critical thinking etc.
- Learning Chess could be a life changing experience.
- Improves concentration
Carom
The maximum number of players carom can take is 4 not more than that as it can get congested. There are set of rules which you might find in this link.
Things you need to play
- Carom board.
- Pawns or coins.
- Striker
How to play
Hit the coins with a striker and make sure the coin goes through the hole which is present in the four corners of carom board. The different colors of the coins insinuate the different scores and as much as the player shoot the coins through the holes their scores adds up.
Pros
- Improves the competitive skills in children.
- Focusing on the target enhances their ability to stay attentive.
- A good family time is spent.
Musical chairs
This game is not bound to the number of players. Parents can participate along with the kids as well.
Things you need to play
- Sound system.
- Chairs
How to play
The chairs are set in the center which is always one less than the total number of players. The sound system is played in the background and the players start moving around the chairs and as soon the music stops, the players compete each other to sit on the chair. The one who does not get to sit loses.
Pros
- Gives the idea of time management to children.
- Improves competitive skills.
Slime or play dough
Things you need to play
- Slime
- Play dough
How to play
This does not require any technique. Let the child play with the moldable dough on their own.
Pros
- Enhances the creative skills in children.
- Practice of calmness and peace while playing the moldable dough.
Bubbles
Things you need to play
- Straw
- Soap
- Container
How to play
Put a small chunk of soap in the container and pour water in little amount over it. Stir it well until studs appear in the mixture. Let the child put one end of the straw in the suds and ask them to blow gently after removing it. The bubbles form at the end of the straw which excites the child.
Pros
- It is a cheap indoor gaming activity with zero budget.
- The kids might enjoy chasing the floating bubbles in the air enhancing their physical development.
- Sense of being independent is developed at some point.
Hide and seek
Things you need to play
Some space to play while staying inside.
How to play
It does not bound the number of players. One of the player counts till ten while the others hide. The seeker goes out to find the other hidden players after he’s done with counting. The first one to be caught is the loser of the team.
Pros
- Enhances the critical thinking.
- Improves the sense of hearing.
Indoor bowling
Things you need to play
- Empty soda cans or bottles
- Ball
How to play
Align the bottles or cans in the form of bowling stack at the one end of the smooth floor. Make the child stand at some distance from the bowling stack and ask them to throw the bowl towards it.
Pros
- Muscle strengthening.
- Oxygen utilization in body
- Enhances brain activity
Fort building
Children find fort making a more fun game to enjoy while staying indoor.
Things you need to play
- Pillows
- Cardboards
- Chairs
- Table
- Blankets
How to play
The children does not need supervision in this game as they use their own imagination to build a stack of pillows and blankets as a fort. Bringing the chairs closer together and throwing a blanket over it makes it look like a mini cave.
Pros
- It keeps the children engaged for a long period of time.
- Develops the creative imagination.
Touch and feel
This game puts the gloomy mood aside and make the environment lively and enjoyable.
Things you need to play
- A box (either cardboard box or show box)
- Different items.
How to play
Cut a hole on one side of the box and place it on the floor or table. Put an object under the box and ask the child to feel the texture of the item and guess it.
Pros
- Improves sense of touch
- Enhances learning skills
- Use of cognitive ability
Final words:
To enhance the physical and mental development of the children, parents are advised to not let the children use too much of the modern technology. Engage the child in the gaming activities as mentioned here.