Indoor Activities For Cooped Up Kids

Rainy days, snowstorms, or simply the need for a break from the outdoors can sometimes confine us indoors. For adults, this might mean a quiet day of relaxation. For kids, however, it can quickly turn into a whirlwind of boredom and restlessness. 

It's essential to keep young minds engaged and entertained during these periods of indoor confinement, otherwise we all can go a little crazy!

Here are a few activities we can set up to transform those cooped-up days into fun-filled, memorable moments.

How to keep kids entertained when cooped up indoors

Get creative

Unleashing creativity is a fantastic way to keep kids occupied — and there are literally thousands of ideas out there to help you get started. Ever heard of Pinterest?

Arts and crafts offer endless possibilities for expression, and you don’t need much to get started. From painting vibrant masterpieces to crafting intricate origami figures to play-dough sculpting, macaroni art and more, the world of creativity is wide open when you have a few supplies and a little bit of time. 

Building forts is another fun activity that sparks imagination and creativity. Gather blankets, pillows and chairs to create a fun hideaway for reading, playing or relaxing — turn it into a sleepover or movie cave, or decorate it with some string lights or streamers for a cozy effect. A fort may take up a lot of space and leave your living area a little, well, chaotic for a time, but it’s well worth it in the end.

Puppet shows provide a great opportunity for storytelling and dramatic play! With a little creativity and, of course, a willing audience, everyday objects can be transformed into captivating characters in complex worlds. This activity is a little more age-specific, but if your kids are suited to it then it’s a great time-killer.

Finally, for those budding musicians, creating DIY instruments can be a joyful experience — if you're not too worried about the noise. With simple materials like empty boxes, rubber bands and spoons, kids can explore their musical talents and put on the performance of a lifetime. Rock on, little dudes!

Get moving

Physical activity is crucial for children's health and well-being, especially indoors. 

An indoor obstacle course can transform any space into a challenging and exciting playground. With a little planning and adequate safety management, you can create a fun course that includes crawling, jumping, balancing and climbing on a variety of age-appropriate obstacles. 

Dance parties are a fantastic way to burn energy and boost mood — all you have to do is put on some upbeat music and let loose! A little dance here and there can help us adults lower tension and release pent-up energy, so it only makes sense that kids can experience it too.

The good ol’ game of Simon Says is another fun way to get kids moving, and you can always add variations to the game to keep it interesting. Hide and seek is another game that can be adapted for indoor play, even in small spaces. Try it at night time with the lights off for an extra level of fun!

Get learning

Learning and growing don't have to stop when the weather turns bad. Board games and puzzles offer opportunities for strategic thinking, problem-solving and social interaction while also providing long-lasting entertainment. 

Creating a cozy reading nook can encourage a love of books, and it can certainly come in handy when cooped up indoors. Reading is a tried-and-true way to expand vocabulary and escape to a new world — even kid-friendly audiobooks can offer hours of quiet entertainment!  

Cooking or baking together is not only fun but also teaches valuable life skills that include (but are not limited to) critical thinking, arithmetic, reading comprehension and, of course, confidence! Start with simple recipes and gradually increase the complexity as your child gains confidence in their skills.

At-home science experiments can spark curiosity and a love of learning at any age — plus, science is just straight up cool, so it’s a win-win!. With common household items, you can conduct exciting experiments that explain the world around us while also entertaining curious young minds.

Get relaxed

While it's important to keep kids active and engaged, it's equally essential to provide opportunities for relaxation and rejuvenation. And oftentimes, a gray, rainy day is the perfect chance to do just that. 

A movie or TV marathon can be a fun way to unwind and spend quality time together, if that’s what your family finds valuable! Star Wars is a good go-to saga to dive into because you can pair a watch party with custom snacks and activities (and because it’s the best saga there is, so that too). 

For a more adventurous experience, try indoor camping. Pitch a tent in the living room, tell stories and enjoy the cozy atmosphere. Make some s’mores, play forest noises on a speaker, make hot cocoa, light a candle — you can make it as cozy as you want! 

A DIY spa day can offer a moment of pampering and relaxation. With simple ingredients like cucumbers and yogurt, you can create soothing face masks and body scrubs that kids will also love! For older kids, some yoga and meditation are excellent tools for calming the mind and body; there are many kid-friendly resources available to help you introduce these practices to your children, so choose a video you like and just follow along!

Rainy days, sicknesses, wildfire smoke or whatever is keeping you indoors doesn't have to dictate how much fun you have. There are plenty of ways to enjoy a day or two inside your apartment and still keep your kids entertained! By incorporating a variety of activities into your indoor routine, you can create a stimulating and enjoyable environment for you and your children — the key is to have fun and encourage creativity and exploration. 

So, the next time you're faced with a rainy day or a need for indoor entertainment, don't panic. Use these indoor activities to entertain and bond with your kids no matter what’s happening outside!

Enjoy!

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Featured photo by Olivia Oliver Design on Unsplash