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How often have you faced the conundrum of having to find something to do that will keep your kids entertained? Many parents face trouble getting their kids to sit tight. There are tons of interesting activities for kids that can help you in your quest to keep your kids entertained and out of trouble. When they are on a long break and don’t have much to do, they may often let their mind wander and start getting restless. The one way you can help them burn off steam while also learning something new is to engage in some interesting and educational activities for kids. Additionally, engaging in these activities allows children to imbibe essential life skills such as teamwork, problem-solving, and creativity, which are crucial for their overall development. In this post, we have come up with a bunch of fun and creative activities for you. These fun activities are a great way to build their self-esteem and help them discover what interests them.
Top 37 Fun Activities For Kids At Home
Here are 35 fun indoor activities for kids that will keep your child entertained and happy:
1. Dough art
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This fun activity for kids at home is exciting during the holiday season. Here how you can help your child:
- Defrost the bread dough for around 4 hours.
- Give your child an apron, if you feel he or she is too messy.
- Ask your child to make interesting animals, cartoon characters or plants and paint them with food colors.
- Once the dough-art is over, you can bake it at 350 degree for 30 minutes.
2. Backward day
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This activity is a good way to break from the normal routine. All things happening backward for a day will sure excite your kid!
- You can choose a particular day when your kid will wear clothes backward.
- It’s best to choose a day when there is no school.
- You can also serve dinner backwards and start with the deserts first and end with the main course.
3. Marble art
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You can enjoy this project with him outdoors:
- Take a white chart paper and some marbles.
- In small containers, put Tempera paints and marbles of different colors.
- Help your kid spoon out the marbles and let them roll on the chart paper to create colorful impressions.
4. Leafy art
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Here is one of the many painting ideas for kids that can also bring them closer to nature:
- Collect leaves of different shapes, sizes and colors. Be careful that your kid doesn’t touch trees that are harmful.
- Put different poster color paints on a plate, dip the leaves one at a time, and press them on white chart paper.
- To make it more interesting you may add glitters.
Rose Caillier, a mother and a doctor, shares an engaging and fun leaf art idea that she incorporated into her daughter Olivia’s learning experience. Caillier says, “I like using cheap plastic photo albums from the dollar store to create learning books for kids… We removed the cardboard insert and designed our own nature-inspired book cover. For my preschooler, it was all about stickers!!
“We collected leaves from the various plants and trees around the house. Our collection included leaves from our raspberry bush, herb garden, flowers, and landscaping plants. I took pictures of the source of each leaf and placed it in the photo album. Next to the photo, we placed the matching leaf… Olivia already knew that panda bears eat bamboo. So when we collected our bamboo leaves, she thought of panda bears. I pointed out that the leaf is long and skinny… The different things we talked about each leaf were the shape, the edge being rough or smooth, the smell, and even the taste (I let her nibble on some parsley and chives) (i).”
5. Photo album
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If you are thinking of a thoughtful activity, creating a photo album of your kid with dad can be an exciting option:
- You can create an album capturing all the affectionate moments between your kid and his father.
- This is a good way to capture the special moments and the occasions that you will cherish for the rest of your life.
6. Fun with blankets
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Though it seems strange, you can enjoy with chubby house made from blanket:
- Your kid can have a cuddly and soft private home that is truly unique.
- It’s one of the best options to play peek-a-boo with your kid.
7. Stars in the sky
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The sky shows its magic at night with stars glittering everywhere.
- You can take your child on the terrace and ask him or her to describe the patterns of the stars and what he or she thinks.
- We guarantee you will be amazed by your child’s imagination! Also, it is a good way to encourage counting.
8. Paper cuttings
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Children look into magazines and newspapers to find interesting pictures they can cut out.
- You can ask your kid to keep in mind a story or theme for this project so that he or she can come up with a story from the paper cutting.
- Ask him to glue the paper cuttings in order on a page.
- Let him caption the pictures.
- You can then ask him to write a story based on the cuttings.
- This is a great way to help him figure out his thoughts and it also helps in enhancing writing skills.
9. Packing boxes
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If you have recently shifted, you will have plenty of cartons lying here and there. Give him the cartons to make a fun activity:
- Encourage your child to make passage ways in the large boxes and create windows to allow light to pass.
- Let there be provision for the windows to be open or close.
- You can also create forts with the boxes.
10. Eating under the table
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Well, you can allow them to do this once in a while:
- Your family can enjoy a Sunday special breakfast under the table!
- For this, make sure the floor is clean, the height of the table is good enough to accommodate all and your child is wearing an apron.
- Don’t worry about the mess; you can always clean it later.
11. Make your indoor obstacle course
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While your kids are indoors and full of energy, use some obstacle courses to keep them charged up. Here are a few ways in which you can help your kids form an obstacle course inside the house. Make sure you choose the points that are age appropriate and will be safe and suitable in your space:
- Stretch out a string in between two chairs and ask your kids to crawl through below them.
- Your kids have to crawl below or over a row of chairs.
- Next, they have to jump inside and outside a set of Hula Hoops five times each.
- After that, they have to go and walk on a balance board.
- Once that is done, they have to throw a bean bag into a laundry basket from a distance then go and take it out.
- Next, they have to run while they are also balancing the bean bag on their head.
- Toss a ring.
- Ride a tricycle or bicycle on a preset course.
- Somersault from one side of the room to the other.
- Perform a handstand.
- Stand and skip while reciting a poem.
- Do jumping jacks ten times.
Did you know?12. Scrapbook with autumn leaves
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You Will Need:
- Various sheets of construction paper in the same size
- Colored yarn
- Paper clip
- Leaves and fallen flowers
- Clear contact paper
- Phone book
- Hole punch
- Glue
How To:
- Ask your kids to pick out lots of fallen leaves and flowers in different sizes, shapes and colors.
- Help them preserve the leaves and flowers by drying them out first. To do so, ask your kids to place each flower or leaf between the pages of the phone book, one flower or leaf on one page. Keep the book in a dry and cool place for at least a week so that the items are completely dry.
- Ask your kid to arrange the same on the construction paper in any design or way they wish. Once they have done so, let them glue it up and cover each page with the clear contact paper. Make sure to leave one page each for the front page and back page.
- Arrange the pages in order, from front cover to back cover and place them together. Now use the hole punch to punch holes on the spine of the book. Loop the yarn through the same to bind the book in place.
13. Bring the beach to the garden
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If you don’t stay near the beach or cannot take the kids to the beach now, you can always bring some beach fun back home.
- Set up some water areas in your garden by filling up plastic baby pools with water and beach gear.
- Make sure all the kids are dressed in swimming gear and also set up a ball play area in another plastic pool.
- Scatter some shells around the garden and ask your kids to go out on a shell finding trail, bringing them back in little pails.
14. Watch the sun rise and the sun set on the same day
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- Why not let your kids enjoy the double dose of nature on the same day?
- Instead of just watching the sun rise or the sun set, try and let your kids experience the beauty of both on the same day.
- Wake up early and head out to see the sunrise. Pack a hearty breakfast and eat it together while watching the sun wake up.
- In the evening, set up an early dinner at home and once you have shown your kid the sunset, come back to a ready meal together.
15. Remember the alphabet
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You can use this fun activity to help your kids learn and remember the alphabets as well as keep older kids entertained by making them remember the words.
- The person who will start the game will say something with the first letter of the alphabet, such as “A is for Apple” or anything like that.
- The second person will have to say something with the next letter but will also have to remember and say what the first person had said. So the second person will have to say something like “A is for Apple, B is for Ball” and so on.
- The chain will continue like this, and it will be fun to see where your kids can reach before you have to begin again.
16. Remember the tray
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Here is another memory game that will work for kids of all ages and help them have fun.
- Get a big tray or plate and ask your kids to fill them up with objects from within the house or garden. Your kids have to try and get as many things as possible inside the plate, so make sure the items are small. Also, make sure the kids don’t show their find to the other kids and give it only to you.
- Once they fill the tray, take a cloth and close it.
- Now sit with your kids and remove the cloth to show them the objects inside, just for a few seconds. Now close it back again and ask your kids to name the objects they saw inside. You can also keep adding new objects after each round to make it a little more challenging.
17. The double double clap game
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Use this clapping game to help your kids build and improve their gross motor skills.
- Before you start the game, make sure your kids know the meaning of the words used. The word ‘front’ means the two players who are playing in a pair will clap their palms together. The word ‘back’ means they will clap the back of their hands together. The word ‘fist’ means they will bump their fists together.
- Now memorize the song and play along.
“Double front double front. This back this back. That fist that fist. Double front this back. Double front that fist. Double front double front. This back that fist”.
18. The bubble contest
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Use this fun bubble play time to create lots of interesting contest ideas and help your children socialize.
- Make sure your kids have access to a bubble blower that is filled with soapy water.
- Set them challenges such as who can make the highest number of bubbles in a given amount of time?
- Who can create the biggest bubble?
- Whose bubble will fly up the highest?
- Whose bubble stays for the longest time and so on.
19. Make a writer’s den
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If you want to encourage your kid to write, or if your kid already enjoys it, you can make this great den at home.
- Take some bedsheets and cushions and arrange a cozy nook near your table. Make sure you clear the top of the table so that there is no risk of objects crashing to the ground.
- Set up a tent area and fill it up with some snacks and homemade juice. Also, keep some writing accessories handy, such as notebooks, pencils, pens, colors and all.
- Make sure that there is enough light coming inside the tent, or you can place a floor lamp nearby. This will allow your child to explore their style of writing and experiment with it.
Did you know?20. Egg music maker
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You Will Need:
- Plastic eggs
- Popcorn kernels
- 2 plastic spoons for each player
- Hot glue gun
- Glue stick
How To:
- Ask your kid to open the plastic egg, fill half of it with the popcorn and then close it tight.
- Use the hot glue to stick the spoons on either side of the egg. Let your kid press it firmly so that it also closes the egg properly.
- Now see how your kid will enjoy the rattle music.
21. Beach shell art
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You Will Need:
- Lots of seashells
- Watercolors
- Paint brush
How To:
- Let your kid look for shells at the beach, or buy them from a local store.
- If you have got the shells at the beach, make sure you clean them and set them to dry first.
- Place the shells on the table and let your kids color them as they wish.
22. Water spray war
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Use this game to let your kids enjoy the feeling of being in a swimming pool without even being in one.
- One of the kids will be the ‘it’ and will hold a spray bottle. Now the ‘it’ will have to tag some other kid by spraying them with water.
- The person who gets sprayed with water will have to take over and be the ‘it.’
- All kids have to try and duck the water spray and continue playing.
23. Newspaper golf
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You Will Need:
- Newspaper
- Tape
- Golf or a tennis ball
- Masking tape or a paper
How To:
- Roll up lots of sheets of the newspaper tightly and tape them up tightly to make golf clubs for all the players.
- Put a sheet of paper on the floor and mark holes, or use the masking tape to make various holes on the ground.
- Ask your kids to use their golf clubs to try and roll the ball into the holes.
- Set a time limit and hand out delicious treats such as milk and cookies, raisin cakes and such.
24. Unfreeze the pool
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- Make use of your kiddie swimming pool in a different way.
- Fill up your kids’ swimming pool, the plastic ones, with ice cubes instead of water.
- Now ask your kids to stand outside the pool and keep a small tray or plate next to each person.
- Your kids have to take out the ice cubes from the pool using only their feet and place them on the plates.
- The kid who gets the highest number of ice cubes out the fastest will be the winner.
25. Rainbow soapy foams
Image: funathomewithkids.com
You Will Need:
- 2 tbsp. of dish soap
- ¼thcup of water
- A mixer
- Food coloring
How To:
- Add the soap and water in a bowl and add food coloring to it. Mix it well.
- Ask your kid to keep mixing for about one to two minutes so that he foam will start to form. Your kid should do it in such a way that the foam is able to take shape.
- Next, your kid can scoop the foam out and make shapes on a different container, as many times as they wish.
26. Sponge dodging
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Use this fun water activity to let your kids enjoy some pre-bath moments and have lots of physical activity too.
- Fill a bucket of water and cut up lots of sponges so that all the kids have one piece each.
- Ask all the kids to dip the sponges in the water bucket so that it gets soaked up with water.
- Once all the kids have wet their sponge, ask them to back off and get ready.
- On the count, the kids have to throw their soaked sponges at each other and try to hit someone. All the kids have to try and dodge the other kids’ sponges. The kid who gets hit with the water-soaked sponges will be out of the game.
- The kid who remains standing till the end will be the winner.
27. Paper towel art
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Looking for hobbies for kids? Perhaps indulging in some fun artwork might get them interested in art and painting.
You Will Need:
- Paper towels or coffee filters
- Marker pens in different shades
How To:
- Let your kid sit down with a stash of paper towels.
- Hand over the markers and ask your kid to make dots and marks on the paper. The absorbent nature of the paper towel will soak up the color and start making different patterns on its own.
28. Head out on the treasure hunt
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Depending on what time of the year it is, you can set up an appropriate treasure hunt for your kids.
- Mark out an area where the treasure hunt will take place.
- The best part about this activity is that you can carry it out in the house, do it in your backyard or your garden, do it at the local park, at the beach, or practically anyone you are comfortable to take your kids too. However, make sure that you let your kids go on the treasure hunt only while a responsible adult is around.
- Set a list for the kids about things they have to find. You can hide the things yourself and ask your kids to find it out by giving appropriate clues.
- Alternatively, you can also hand out a list to your kids with the different types of things they should find. A few ideas are different types and colors of leaves, shells, feathers and such.
Did you know?29. Learn how to give and receive compliments
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A very important thing to teach your kids is the art of giving and receiving compliments.
- Start by saying something nice to your kids and asking them to reply with a ‘thank you’ or another nice thing in return.
- You can give your kids different compliments such as ‘You have a beautiful smile’ or ‘I love it when you clean up your room’ or ‘I am so proud of you that you are such an honest boy.’
- Once you have said this to your kid, ask them to either say a ‘thank you’ or some other nice thing just the way you told them earlier.
- It is also a great way to teach your kid that there are certain things about others that they may or may not like. However, they have to understand that instead of focusing on the bad things, they should look for the good things in others and use that to pay a compliment.
30. Catch a bug
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It is possible that your kids are scared of bugs and other crawlies inside the house, but this activity will help them conquer their fear.
- Give your kids a glass jar or a sheet of paper and ask them to catch a bug that they see.
- Instead of running away, they can place the bug in the jar and observe it for some time.
- Later, after a few minutes of looking at the bug and understanding its body structure and other things, they can set it free in the outdoors.
31. Visit a local social service center
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The right time to start your kids on good work is right from the time they are young.
- Select a local help center that your kid can visit along with you, keeping your kid’s age in mind.
- You can choose from a host of places such as the fire station, the bank, the post office, an old age home, a child care facility, or anything you feel is appropriate.
- If required, take the time out and find out if you need an appointment to visit or if you can simply walk in with your kid.
- You can also simply take your kid to the mall or local grocery store and show them how the products are billed and how the produce and other items are divided in various aisles and such.
32. Have a family pillow fight
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A pillow fight is just that, a pillow fight, and not something that can be restricted to just kids, so feel free to join in.
- Set up lots of pillows on the bed or the floor, depending on your kids’ age. If you have very young kids, you may want to do this on the carpet on the floor, so that your kids do not lose balance and topple off.
- Older kids will find it more fun and manageable on the bed too.
- Start by making sure that everyone has a pillow to use. Gently start hitting each other with the pillows in a playful way.
- You can also try to gang up your kids against you and ask them to try and put you down with the pillow fight.
33. How do I feel?
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Use this brilliant activity to teach kids all about facial expression and the art of expressing themselves.
- Make your kids sit down and be the leader.
- Start by making different faces at your kids. You have to make sure that you make a host of other facial expressions that will express your mood and feeling. Use various expressions to show sadness, happiness, fear, anger, confusion, sleepiness, tiredness, worry, surprise, excitement, embarrassment, shyness, interest, and so on. You have to make sure that the expressions you choose are those your kid will understand or can relate to, so keep it age-appropriate.
- Show one expression at a time and ask your kids to name the feeling that you shared. If your kid is not able to point it out correctly, help by giving them some clues about it.
- Encourage your kid to start showing off the expressions themselves and you have to guess. Try not to guess it too soon so that your kid has enough time to communicate and express what they may be feeling and what they are trying to show.
34. Math in the garden
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Use this brilliant activity to keep your kids interested in numbers.
- Start by heading out to your garden or a local garden nearby.
- Set your kids on different tasks such as measuring the length of a particular plant or counting the number of flowers or buds on a plant.
35. Thank you tree
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Teach your kid the importance of being thankful to the tree by doing this simple activity.
- Ask your kid to pick out a thick branch that has many other branches attached to it.
- Bring it home and stick it in a pot.
- Ask your kid to write out one name each week for which they are thankful. It could be the name of a person, a pet, an activity, or anything they think made them feel good.
- Your kid will have to paste it on the branch each week and see how the tree grows.
36. Yoga time
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- Encourage your children to be fit and healthy by practicing yoga.
- Hire a yoga teacher, or check out basic yoga videos on Youtube.
- Ask your child to follow the instructions in the video or practice yoga poses with them.
- Encourage them to practice yoga daily. If they show more interest, consider enrolling them in a yoga class.
37. Have fun with experiments
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- Trying science experiments is a cool and educational way for children.
- Look up online for videos or purchase books on easy science experiments that can be conducted at home by kids under adult supervision.
- Arrange for the required apparatus and materials.
- Ask your child to follow the instructions to achieve the desired result.
- For older children, you can leave them alone to conduct safe experiments and ask them to show you the final outcome of what they learned.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can you suggest team-building activities for children to help them develop social skills?
Two truths and a lie, scavenger hunt, human knot, and passing the hula hoop are examples of team-building activities that help children develop social skills.
2. Can you provide music and dance activities for children?
Dance and music activities that children can enjoy include musical chairs, balloon dance, freeze dance, and singing along.
3. Can you suggest some cooking and baking activities for children to learn new skills in the kitchen?
You can include your child in cooking activities at home, such as decorating a cupcake, making a smoothie, or making pancakes and loaves of bread.
4. What virtual activities can children do online with friends and family?
Some virtual activities that children can do with their friends and family include online game nights, online book clubs, virtual movie nights, and online exercise and dance classes.
5. What are some quick activities for children that require minimal setup?
Quick activities for children requiring minimal setup include paper towel art, simple science experiments using food ingredients, and experiments with other everyday household items. These activities are engaging, easy to prepare, and encourage creativity and curiosity.
These fun and interesting activities for kids are great to keep them hooked while indoors or outdoors. Moreover, they engage your children in some lively and innovative activities and boost their creativity while aiding their overall development. You may also participate in these activities with your child to spend some quality time with them. Select an intriguing and age-appropriate activity as per your child’s preference and age–it should allow them to learn while they explore and imagine. Try different activities and let your child have a fun time with them.
Infographic: Enjoyable Activities For Your Children
There are many games and activities that help beat boredom in children. Such activities make children active and become more creative. Your child will definitely love the activities mentioned in this infographic. Find those that you think will appeal to your child and enjoy watching them having a great time!
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
Key Pointers
- Parents often struggle to find entertaining activities for their kids.
- Engaging, fun, and creative indoor activities can help kids burn off steam while learning new things.
- These activities can stimulate creativity and self-esteem in children.
- Participating in activities with their children is an excellent way for parents to spend quality time together.
Illustration: Fun And Interesting Activities For Kids
Image: Dall·E/MomJunction Design Team
Engage your kids with fun and creative DIY crafts! This easy-to-follow video presents a collection of exciting craft activities that will keep them entertained and unleash their creativity.
Personal Experience: Source
MomJunction articles include first-hand experiences to provide you with better insights through real-life narratives. Here are the sources of personal accounts referenced in this article.
i. Summer learning fun: Make a leaf collection book from a dollar store photo album; https://wisdomformom.wordpress.com/2012/09/02/summer-learning-fun-make-a-leaf-collection-book-from-a-dollar-store-photo-album/
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