25 Fun Things to Do with Kids Inside Your Home

 

Just because you’re stuck indoors, doesn’t mean you really have to be stuck indoors. There are a ton of things that you and your kids can still do to have a blast from morning until night. And, to top it all off, you can do all of these things without your TV or your phone, unless you’re watching a tutorial video. Yes. That’s right. Unplugging can be a great way to reconnect as a family. Many of these activities can play an important role in children’s development as well. You can learn how to make learning fun for everyone involved or help your children learn skills that will last for a lifetime, all while having a great time.

 

1. Do a science experiment

Do fun educational science experiments from secret ink to making a Rubber Egg.

2. Build a fort

Okay, so if you’re strapped for things to do, this one is a classic go-to that will always see you through. You can literally make a fort out of anything. The dining room table and some sheets, the couch cushions and the couch, chairs, boxes, you name it. Challenge yourself to see who can build the coolest fort, the biggest fort, and the most creative fort. Ideas

3. Make a masterpiece

It might sound old-hat, but making art is a great way to pass an afternoon. You don’t have to go full out with expensive canvases and paints. Paper and pencil crayons, crayons, or even just a pencil and paper can all be inexpensively turned into masterpieces. If you want to try your hand at painting, look for canvases and paint supplies at garage sales, or places like dollar stores. Ideas

4. Shadow puppets

Okay, you might be saying this is pretty lame, but shadow puppets are actually fairly amusing. Kids LOVE them and it’s a great way to be creative. A lot of kids hate the dark, so shadow puppets are a great way to show them that the dark can actually be a lot of fun. There are videos and even books out there and tell you how to make all the neat little animals and characters, so do a little bit of research if you’re not already a puppet making master, and let the fun begin.

5. Play store

This one might be best if you have some storage space. If you can, save up the empty boxes and packing from good you’ve already used. Wash out and store containers. Empty cereal boxes, empty ice cream cone boxes, empty pizza boxes… that kind of thing. Let your child set up their own grocery store. If you have some play money lying around (look for it at garage sales or dollar stores or make it yourself), that will just take the fun up a level. Playing store can be really fun and it’s a great, sneaky way for you to teach your kids about counting change and even about math. Ideas

6. Act out a story

Reading is great, but you can really bring a story to life by acting it out. Take turns being different characters. You can role-play the story as you read it, or try and act it out from memory. Not only will you be reading to your child, but they’ll have a blast really getting interactive with stories, characters, and plots. How about 3 little Pigs? How-to

 

7. Dress up

This one is an old classic. Let your child enter into a world of imagination by playing dress up. Clean out your closet and donate a few of those items you never wear to the dress up box. Thrift stores and garage sales are great places to find unique and retro clothing. You might just have quite a bit of fun dressing up right along with your kids!

8. Listen to a story

Most libraries have books on tape, even for kids. Or, if you can find them, there is still vinyl out there that have stories recorded. Sometimes, you can get lucky and even find ones where the author is reading their own work. Alternatively, you can just download some of the many children’s books offered on popular audio book sites like the one on the link below. It’s a great way to wind down or just sit and relax. Alternatively, you could also act out the story as it’s being told or keep busy with crafts or another activity while you’re listening.

9. Create a car

If you have old boxes kicking around the house, don’t throw them out! They’re perfect, not just for things like forts, but also for cars. Five paper plates can transform a box into a race car! Try and find other things to decorate the car with. Cans (without sharp edges), jar lids, toilet paper rolls, and other recyclable items are all great things to add onto your new creation. How-to

10. Get beading

You can buy bead kits or search the house for your errant craft supplies. Making a necklace or a bracelet can be a lot of fun and can be done inexpensively with pony beads and even string, if you don’t have anything else on hand.

11. Get crafty

There are probably tons of gems just lying around the house. Cardboard, cans, lids, construction paper, beads, maybe even feathers- it can all be transformed into a beautiful new creation. Chances are, you have a ton of crafting supplies just sitting around not getting used. Why not break them out and get creative for an afternoon!
Ideas: Here & Here

12. Your deal

Don’t let playing cards become a lost art. There are a ton of different card games that you can play that are really fun. People of all ages and skill levels can learn different games. It’s not only fun to take time and learn something new, but the games themselves can be quite competitive and amusing. A deck of cards fits into just about any small space, so no matter where you are, if you know a couple games, you can usually keep the entertainment going. Ideas

 

13. Browse the past

You might not think that your kids will be interested in going through family photo albums or photo books, but they probably will be. Not only is it a great way for them to learn about their family, and what things were like in a different era, it’s a great trip down memory lane for you. A lot of people don’t have photo albums on hand anymore, but if you ask a relative, chances are, you’ll be able to borrow a couple. Or, if you have photo books made of your own family, your kids will probably love talking about all the fun things you’ve done together already. Ideas & How-to

14. Get your bake on

Baking is a fun, creative way to spend time together as a family. Making cookies is one of those time-honored traditions that likely just about everyone can remember doing with their parents or grandparents as a child. Those kind of memories last. You can be as creative as you want to be and there are no shortages of recipes you can look up at a glance online if you don’t have a cookbook. Oh, and the best part? Enjoying the tasty product of all your hard work!

Like baking, cooking is a great way to bring the family together and create long lasting memories. It’s also a great skill for your children to learn. You can make anything from something simple, like toast or a sandwich, to harder recipes. If your family has pizza night or a lasagna night, why not get the kids to help? Cooking can be really fun. It’s basically like doing a science experiment, and it’s a great way for them to learn recipes, and hands on skills. Ideas

15. Chore it up

You might not think of chores as being a fun activity, but if your house needs to be cleaned and you have an afternoon or an evening that’s dragging on, why not make it fun? You can make a game of it. Put on music and dance while you’re dusting. Imagine you have to slay the vacuum dragon and you can only do that by filling it up since it’s always hungry. The ideas are endless. You can really be creative and create a positive connection out of something your kids might not really want to do. Details

16. Ready or not, here I come

Hide and go seek is one of those age old go to games for people of all ages. Even adults can enjoy the fun of finding that perfect hiding spot (half the fun is getting into it!) and waiting for your child to discover you. If you don’t want to play, you always facilitate the game. Help your child with counting, or point out those amazing hiding spots. Hide and go seek can literally last for hours and the surprise of finding someone never gets old.

17. Giving feels good