Top Indoor Activities for Kids

Keeping kids happily engaged and entertained can be quite a challenge, especially when you’ve got several little ones to look after. Rainy days can feel like a bit of a disaster since most kids love playing outside and going on new adventures. Suddenly, the house is full of energy with nowhere to burn it off! But don’t worry – a day indoors doesn’t have to mean frustration, boredom, or tantrums.

This guide is packed with fantastic indoor activities for kids of all ages, giving you ideas for keeping them occupied when the sun isn’t shining.

What Activities are Suited to Indoor Play?

The best indoor activities excite kids and capture their imagination, while keeping the mess to a minimum! Several types of activities can entertain them, depending on their age and interests: arts and crafts, which can be very versatile; games and puzzles, which can be excellent team-building activities for kids; physical activities to burn off all that energy; imaginative play, which can involve role play and kids’ fancy dress; and even some fun educational toys for kids.

The goal is to keep them happy and entertained during the day. Depending on their developmental stage, your child may have a relatively short attention span, so it’s a great idea to mix things up. This can help them explore their interests and develop a few new skills along the way.

How Do You Keep Children Entertained Inside?

The important factor when determining suitable activities for kids at home is leaning into what they already love. If you have a kid who loves action figures, you can let them play with their Star Wars toys. If you have a kid who loves art, give them a colouring book or break out the paint sets.

That said, you don’t always have to stick to what they already know. For a child’s development, it’s a good idea to open them up to new activities and ideas, which can create a brand new hobby or interest. Our ideas can help stop the rainy day blues and keep them engaged for the whole day with various fun and exciting activities.

1. Indoor Arts and Crafts

Art and craft sets can open up your kid’s creative side. They can improve and hone valuable skills, such as hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills. Turning scraps of paper or cardboard into something uniquely theirs can also give them a sense of achievement and accomplishment. Here are some of our favourite creative ideas for kids:

• For Toddlers: Keep it simple by letting them experiment with different textures to develop their sensory skills. Chunky crayons for scribbling, finger painting (with a good splash mat) and colourful modelling dough can improve their motor skills.
• For Preschoolers: This age range allows you to experiment more. Try making animal masks from paper plates, using scraps of paper and fabric to create colourful collages, or cutting up old catalogues to help them generate papier-mâché creatures.
• For Ages 5+: Their improved motor skills could now mean they love building! Building and construction sets are always a great option, as are seeing who can make the best paper aeroplanes, creating colourful friendship bracelets for the family, and using a painting-by-numbers kit to let them experiment with colour.
• For Older Kids: You can give them more freedom with DIY materials. You could help them design their own comic book, build a complex model from a kit or learn to sketch characters from their favourite TV shows and movies.

2. Engaging Games and Puzzles

Games and puzzles can develop their cognitive abilities and teach them how to play with others (particularly how to lose gracefully without throwing a tantrum!) Nothing can beat games and puzzles for friendly competition or quiet focus.

• For Toddlers: It’s about developing their sensory skills through matching and sorting. You could entertain them with big, chunky floor puzzles, simple picture-matching games or stacking rings.
• For Preschoolers: Classic indoor games like picture bingo can excite them and lift their mood. Fun memory games with brightly coloured cards can also keep them engaged, as can simple board games, where they can learn how to take turns. To learn more about where to start, check out our toys for a three-year-old.
• For Ages 5+: Many classics will pique their curiosity and interest at this age. A game of Snakes and Ladders is always a favourite, a fast-paced round of Snap, or colourful jigsaws are excellent choices for getting them thinking.
• For Older Kids: They can take on games and puzzles that challenge their logic and critical thinking skills. Strategy board games are a fun option, as are tricky teasers or even an escape room in a box for an afternoon of excitement and mystery.

3. Indoor Physical Activities

Kids who cannot go outside have excess energy they need to burn off! These activities are excellent options for getting them moving and keeping them entertained.

• For Toddlers: The best option is simple games that grab their attention. You could play musical chairs with cushions on the floor, create a fun crawling race across the living room or roll a soft ball back and forth.
• For Preschoolers: You can’t go wrong with some classic indoor games for kids! Hide and seek is always a fun option. You could also play tag, teach them how to do some stretches or create a mini soft play area with pillows and blankets for them to explore and climb over.
• For Ages 5+: Kids love dancing at this age, so why not encourage it? You could have a freeze dance party with musical toys. If they want to do something more active, you could create a fun obstacle course around the furniture.
• For Older Kids: If you have a foam ball and a lot of free space, a penalty shoot-out is an excellent idea for any kid who loves football. Or, you could try some simple yoga or strengthening exercises for kids. You could even set up a mini indoor putting range if you’re feeling creative.

Remember to clear breakables and create a safe play area before starting energetic games.

4. Imaginative Play For a Rainy Day

These activities can really develop their imagination, teach them how to tell stories, and help them begin to see things from other people’s perspectives. They’re an excellent way of losing themselves in their favourite worlds and playing as their favourite characters.

• For Toddlers: A simple tea party with their favourite soft toys and dolls can keep them stimulated, as can lining up their animal toys for a parade. To see more of our range, check out our toddler toys.
• For Preschoolers: Role-playing is an excellent pastime that can keep them enthralled for an entire afternoon. Kids’ fancy dress can help them tell their own adventures, from saving the world to becoming the leader of a magic kingdom.
• For Ages 5+: Playing with their favourite action figures can help them build a world of adventure. You can help them put on a puppet show to entertain their cuddly toys or create a fort out of blankets, which can act as their top-secret headquarters. To see more of our range, why not check out our toys for a five-year-old?
• For older kids: At this age, they may want to get more creative. Making homemade movies is a great idea! Give them your phone to help them capture their next rollicking adventure. They can write the script, design costumes for characters, and be the star of the show.

5. Educational Indoor Activities

Educational activities for kids and STEM toys can help get their brains working, letting them develop interests and skills that can reinforce what they learn at school and further their knowledge. These brilliant things to do at home with kids can teach them valuable skills and open up new avenues that lead to new hobbies.

• For Toddlers: Focus on the fundamentals. Colourful stacking blocks can teach them about colour. Shape sorters are also a great option, as is teaching them about numbers by helping them count their toys.
• For Preschoolers: An alphabet puzzle or simple science experiments (like seeing what sinks or what floats) can keep them engaged. Using interactive displays on a tablet to show them fun, creative games can also be an excellent option—it’s a device that can be very useful to them in small bursts.
• For Ages 5+: Find games that make learning fun. Some fun maths puzzles can feel more like an exciting mission than a test. You could find simple coding games online if they enjoy working on computers. You could also give them a geography quiz about different capital cities, show them a map, and teach them where you’ve previously travelled as a family.
• For older kids: Dive deeper into subjects they love. If they enjoy building circuits, a science kit can be an exciting option. You could work on a history game with them about their favourite topic, or they could continue learning a language using activity books. To see more of what we offer, check out our range of toys for big kids.

6. Indoor Activities for the Whole Family to Enjoy

Indoor activities for children don’t just need to revolve around their interests. Some of the best memories on a rainy day are made when the whole family gets involved! These indoor activities are an excellent way to get the family together.

• For Toddlers: Keep it collaborative to teach them new skills and make them feel like they’re part of a team. Have a family sing-along with all of the actions, or snuggle up to read a story to them where everyone does a different voice.
• For Preschoolers: Work together on a big floor puzzle, let them decorate some homemade cookies or put on a silly family competition where everyone gets a prize.
• For Ages 5+: You could play with family board games to introduce a bit of friendly competition, or to teach them about teamwork, you could build a family-sized fort.
• For Older Kids: Some of these options are excellent team-building activities for kids and adults alike. Use a board game (or pick a designated host who can write the questions) to create a family quiz night, have a cooking competition or learn a new, complex card game together.

All the activities we’ve discussed are great for keeping your little ones entertained and making memories together – why not try one today? Check out our shop by age toy range for more inspiration and age-appropriate activities!

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