Most children’s games are played outdoors, usually because they require space for running or enough room for the players to move around. However, outdoor spaces are not always available for various reasons (adverse weather conditions, for example). 

Fortunately, there are a few indoor games that you can let your kids play to keep them busy and entertained while they’re cooped up inside the house.  

Hide-and-Seek

With plenty of rooms to choose from and lots of nooks and crannies, the house offers a real treasure trove of hiding places, making it a perfect venue for the classic Hide-and-seek game. Make sure to safely pack away those breakable lamps and figurines before starting the game.

Musical chairs

Musical chairs require only a few items, so it is also perfect for indoor spaces like your living room or dining area. You only need to gather enough chairs to form a circle, play some nice upbeat tunes, dance to the music, and then grab a seat as fast as you can when the music stops. 

Twister

Increase your children’s flexibility by making them play Twister. This game requires you to have the colored playing mat and the colored spinning wheel, but that’s it. You can play Twister in any place where the mat can fit, making it playable even in small rooms. 

Simon Says

A versatile game that can be played outdoors and indoors, Simon Says is a challenging and fun activity for kids. Just tweak the instructions a bit so the kids are limited to stuff that can be done within the house. If you can come up with some ridiculous and exciting challenges, it might even be as fun as, if not more fun than, playing it outdoors.

Scavenger Hunt

This classic game is a hit inside the home as it is outside. The thrill of running outside to look for clues is just replaced by the exhilarating number of nooks and crannies that the inside of the house offers as hiding spots. 

However, the biggest downside here is that your house would probably never look the same after the children are done rummaging through every corner for clues. On the upside, though, the messier the house gets, the more fun the kids probably had. 

Pictionary or Charades

Although these games require some planning (if you’re not using the commercial board game), both Pictionary and charades are fascinating and often hilarious. While Pictionary tests your drawing skills, a charades game requires you to act out a chosen topic or subject. These guessing games will challenge your kids’ creativity and imagination. 

Uno games

Whether it be the Uno Card Games or the Uno Stacking Games, Uno games have been a hit for decades. Focusing on testing speed, reflexes, and strategies, they have successfully been entertaining children (and adults alike) for several generations, so there’s little reason to believe they won’t work on kids now. 

Board Games

If your living room has limited space for moving around or if you’ve invited quite a several guests over, then you can also whip out those board games for some less animated (and more of a sit-down) fun time. 

Classic board games like Monopoly, Cluedo, Scrabble, or Boggle might appeal to older kids since these games are more mentally demanding and challenging. On the other hand, the younger ones might prefer the newer and fast-paced board games like Sushi Go!

Card games with a regular deck

Poker is not the only fun game you can play with a regular deck of cards. There are also kid-friendly and fun-filled games that your children can play with just a regular deck of cards. 

If you have no idea where to start, you can try these classics: Hearts, Bridge, Go Fish, Cheat, Crazy Eights, and Blitz. Some of these card games are fast-paced, some require strategies, and others need a bit of math, but all are equally fun and exciting. 

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the advantages of playing indoor games over playing outdoor games?

Indoor games take up less space than outdoor games. They’re also not affected by weather conditions or sudden weather changes. Also, parents can provide better supervision at home than when kids play outdoors. 

With indoor games, you also minimize risks like wildlife encounters, exposure to allergens like pollen, or accidental encounters with poisonous plants. If anything wrong happens, you will also have quicker access to medical help when indoors as opposed to when you’re outside. 

How do you prepare for indoor games?

Plan ahead. If you’re doing indoor games that involve moving around a bit, like hide-and-seek or a scavenger hunt, then make sure you put away all breakable materials like lamps, figurines, or anything that might fall and shatter when accidentally bumped. 

If you’re doing board games, check to see that the pieces or the materials needed are all available and complete. For Pictionary, you’ll need boards and markers. For Twister, you’ll need the colored mat. 

What are the disadvantages of indoor games?

With indoor games, kids don’t get to move and exercise as much because of the lack of space. They also miss out on the extra Vitamin D production you get from sun exposure.