Indoor Obstacle Course

 1. You can build an obstacle course around child-proofed areas; this is a fun option for kids of various ages.

What You Will Need

• Chairs
• Blankets
• Exercise ball
• Hula-hoops
• Anything else that may be useful

How to Play

• Set up the course as space permits and as you would like it and make the rules
• Each obstacle may require a different way to cross through it. For example, ask your child to pass from under a chair or pass through the blanket tunnel twice before he could move on to the next obstacle.
• He will be given a point only after successfully completing each obstacle

Suggestion

Child-proof the area before setting up an obstacle course to avoid any injuries.

2. Follow the leader

If you have several kids at home, this activity can be great fun and is one of the easiest ways to get the kids to follow what you are doing.

What You Will Need

• A list of simple activities
• Space to play

How to Play

• Select different themes for the game. It could be physical activity, gestures, or expressions
• You can be the leader or give each child a chance to be the leader
• All the players will have to mimic what the leader does, jumping, dancing, laughing, etc

Suggestion

This game can be the perfect excuse to squeeze in some exercise when kids are bound inside the house.

3. Puzzles

Give your child access to various puzzles that can be both engaging and educational.

What You Will Need

• Different kinds of a picture or word puzzles

How to Play

• Explain to your child that he needs to set the pieces of the puzzle together to form a picture in case of a picture puzzle
• If you have younger children, you can try some 3D puzzles toys
• Words puzzles are excellent for older kids in order to improve their vocabulary

Suggestion

Keep some puzzle books handy at home that can be given to your child when you cannot get out.

4. Card games

Simple card games are great for kids in order to mould their logical reasoning and colour and number identification.

What You Will Need

• A deck of cards or two

How to Play

• You can play simple kids card games like spoons, trash, cards, memory card (needs two decks), crazy eights (where you need to get rid of all your cards), etc.
• Go fish is a simple card game that is ideal for pre-schoolers.

Suggestion

You can always opt for Uno, which can be a fun alternative.

5. Building a Fort

Although not necessarily a game, it can keep your child engaged and occupied.

What You Will Need

• Pillows
• Chairs
• Cardboard boxes
• Blankets
• Anything else in the house that can be used

How to Play

• To make a cardboard fort, you can simply stack up a few cardboard boxes together and stick them with tape
• Stack up pillows on two sides with a gap between them and throw a blanket over for a simple pillow fort
• A few sticks and a blanket can help you build a tepee tent
• Simply cover a table or a couple of chairs with a blanket, and you’ll have a small fort. You could also fold up the blanket on one side and call it an entrance

Suggestion

You can build a fort with pillows, cardboard boxes, and blankets with your kids.

6. Dominoes

Stacking dominoes and watching them fall in quick succession can be enjoyable for people across ages. It can also give your child something to do for an entire day.

What You Will Need

• Dominoes game set

How to Play

• Stack the dominoes in the pattern and arrangement that your child prefers. You can help your child with this.
• Once all the pieces are set, you can ask your child to flip the first piece and watch as the rest follow suit.

Suggestion

Try different patterns and capture the entire thing on video for a memory that will last.

7. Ice Tower Excavation

Ice tower excavation is just the game your child needs when it is too hot to step outside. It is simple and can be enjoyed for hours.

What You Will Need

• A tall container
• Different toys and trinkets

How to Play

• Place the toys in the container and fill it with clear water
• Place this container in the freezer until the water turns to ice, and the toys are trapped inside
• Ease this ice block out of the container and arm your child with tools like salt, eye drops, and squeeze bottles to melt the ice and rescue the toy

Suggestion

Use a container that has a uniform width to make it easier to take the ice out of it.

8. Paper Bag Skits

This creative game is ideal for older kids and can be played during a sleepover when you have a lot of kids together.

What You Will Need

• Paper bags filled with small props like spoons, jewellery, ball, sock, etc.

How to Play

• Form groups of kids and give each group a paper bag filled with different props
• Tell them to create a small skit using the props they have received
• After 15 minutes, allow each group enough time to showcase what they have planned

Suggestion

This game can be made more creative with elaborate props