Do you need something to do in the cold? Rain? Intense heat? Regardless of what our Alabama weather is doing, you can always have a fun day with your kids while helping them get some energy out. If you don’t want to leave the comfort of your own home but need ideas on something different to do, be sure to check out this list of 20 at-home activities for kids that don’t require you to leave your house!
1. Bake or Cook
Let your children help measure and mix ingredients for your favorite dinner or dessert recipe, or just an easy recipe you find online.
2. Build a fort
While I am writing this article, my kids are creating an amazing fort out of pillows, couch cushions, and blankets. This is an easy go-to activity for them that allows them to work together and use their imaginations.
3. Craft
Keep a couple of bins with random craft things like popsicle sticks, stickers, and pom poms, and let your kids’ imaginations run wild! There are also many kid craft blogs online you can use for inspiration.
4. Create an indoor scavenger hunt
A simple scavenger hunt may be finding something of every color in the rainbow in each room. For a more complicated one, give clues for your kids to find cards hidden around the house, and then let your children solve a riddle with the cards they find.
5. Create relay races or obstacle courses
My kids create obstacle courses out of furniture, toys, and pillows. Their favorite is making a web if I have a ball of yarn that they can use.
6. Dance
Turn on your kids’ favorite music and let them dance out their energy. Join them for a workout of your own!
7. Make “just because” cards for family members
Cards are fun for your kids to make and for family, friends, or teachers to receive. If your family lives farther away, let your children add a stamp and either mail from your home mailbox, or take a quick trip to the post office for a trip out of the house.
8. Make S’mores
If you have a fire pit or fireplace, s’mores are an easy and fun treat for the entire family.
9. Make something to play with
Here are some easy recipes for DIY play dough, slime, and oobleck. Pro tip: the slime will be super sticky while you are making it. Keep mixing and kneading for a few minutes. The slime will eventually not stick to your hands but still be fun to play with.
10. Read or create your own story
If your children don’t love reading, consider stocking up on new books at the library every few weeks or creating incentives. A sticker chart where they can, for example, earn family ice cream night after reading 50 books, is great motivation to read! My kids and I have enjoyed starting our own podcast to make reading more fun for them and to share stories with others. There are many other podcasts that will read stories to your kids when you need a little break. Most libraries also have Wonderbooks that will read to children for you.
11. Paint and draw
I keep sketchbooks, paint, crayons, markers, and colored pencils on hand since both of my kids love art. If the idea of cleaning up paint makes you cringe, use watercolors and put down a disposable plastic tablecloth before your artists begin. My children love directed drawing videos like ones by ArtHub. ArtHub also has instructions for painting and Origami.
12. Play board games
My family is currently in a lengthy game of Monopoly that we return to once or twice over the weekends. Right now we love Hoot Owl Hoot, Phase 10, Mouse Trap, Operation, Guess Who, Tenzi, Battleship and Connect Four. Simple card games are also fun for the whole family.
13. Play indoor sports
This behind the door basketball goal has entertained my sports-loving son during several winters. We have allowed scooters and rollerskating indoors on particularly cold weeks. Our gymnastics mat makes tumbling and wrestling safe. We have also created a fun game using ping pong balls to toss into buckets. Sometimes we turn it into a math game by assigning different values to each bucket and adding as someone scores.
14. Pretend the floor is lava
“The floor is lava” is a popular game in my house where the kids create a challenging course to get to a goal without touching the floor.
15. Put on a play or make a movie
When my sister and I were young, we loved using my parent’s camcorder to make our own movies. Cell phones make it much easier to make simple home movies, or your family can learn how to edit videos for a bigger production.
16. Put together a puzzle
Whether you put together an easy puzzle in 10 minutes or a harder one over 10 days, puzzles are great for brain work and team work. You can find seasonal puzzles on sale, check them out from your local library, or make your own using a family photo.
17. Relax with a spa day
There’s no need to get out in the cold and go to an expensive spa! My daughter feels so grown up putting on a gentle face mask and painting her nails at home.
18. Sing karaoke
You don’t need a fancy set up for karaoke. While you can sing along without microphones, this small set makes singing more fun.
19. Solve riddles for an at home “escape room”
These downloadable escape room printables have been a big hit in my family! These games are ideal for ages 9 and up, but younger kids can participate with help from an adult.
20. Watch a family movie
Pop popcorn and cuddle on the couch to watch a new movie or old family favorite.
What are your family’s favorite activities at home? Comment to share your ideas with our readers!
