10 Fun Indoor Activities for Kids Who Are Home from School

Here are 10 popular indoor activities, including fun ways to help kids expend some energy on those cooler rainy days, as well as quieter activities, crafts, and games to enjoy indoors.

1. Build an Indoor Obstacle Course

Kids bouncing off the walls? Channel that energy into an obstacle course! It’s a fun way for kids to get some exercise, practice following directions, and build large and small motor skills. Try these ideas from Education.com, Kids Activities Blog, and Family Education.

2. Board Games and Puzzles

Who doesn’t love a good board game? Find the best games for every age in our two previous posts, Best Educational Board Games for Kids, and 17 Board Games for a Family Game Night. Or break out the puzzles for a fun learning activity that kids can do alone, or with the whole family. Did you know that working on puzzles boosts math skills?

3. Play an Active Game

Active games are great indoor activities, whether as simple as Simon Says, or a store-bought game like Twister. You can even try these ideas to make Twister educational. Many of our favorite educational sight word games for summer can also easily be modified for indoor fun (just skip any that involve water, unless you’re lucky enough to live in a warm climate!) In fact, many favorite playground games can easily be brought indoors by switching out sidewalk chalk for masking tape.

4. LEGO!

LEGOs are always a fun way to pass the time inside and a great way for kids to learn through play. Try one or a few of our favorite LEGO learning ideas, including ideas for LEGO math and LEGO science.

5. Go on an Indoor Scavenger Hunt

An indoor scavenger hunt is a great rainy day activity to get kids up and moving. Try a sight word or math problem scavenger hunt, or one of these fun ideas for hunts around the house. Or get kids moving and clean the house by creating your own scavenger hunt of items that you’d like to clear out, such as clothes that no longer fit, missing socks, stained shirts, broken toys, and old books. Make your list and set the kids in motion.

6. Science Experiments

Have fun exploring science with  easy science experiments. Or put a wintery spin on science with these fun winter science ideas.

7. Build a Fort

Whether you choose to build yours from cardboard boxes, pillows, and blankets, or furniture and couch cushions, a fort is a classic rainy day activity and a great way to spark kids’ imaginations. Visit Today’s Parent for nine creative indoor fort ideas, from large to small, simple to elaborate. Then get building!

8. Have a Dance Party

What better way to get the wiggles out than with an impromptu dance party? Just put some music on and get moving! Crazy dance moves encouraged! A video game like Just Dance Kids is always a fun option too.

9. Sensory Boxes

One of the best ways for kids to learn is by exploring with all five senses. Sensory boxes are a fun way for kids to engage all their senses, have fun, and learn about their world. Find more than 200 themed sensory bin ideas at Kids Activities Blog.

10. Get Cooking

Whether you’re baking a special treat or just making dinner together, cooking with kids is a fun way to spend time inside, and it’s a great learning activity, too!

What’s your favorite way to pass the time with the kids during this time away from school? Tell us about your favorite indoor activities in the comments.

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This article was originally published in 2020 and has been revised and republished in 2021.