Indoor Twists for Outdoor Favorites
Want to mix things up the next time you're spending the day indoors with the kids? Try modifying your children's favorite seasonal outdoor activities to make them fun—and relatively mess-free—indoors.
Indoor Snowball Fight: Whether it's a rainy summer day or a winter one that's just too cold to play outside, recreate the magic of a snowball fight indoors. How? Instead of using real snowballs, there are a few house-friendly alternatives. If it's a game you think your little ones will enjoy time and time again, think about filling a few fuzzy white socks with stuffing and sewing them shut to create reusable snowballs that look the part. Otherwise, simply balling up some socks and handing them out to the kids is a quicker option. Either way, give each kid their own basket of snowballs, move any fragile items out of the way and set a few ground rules before the games begin (think "no throwing at your friends' faces"). Or, set up a few targets for them to aim at instead of letting them throw at each other. When they're done, serve hot chocolate and cookies in on-theme shapes to stay in the winter spirit any time of year.
Indoor Beach Party: Have a little fun even when there's no sun by bringing the beach inside. Toddlers and big kids alike will have a blast putting on their favorite swimsuit, goggles and floaties before heading to the living room to play in an inflatable kiddie pool. Skip the water, and fill it with balls instead. Then, set up a few games to help them stay active. A hula hoop dance party, pool noodle sword fight or limbo contest burns off plenty of energy and can be hosted in a large room. For snack time, go with fresh fruit and punch to maintain the beach feel, even if the weather isn't cooperating.
Yard Games: Who says you need a yard to play your favorite backyard games? Take bag toss: sure, playing outside is optimal, but if the weather keeps you indoors, just clear some furniture out of the way to set up. Or, put it in a long hallway so you don't have to worry about an out-of-bounds bag colliding with decor. Likewise, badminton can be scaled down for a playroom—little ones can rally a birdie back and forth instead of spiking it across the backyard. Plus, the birdie is lightweight, so you don't have to worry about wall damage inside.
Painters Tape Games
Who knew a roll of tape could be so much fun? Break one out in their favorite color to set up a few creative indoor physical activities for kids that might make your little ones look forward to rainy days in the house.
Indoor Races: While you could just use furniture as landmarks for the start and finish lines, setting up real ones with painters tape makes it feel more official. Since space inside is limited, get creative with the race styles. Instead of running, the little ones can do a crabwalk or army crawl across the floor. Entertain bigger crowds with partner races: think three-legged or wheelbarrow ones. Trying to keep just one kid busy? Time them, write it on a chalkboard and cheer them on as they try to beat their own high score.
Tape "Sidewalk Chalk" Games: Take inspiration from some playground classics with a twist on sidewalk chalk games. In lieu of chalk, use masking tape to set up. For instance, the basement or living room makes a good spot for a game of four-square. Just be sure anything delicate is stowed away in case the ball soars across the room. Another option: hopscotch. Even a tight hallway can fit the game. Or, use tape to secure the corners of a large piece of craft paper, and let the kids recreate their favorite chalk art.
Obstacle Course: Like a DIY "laser" maze, your little ones can channel their inner secret agents by jumping over, crawling under and weaving through a series of tape strips lining the walls. For best results, set up in a narrow hallway. Another take—use the tape to outline a meandering path in an open space, such as the living room or basement (as long as furniture has been pushed out of the way). Add pillows or poufs for them to hop over along the way, or encourage even more movement with cues that require them to stop and do a silly dance or balance on one leg.
Kid-Friendly Workouts
Remember when gym class was the highlight of your day in elementary school? (Aside from recess, of course.) Look to phys-ed for inspiration to get toddlers and big kids moving.
Yoga for Kids: For a kid-friendly workout that lets your child burn off some energy while practicing mindfulness, consider yoga. Another perk: yoga requires minimal space and equipment, so you can set up nearly anywhere, even the meditation room. If you love hitting up a class at the gym, you can lead your little one through various poses. Or, stream a kids' yoga video featuring an experienced instructor. If you're lucky, the final savasana pose might transition into naptime.
Dance Party: Prefer a more energized way to get your kids moving? Host a dance party with an up-tempo playlist. Whether your little one wants to make up their own moves or dance along with a viral video, they're sure to have a good time. To take the kids dance party up a notch, consider going with a theme, such as disco, and set out some costumes for them to put on. Or, introduce an arcade-style dance mat that's compatible with at-home gaming consoles to add some friendly competition to the mix. Rather make it more relaxing? Play soothing music as your little ones do ribbon dances around the room.
Other Exercises for Kids: For your little ones, even straightforward workouts can be a source of excitement. After all, what kid doesn't like showing off their strength, speed or flexibility to Mom and Dad? From explosive motions such as burpees and jumping jacks to bodyweight exercises like squats and pushups, your child will have fun showing you their moves. When the workout is over, cool down with some simple stretching. Even better, perform the workouts alongside your little one in the home gym to set an example for them.
How do you keep the kids entertained inside? Share your favorite indoor physical activities for kids with the hashtag #CrateKidsStyle.