7 Indoor Activities for Children

When the weather takes a turn for the dreary, occupying children can be challenging, especially if they’re the ultra-energetic, endlessly curious types. (i.e. all children).  

While it’s tempting (and understandable) to lean on screen-based distractions, there’s only so much mileage in that solution, as most children self-regulate their screen time and will grow restless and irritable if zoned out for too long. 

Blustery weather aside, there’s also cost to consider. The cost of the average family day out is higher than ever, so it’s only wise to conjure up some indoor activities that won’t break the bank.  

With that in mind, we’ve pulled together a selection of fun, engaging indoor activities for children, designed to ignite their imagination and burn off the boredom without setting foot outside.  

From movie-making magic to science-based wonder, we’ve got all angles covered, with a variety of activities packed with educational benefits.  

Let’s dive in.  

1.Make a Movie

It’s (literally) never been easier to make a movie. Why? The near magic-level device you have in your pocket: your smartphone.  

These days, even the most basic smartphone has a multi-million-pixel camera just begging to capture your family hijinks and happiness. 

But why stop there? Why not set aside an afternoon—you’ll need it—and support your little ones as they write, direct, and star in their very own cinematic classic? 

As any film-maker will tell you, making a movie is an extremely involved process that touches upon several major areas, including language and storytelling, expressive art and design, and even physical development. 

Now, we’re not suggesting that you produce an earth-shattering blockbuster—your neighbours would probably have an issue with that—but guiding your little one through the process of coming up with an idea, writing a (basic) script, and acting out their masterpiece on camera is guaranteed to delight. 

Especially if you host a family-only screening of the finished product.  

Of course, you’ll need to do the heavy lifting on editing, but most smartphones come pre-loaded with basic editing software that’s user-friendly enough for you to stitch together a few scenes and add some dramatic music.  

With education benefits for imaginative play, storytelling, and self-expression, making a movie is a perfect indoor activity for children, big and small.  

2.Indoor Scavenger Hunt

Who says scavenger hunts are strictly an outdoor activity? Not us.  

With a little planning and creativity, you can devise a brain-teasing scavenger hunt that’ll keep cabin fever at bay on even the rainiest of rainy days.  

And the best bit? You can sneak learning into your hunt by weaving in age-appropriate cryptic clues such as ‘find something that feels fuzzy’ or ‘find something that’s more than one colour’.  

You can (and should) offer hints if your little one seems stumped—the last thing you want to do is turn a fun-filled hunt into a boring or frustrating experience.  

If you’re feeling brave, you could even add a little flair to your scavenger hunt by adding a basic narrative, with each clue/item revealing more of the story.   

3.Make a Scrapbook

As indoor activities for children go, this one can be filed under ‘old-school.’   

But there’s a reason that it’s persevered. Making a scrapbook is simultaneously a soothing creative exercise and an opportunity for your little one to develop an understanding of the people and places in their lives.  

Be sure to prompt your child with questions on what they’ve chosen to include, asking them why that person, or why that place, as their explanations will help improve their oracy and recollective skills.  

You don’t even need a fancy (read: expensive) scrapbook, either. A basic notebook or sketchpad will do the trick, making it an ultra-cost-effective activity for when the rain clouds roll in.  

4. Conduct a Science Experiment

We’re not suggesting that you break out the beakers and test tubes. In fact, the joy of this activity partly comes from using everyday items in exciting ways.  

As you’ll likely already know, children thrive on magic and wonder, and there’s little more magical (or more wondrous) than entry-level science experiments.  

Of course, you don’t have to do anything too complicated, and there are several much smaller (but no less impressive) experiments you can conduct with minimal equipment. Such as: 

Sink or Float

Fill a bowl with water and gather a variety of objects, made from different materials and of different weights. Ask your little one whether they think the object will sink or float before dropping it into the water.  

Balloon-Powered Car

Construct a makeshift car using an empty juice box and four bottle caps. Then, attach a balloon and a straw using some masking tape. Next, ask your little one if they think the car will move if they blow into the straw. Test their theory by—you guessed it—blowing into the straw.  

Bicarb and Vinegar Volcano

Mix bicarbonate of soda and vinegar in a large container, such as a bowl. Watch in awe at the frothy, fizzy reaction. If you really want to add a dash of wonder, toss in a few drops of food colouring to turn the eruption your little one’s favourite colour. 

Each of these activities will help your child develop their understanding of the world, which is one of the key areas of our Bee Curious curriculum.  

5. Sensory Playtime

Proof, if ever it was needed, that activities for children don’t need to be complicated to be delightful. And there’s little simpler than a spot of sensory play.  

And it’s not just idle play, either. Sensory play is a cornerstone of your little one’s development as they’ll explore new textures, while developing the vocabulary to describe those textures.  
 
The setup is gloriously simple, requiring only a storage container or plastic bowls, and a variety of everyday objects, from shaving foam to rice and beyond.  

Once you’ve filled your container, encourage your little one to dig through, asking them questions about the textures they find. 

Are they smooth? Are they rough? Are they squishy? Are they foamy?  

Essentially, the more items you include, the more opportunities your little one will have to explore and develop their understanding of texture and descriptive language.  

Psst…check out our blog on the benefits of sensory play for the inside scoop on how sensory play supports your little one’s development.  

6. Indoor Obstacle Course

“Contender, ready!” 

Okay, so we’re not suggesting you build a travelator in your front room, but an indoor obstacle course can be the perfect boredom-buster, with added benefits for your little one’s physical development.  

As they navigate your devilish obstacle course, your little one will develop their spatial awareness, gross motor skills, and problem-solving abilities.  

Side note: Safety is paramount here, so by all means be inventive with your obstacles, but be sure to use cushions and blankets for padding and clear out furniture and breakables wherever possible.  

Once you’ve set up your space, you can let your imagination run wild with obstacle ideas. Need a few to get your creative cogs turning? You could try:  

• Hot Lava Floor - Designate the floor as ‘hot lava’ and encourage your little one to navigate to a specific point—the door, for example—using cushions, chairs, and yoga blocks. 
• Tunnel City - Design a labyrinth of tunnels using chairs, sofa cushions, and encourage your little one to find their way to the end. To get their cogs turning, be sure to include a few false paths and dead ends.  
• Yarn Laser Rescue - Select a narrow-ish space in your home, such as a hallway. Then, pin up red yarn in zig-zagging, criss-crossing patterns. Place a soft toy on the other side of the ‘lasers’ and ask your little one to rescue it.  

Setting up an obstacle course is an ideal indoor activity for children, as it’s so flexible, the only real limit is your imagination.  

7. Yoga Session

From the frenetic to the tranquil.  

Whether they’ve spent the day navigating obstacle courses, conducting science experiments, or making movie magic, your little one will benefit from a mindful moment as they wind down. And there’s little more mindful than yoga.  

It doesn’t have to be complicated. Just ten minutes or so spent flowing through some fun and easy children’s yoga poses, will help your little one unwind after an action-packed day. 

Yoga boasts many benefits to your child’s overall well-being, helping to improve their mood, hone their coordination, and sharpen their focus. It may seem tricky at first, but with a little practice, they’ll get the hang of it.  

Whether they’re flexing creative muscles or literal muscles, indoor activities for children are ideal boredom busters, posing educational and well-being benefits for your little one.  

Need a little more activity inspiration? Check out our blog, where you’ll find articles on everything from activities for gross motor development to the benefits of loose parts play.