Fun Ways to Keep Children Active Indoors This Summer

With the sunshine streaming and temperatures soaring, many families are searching for creative ways to keep little ones active while staying cool indoors. At Busy Bees, we know how important it is for children to move their bodies every day - not only to burn off energy but also to support their physical development and wellbeing.

If you’re taking part in our Curiosity Camp, you’ll know that Week Two: Move and Groove is all about movement and staying active! While the activity card is full of playful ideas to get children moving, we’ve gathered a few more indoor-friendly activities to help your little ones stay active during a heatwave - all from the comfort of home.

1. Turn Up the Music for a Kitchen Dance Party

There’s nothing like a spontaneous kitchen disco to lift everyone’s spirits! Clear a little space, press play on your child’s favourite songs and let them take the lead with their best moves. Dancing supports coordination, balance, and rhythm. It’s a brilliant way to get the whole family involved in movement. You’ll also find dancing is a key part of our Curiosity Camp Move and Groove activity card - so make sure to send us photos of your best moves on social media!

2. Stretch It Out with Child-Friendly Yoga

Yoga is a wonderful way to keep children active indoors, especially when it’s too hot for energetic games. It builds strength, balance, and flexibility — all through imaginative play. Think animal poses, tree balances, and calming breathing techniques. If you're new to children’s yoga or looking for inspiration, check out our helpful guide on children’s yoga poses.

3. Support Gross Motor Development Through Play

Gross motor skills are essential for children’s physical development and daily activities like jumping, climbing, and throwing. Even in small indoor spaces, there are plenty of simple ways to nurture these skills — from pillow obstacle courses to beanbag toss games and imaginative movement challenges. Our blog on activities for gross motor development is full of practical ideas you can try at home.

4. Create a Movement Jar

On days when energy is high, but ideas are running low, a “movement jar” can come to the rescue! Simply write or draw different movement activities on slips of paper — things like “do 10 jumping jacks,” “waddle like a penguin,” “march around the room,” or “pretend to swim.”

Let your child pull out a few challenges and act them out together. You can tailor the difficulty to their age and mix in calming movements too, like stretching or slow tiptoe walks.

5. Mix in Moments of Rest and Hydration

While staying active is important, don’t forget to balance busy moments with quiet ones — especially in warmer weather. Keep a water bottle nearby, take breaks between activities, and use rest times for reading, storytelling, or sensory play.
Staying active doesn’t have to mean staying constantly on the go — even short bursts of movement throughout the day can make a big difference to your child’s development and mood.

Keeping Cool and Keeping Moving

Whether you’re dancing in the kitchen, stretching into yoga poses, or building obstacle courses out of cushions, there are so many playful ways to keep children active.

By combining our Curiosity Camp activities with your own indoor adventures, you can create a summer full of music, movement, and memory-making.