30 Indoor Games for Kids to Burn Out Energy at Home

So, another rainy day? Or you just don’t feel like going out? What happens with your kids? They are full of energy, but you are not much into going out. Well, you definitely need some activity to help with restless kids fidgeting on the couch. If you are out of fresh ideas, don’t worry. We have a couple of indoor games for kids that will help you get started with some activity.

You might have tried some of these games. But we’re sure you will find lots of entertaining games for kids on our list. We have budget games and we have games that you will have to spend a bit more money for.

Professor Swen’s Lab

Houdini’s Secret Room

Wooka Booka Island

The Gilded Carcanet

2. Keep the Balloon Up

Balloon games are great for fun and entertainment, both indoor and outdoor. This one is one of the simplest games you can play with your kids and friends.

All you have to do is blow up some balloons, and establish the rules, which is: the balloon can’t touch the floor. Get the party started.

Yes, the game can get rambunctious indoors, so make sure to move any breakables out of the way.

3. Pencil and Paper Games

While we’re at simple, basic games, let’s mention some popular pencil and paper games. From the classic Tic-Tac-Toe to battleship, mastermind, blind drawing, sprouts, and everything in between, pencil and paper games are easy and entertaining.

And these games will definitely go light on your wallet.

4. Building

If your kids are into building, this indoor game will definitely stimulate their brain. And the best part is you don’t need a fancy building set to play.

You can use popsicle sticks, card towers, blocks, or make an indoor fort out of boxes and pillows. The game is great for encouraging creativity in your kids.

5. Tape Shape Game

Tapes are like balloons. They are versatile and you can use them for a variety of games. For this game, you can use tape to put a variety of shapes, letters, and numbers on the floor.

Next, have your child stand on his favorite one. Then, give them instructions to follow that and lead them to their next destination. For example, “run to the circle,” “crawl to the T,” “jump on the square,” and so on.

This game keeps your toddler child moving. But it also helps him learn shapes, letters, and numbers.

6. Primary Color Toy Sort

Here is another educational indoor game you can play with your child. And the best part is you don’t need to spend a single penny.

Just use the toys you already have and sort them out by color. If you don’t have a lot of toys, you can use other objects in the home and sort them out.

7. Magical Mama or Papa

Do you want to play a role? How about playing Harry Houdini? Of course, without the locks, chains, and water tanks.

For this party game, you need to place a coin under one of three cups. Shuffle them around, and then ask your children to guess the cup with the coin. This simple game can last for hours.

8. Balloon Tennis

Some call it balloon tennis, others call it balloon volleyball. No matter what you call it, the goal is the same.

String up a divider as a net and then see how many times your toddlers can volley the balloon over the net without touching the ground.

If you want to turn it into a tennis game, get your kids some fly swatters and wooden spoons to serve as rackets.

9. Card Games

You can never go wrong with a classic card game. How many card games do you know? These card games are challenging for the mind and can provide hours of indoor fun.

If you want a bigger challenge, you can try a game you don’t know. Find the rules online, and study them together with your child.

10. Touch and Feel Boxes

Here are some sensory games that are great for indoor activities. This game helps kids focus on the sense of touch. They train their mind to associate information other than the look of an object.

Put interesting objects into containers and have your child reach into them and identify the objects just by touching them.

You can use shoe boxes, as you can easily cut them with just scissors. Part of the fun is making the boxes. You can have your kids decorate the boxes.

But always remember to cut out a child-sized hand hole on the side of the box beforehand.

11. I Spy

Usually, this game is great for outdoor fun. But who says you can’t play it inside as well? There are many variations of the game, but the classic still works.

It’s simple. You just say “I spy something ….” and say anything you like. For example, “I spy something green,” and see if your active kid can guess it correctly.

With multiple children, they can take turns looking around and guessing. You can adjust the difficulty depending on the age of your children and their knowledge.

12. Puzzles

We mentioned escape room kits that have lots of puzzles earlier on. But if you want, you can try simple puzzles.

There are lots of store-bought puzzles you can try. Or, if you feel creative, make your own. You can invite your younger kids to join the manufacturing process.

13. Hopscotch

Here is another outdoor game you can tweak for indoor play. How? Just draw the hopscotch pattern home, but make sure to clear the area first.

Your kids will love it.

14. Balance Beam

We had a couple of tape games already. And now we go a step further. Playing this game outdoors poses a bit of risk and challenge. But indoors, the risk is almost minimal.

All you have to do is use painter’s tape to tape down a line of any length. Challenge your kid to follow the line all the way to the end.

You can make variations by going backward, passing the line with the eyes closed, or making spirals and zig-zags.

15. Penguin Waddle

For this balloon fun indoor game, you need to blow up some balloons, and then place one between your child’s knees. Have your kids waddle across the room without dropping the balloon. If you have older kids, you can make it more challenging by having them go around a few obstacles.

When a kid drops the balloon, he needs to go back to the start. If you organize a kids’ party or have several kids at home, you can make them play as a team. For this variation, place the balloon between their hips; they have to walk as one to not drop the balloon.

16. Freeze

Let’s move onto some musical games for kids, shall we? For this one, you just simply choose their favorite tune and play the music.

Ask your kids to dance until the music stops. When you stop the music, they have to freeze in whatever position they find themselves in.

If you want to make it more challenging, you can even ask them to freeze in a certain position. Go for some animals or letters. Toddlers love this game.

17. Musical Chairs

Here is another musical game you can play. You need at least four children playing for this game. And of course, the DJ who plays the music. It is one of the most popular kids’ group games.

Place chairs in the room, and start the music. The kids walk around the chairs. When the music stops, kids have to sit on a chair. But the trick is there is always one fewer chair than kids playing. For example, four chairs for five children playing.

The last one standing is out of the game. Continue playing until there is only one winner.

18. Sock Basketball

Who says you can’t play basketball indoors? This game is both fun and relatively safe. Unlike balls, socks are relatively light and safe around the home. You can play different sports as indoor games for kids.

Make a few balls out of pair of socks and then get a laundry basket. If you want a bigger challenge, get smaller receptacles instead of a laundry basket.

Kids take turns to score. You can add a longer shot for more points, if you like. For a competitive game, you can count scores, or you can try this game. After shooting and scoring the ball, kids take a step back. See who scores from the furthest distance.

20. Hot Potato

This traditional game can get messy, so be careful. But it is one of the fan-favorite games for kids. Grab any soft ball or make one by rolling socks and toss it to a child. The goal is to toss it again to someone as quickly as possible.

When does the game end? Well, there is no formal end. You can play for as long as you like.

21. Balloon Blow

Now, this is a fun game. Set up a course in your home, blow up a balloon, and then see if your toddler can blow it all the way to the finish line.

Kids will have to do a lot of army crawls. That works out their upper body and helps them improve core strength. Win-win scenario, don’t you think?

22. Backhand Balloon Balance

One of the reasons we love balloon games for kids is they are super-cheap and lots of fun. For this one, you just blow up a balloon and challenge your kid to balance it on the back of his hand. See how long they can do it before the balloon falls to the ground.

Make it more challenging by making your kids move through the room, not just stand in one place.

23. Board Games

You can always go back to the classic board games for fun at home. Just go to any shop and you will find hundreds of board games. Truth be told, they are mostly for older kids.

But there are also options for younger kids, even aged 5 to 8.

24. Charades

This classic game is something you have to try with your kids. It is all about acting out a word or a phrase. There are three levels of charades.

In the first round, you guess words by using sentences. In the second round, you can only describe the word by using a single word. And in the last round, you try to explain the word using only your body and acting out — no words spoken at all.

With kids, we recommend playing charades with animals. Or some other things you like to learn about. Charades is a great way to learn the names of animals.

25. Ping Pong Ball Catch

You can play this game for hours. Get out those plastic cups and a few ping pong balls and start playing. If you don’t have ping pong balls, you can use any small objects that fit into the cup.

Have your kids toss the ball to a partner, who tries to catch it in the cup. Start out close, and then move away from each other. Take a step backward with each score to increase difficulty and challenge.

26. ndoor Bowling

Yes, you can set up your own bowling alley at home. You will need a large space, but you can easily create a bowling line.

Collect items that will act as pins. You can use empty water plastic bottles or plastic cups. Any small ball will work for indoor bowling.

If you organize a toddler party, you can divide them into teams and play competitively.

27. Obstacle Course

We love indoor games for kids that get the brain working. Depending on the skill level of your child, his age, and everything else, you can design your obstacle course.

For example, you can put down pillows on couch cushions for kids to jump. They can also jump over the pillows. They can climb over ottomans. You can put out some balance beams. Kids can perform various exercises. They can crawl under tables. The sky is the limit.

28. Crab Walk

Speaking of crawling and being on the floor, what about crab walking? Teach your kids to do the crab walk, and then see how fast they can move from one end of the room to another.

You can organize races with siblings and increase the difficulty by giving them a stuffed animal to balance on their stomach. If the animal falls, they have to go back to the beginning and start again.

29. Treasure Hunt

Think of your apartment or home as a large place where you can hide anything you want. You just have to come up with instructions and prizes. Write down clues on a piece of paper. Get creative, and hide an object.

Kids love finding hidden objects, and even more so when there is a prize at the end.

30. Hide and Seek

Let’s finish with the traditional game of hide and seek. It is another game that plays to the love of finding and searching.

It is a simple game. One person covers his/hers eyes and counts aloud while others hide in the home. Once the designated player finishes counting, he begins looking for others.