Stuck inside with kids and the boredom is getting loud? Whether it’s bad weather, a sick day, or you just need a reset at home, this list is your quick save for indoor fun.
Here are 55 easy indoor activities for kids that work year-round — no snow required, and most need little to no prep. Bookmark this page for the next “What can we dooooo?” moment.
Disclosure: This article includes a link related to LEGO, a Macaroni KID partner.
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- Creative indoor activities
- Active indoor games
- STEM and learning activities
- Crafts and DIY projects
- Family bonding ideas
Creative indoor activities for kids
Best for: Kids who love to make, imagine, and pretend.
- Build a cozy reading nook with pillows and blankets.
- Write and illustrate a short story (staple pages into a “book”).
- Create comic strips with speech bubbles.
- Make a “pretend restaurant” menu and take family orders.
- Put on a puppet show using socks or paper bags.
- Design your own board game, then play it.
- Make a “dream room” drawing (labels encouraged).
- Create a family talent show (singing, jokes, magic tricks, anything).
- Act out a favorite book or movie scene (costumes optional).
- Make DIY instruments (rice shaker, rubber-band guitar, coffee-can drum).
- Play “guess the sound” (rattle keys, tear paper, tap a spoon, etc.).
 Tima Miroshnichenko | Canva |
Active indoor games for kids
Best for: When kids need to move and you need them to burn energy.
- Freeze dance (music on = dance, music off = freeze).
- Balloon volleyball (use a string or the couch as a “net” if you want).
- Create an indoor obstacle course (crawl, hop, balance, repeat).
- Red light, green light.
- Simon says with silly movements.
- Animal walk races (crab walk, bear crawl, frog jumps).
- Indoor hopscotch with painter’s tape.
- Hallway bowling using plastic cups or empty bottles.
- “Paper plate skating” (plates under feet on carpet — slow and careful).
- Indoor scavenger hunt (colors, shapes, or themed items).
- Kids yoga or a short family stretch session.
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Tip: Save this page so you can come back to it any time boredom strikes.
STEM and learning activities for kids
Best for: Curious kids who like to build, test, and figure things out.
- Build a marble run with cardboard tubes and tape.
- Do a sink-or-float experiment with household objects.
- Baking soda + vinegar (classic fizzy fun).
- Create a LEGO challenge like building a bridge, tower, zoo, or vehicle. (Find a LEGO store near you!)
- Toothpick and marshmallow (or gumdrop) tower contest.
- Make pattern challenges with LEGOs, beads, or coins.
- Measure and bake something simple together (math + snacks).
- Build a paper airplane fleet and test distance.
- Create a “coding” path: draw arrows on paper to guide a toy through a maze.
- Draw a map of your house (bonus: add a legend).
- Puzzle time: jigsaw puzzles, word searches, or brain teasers.
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Looking for hands-on building fun? Find a LEGO store near you!
Crafts and DIY projects for kids
Best for: Quieter time with a finished “look what I made!” result.
- Watercolor painting or finger painting.
- Make friendship bracelets (string/yarn works fine).
- Create a collage from old magazines, flyers, or scrap paper.
- Craft with recycled materials (boxes, tubes, cartons).
- Make paper snowflakes.
- Decorate rocks (paint markers work great).
- Make homemade play dough or slime (if you’re feeling brave).
- Create greeting cards for grandparents, neighbors, or friends.
- Make a paper-chain countdown to an upcoming event.
- DIY picture frames (cardboard + decorations).
- Window art with washable markers (test a small corner first).
Family bonding ideas
Best for: Connection, laughs, and “we actually did something fun today.”
- Family movie marathon with a theme (and popcorn).
- Charades (kids vs. grown-ups is always entertaining).
- Family game night (cards, board games, dice games).
- Have a tea party or snack party (stuffed animals invited).
- Write letters or postcards to family and friends.
- Indoor campout (sleeping bags, flashlight stories, snacks).
- Shadow puppets with a flashlight.
- Paper plate tennis with balloons.
- Pretend cooking show (kids narrate while “cooking”).
- Family photo challenge (funny faces, “same pose,” scavenger-style pics).
- Build something together (LEGO city, fort, puzzle, or cardboard creation).
Keeping kids busy inside doesn’t have to mean screens or complicated prep. With a solid list of go-to options — creative, active, STEM, crafty, and family-focused — you’ll always have an idea ready for the next stuck-at-home day.
Bookmark this page now — future you will be glad you did.
