As a busy mom, you’re no stranger to the challenge of keeping your kids entertained day in and day out. We understand that finding activities that are both fun and educational can be hard work, which is why we’ve assembled this list of over 50 at-home activities to keep your little ones learning and growing while having a blast! From crafts to science experiments to games they can play together, these ideas are sure to help you manage their energy with an encouraging tone of voice. So let’s take some time out from our hectic days and dive into an adventure full of creativity and exploration!
Indoor Activities for Kids
Make a craft–Grab some paper, glue, glitter, and any other supplies you have on hand to let your kids express their creativity. From making a collage to designing a robot out of recycled materials, there are plenty of craft options available for them to enjoy!
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Play a game–Engage the whole family in an exciting round of charades or our family’s current favorite, SKYJO!
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Toddler dot markers–This fun and simple activity is perfect for younger kids. Provide a collection of dot markers in different colors, along with some blank paper, and let them create their own art!
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Make a bucket list–Brainstorm together and come up with a list of things you’d like to do as a family. It could be anything from visiting the zoo to baking cookies, and it’s sure to give you plenty of ideas for activities you can all do together.
Play kinetic sand, playdough, or slime–These materials are great for encouraging your kids to explore with their senses. From squishing and squeezing the dough to creating shapes with sand, they’re sure to have a blast!
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Read: Easy Homemade Playdough
Start an indoor garden–Help your kids get up close and personal with nature by planting a few seeds in some soil and watching them grow.
Have a push up contest–See who can do the most push ups in a minute and make it an ongoing competition for some friendly family fun!
Tell each other jokes–This is a great way to bond and share some laughs. Have your kids come up with their own jokes or recite their favorite ones from books or movies. Our kids got this book of jokes from their grandma a few weeks ago, and they’ve LOVED it!
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Play sports indoors–Break out the foam balls and bats and have a game of indoor baseball or volleyball in the living room.
Eat breakfast in bed–Surprise your little ones by setting up a makeshift picnic in the living room for breakfast.
Start a journal–Encourage your kids to write down their thoughts and feelings in a journal. This is an excellent way for them to explore their emotions and gain insight into themselves.
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Create a dance–Put on some music and challenge your kids to come up with their own creative moves.
Make a marshmallow catapult–See who can launch a marshmallow the furthest with this fun engineering activity.
Knit a hat or scarf–If you already know how to knit, teach your kids the basics and watch as they create their own hats or scarves.
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Learn a magic trick–There are plenty of tutorials online that will teach your kids some classic card tricks.
Make ice cream–This tasty treat is easy to make using a few simple ingredients and an ice cream maker.
Write a movie script--Challenge your kids to write a movie script together. They could even film it and put on their own show!
Learn to play an instrument–Dive into the world of music by teaching your kids how to play an instrument. Our kids just started learning how to play the ukulele and they’ve really enjoyed picking out tunes. We have this exact ukulele!
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Learn to use chopsticks–Practice using chopsticks with a bowl of noodles or rice to help your kids master the skill.
Have a karaoke night–Turn up the music and let your kids sing their hearts out to their favorite tunes.
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Take an online cooking class–Learn a variety of cooking techniques and recipes with an online cooking class.
Meditate–Introduce your children to the world of mindfulness with some calming meditation exercises.
Have a tea party–Gather around the kitchen table and sip on some tea while catching up with each other.
Play freeze dance–Turn on some music and challenge your kids to freeze when the music stops.
Read a book out loud together–Select a book and take turns reading it out loud as you explore the story together.
Learn origami–Fold paper into a variety of shapes and figures with this fun craft activity.
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Create a family mixtape–Compile some of your favorite songs into a playlist and listen to it together.
Play I spy–Take turns finding objects and giving clues to help the other person guess what it is.
Play floor is lava–Jump from couch to chair and avoid touching the “lava” (aka the floor) for a fun game. While you don’t really need to have the game for this, we do, and I find that it helps my kids to have some ground rules!
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Make a bird feeder–Let your kids get creative by making their own bird feeder out of recycled materials.
Learn a new language–Use the time indoors to explore a new language together.
Write a story or poem–Challenge your kids to write a story or poem together.
Plan a vacation–Start planning your next vacation together and make a list of all the places you’d like to visit.
Paint with watercolors–Get out the paper and paints for some colorful fun.
Play cards–Enjoy a game of Go Fish or Memory with your kids. Need ideas for fun card games? Read: Kids Must Learn Card Games List
Stay up late–Stay up late and watch a movie together or just enjoy each other’s company.
Make a terrarium–Create a mini garden in a jar with your kids and watch it grow.
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Make a family tree with your kids–Draw a family tree with your kids and share stories about their ancestors.
Create your own car roads with tape–Draw roads on the floor with masking or painter’s tape and use toy cars to explore. I typically use blue painters tape, but my youngest son would love this road tape!
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Tie dye t-shirts–Have some messy fun with your kids and tie dye some t-shirts.
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Call your grandma to chat–Call your grandma and have a chat with your kids for some quality family time.
Learn calligraphy–Introduce your kids to the art of calligraphy with some simple exercises.
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Do a spa day–Give your kids some pampering with a homemade face mask or a relaxing foot soak. We did this as a family right before Christmas and our kids thought it was the coolest thing! We rubbed their feet, played soft music, and did these animal face masks.
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Create an indoor obstacle course–Challenge your kids to an obstacle course with objects around your home.
Clean out your closets–Get rid of some clutter by having your kids help you clean out your closets.
Color–Have some coloring fun with your kids and spend time creating beautiful works of art.
Set up dominos and knock them over–Let your kids get creative by setting up dominos and knocking them down.
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Organize school papers/art–Help your kids organize their school papers and artwork for easy access.
Teach your pet a new trick–Teach your pet a new trick and reward them with treats.
Take a bubble bath–Have a fun bubble bath with your kids and use some of their favorite scented soaps.
Wash your toys in the bathtub–Let your kids get creative by washing their toys in the bathtub.
Make a family recipe book–Gather your favorite family recipes and make a recipe book together.
Cook a dinner as a family–Prepare a special meal with your family and enjoy it together.
Do a crossword puzzle or maze–Have some brain-teasing fun with crossword puzzles or mazes.
Have a no screens day–Take a break from screens and get out the board games or books.
Create a family newsletter–Write up a family newsletter with your kids and mail it out to family and friends.
Have a pajama day–Have a cozy day in your PJs and watch some funny movies.
Go on a bear hunt–Hide a stuffed bear around the house and take turns finding it. Our kids did this in their preschool class, and we’ve done it a few times here at home too! Its lots of fun for those toddlers/preschoolers with tons of energy!
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Have an indoor picnic–Gather up some blankets and have a picnic inside your home.
Make your own “at-home” bowling alley–Draw a bowling alley on the floor with chalk or painters tape and use empty water bottles as pins.
Build a model airplane or car–Gather up some cardboard and make a model airplane or car together.
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Write your own riddles–Create your own riddles and have your kids guess the answers.
Write letters to someone far away–Writing letters is a great way for your kids to stay connected with loved ones who are far away.
Make friendship bracelets–Gather up some thread and beads to make friendship bracelets with your kids.
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Make shadow puppets–Have some fun with your kids by making shadow puppets on the wall.
Binge watch a tv show–Grab some snacks and watch a favorite show together as a family.
Bake cookies or cupcakes–Bake some delicious treats with your kids and enjoy a tasty reward.
Do an at home escape room–Set up a fun and challenging escape room for your kids. I love this one!
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Make your own musical instruments–Craft your own musical instruments with items around your home and have a mini-concert.
Make your own pizza night–Gather some ingredients and let your kids make their own pizzas.
Make marshmallow and toothpick buildings–Gather up some marshmallows and toothpicks to make unique buildings with your kids.
Take pictures–Have some fun photographing your kids and create a family album.
Have a Lego challenge–Set up a Lego challenge and see what unique creations your kids come up with.
Play video games together–Jump into a game together and have some friendly competition.
Create your own art gallery–Display some of your kids’ artwork around the house for a unique art gallery.
Write a letter to your future self–Have your kids write a letter to their future self and open it up in a year or two.
Make a fun breakfast–Start the day off right with a tasty and fun breakfast.
Play mad libs–Gather up some paper and pencils and let your kids play mad libs.
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Make an indoor obstacle course–Set up an obstacle course with furniture and other items around the house.
Listen to an audiobook–Snuggle up with your kids and listen to a fun audiobook together.
Play would you rather?–Have your kids ask each other would you rather questions to get their minds thinking.
Do an indoor snowball fight with socks–Have your kids grab some socks and have a fun indoor snowball fight.
Make a fort–Grab some pillows, blankets and chairs to make a cozy fort together.
Play charades–Let your kids act out different words and guess what they are.
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Watch a movie–Grab some popcorn and watch a movie together as a family.
Play pretend games–Encourage your kids to use their imaginations and play pretend games.
Do a jigsaw puzzle–Gather up a jigsaw puzzle and have your kids work together to complete it. We are currently working on this one!
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Do a science experiment–Grab some materials and do a fun science experiment together.
Have a pillow case sack race–Have your kids race each other with pillow cases over their legs for a fun twist on the classic sack race.
Play limbo–Play a classic game of limbo with your kids and have some fun.
Tape up crepe paper or yarn to make lasers in a ninja training course–Grab some crepe paper or yarn to create a fun obstacle course for your kids. They can pretend they’re ninjas while they go through it.
Do a flash light scavenger hut–Gather up some flashlights and have your kids search for items around the house.
Make paper airplanes--Craft some paper airplanes and have a flying competition.
Make a sensory bin–Fill a bin with items like rice, beans or shaving cream for your kids to explore. You can also snag something like this. I bought this sensory bin for our youngest son and he LOVES it!
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Do a scavenger hunt–Create a scavenger hunt for your kids and have them search around the house.
Blow up a balloon and don’t let it touch the ground or play balloon volleyball–Grab some balloons and create a fun game with them.
Write a thank you note to someone in your life–Encourage your kids to write a thank you note to someone special in their lives.
Do yoga–Do a fun yoga practice with your kids to get them moving.
Give each other makeovers–Grab some face paint and give each other silly makeovers.
Play freeze dance–Grab some speakers and have a fun game of freeze dance.
We hope this list of encouraging activities is helpful for busy moms trying to keep their kids entertained. From crafts to games, these activities are sure to keep your little ones occupied for hours. Have fun!