Being in quarantine may have negative psychological effects on our children, as explained in my article describing the 5 things you must do every day to preserve your children’s well-being during quarantine here. Having them watching TV or playing video games all day long can aggravate the potential psychological impacts of the quarantine.
When they are at school, children have a huge playground and dedicated periods for free time play during the day. It is critical to keep that period of free play games in their daily schedule to preserve their wellbeing during quarantine.
Let them play, and more importantly, let them play games that do not involve a screen (TV, or tablets or video games).
Looking for some inspiration for indoor free play games ideas? I got you covered.
Here are 6 types of indoor free play games with 18 games ideas that will keep your children away of screens while entertaining them as if they were at school:
- Adventure games: All kids like adventure and they will be really happy to participate in games that involve exciting and unusual experiences. They will develop their problem-solving skills while enjoying the adventure Some popular adventure games are:
- Treasure hunt: Send the kids on a treasure hunt around the house with enigmas that they must figure out. You can use any type of treasure (Legos, toys, clothes); Make it interesting by setting a timer and have them team up if you have more than one child!
- Hide & seek: One must find the other players, who are hiding in different places of the house. This a classic that will never get old but always so funny!
- Commando mission: Create a scenario where they will be on a secret government mission to save the world; invent creative missions that will make them move and stimulate their creativity: crawl like snake and come back with the key, move like a crab, etc.
- Mimic games: Kids love to imitate, and games that include mimicking are funny. They are also an excellent way to practice their focus and exercise their brain memory while playing. Some popular examples of Mimic games are:
- Simon says: One player takes the role of “Simon” and issues instructions to the other players, which should be followed only when prefaced with the phrase “Simon says”. Players are eliminated if not following instructions as required. The winner of the game is usually the last player who has successfully followed all the given commands.
- Mirror Mirror: Stand face-to-face and have your child attempt to copy all your movements. Move like a cat, jump like a monkey, fly like a bird etc. Make it fun and they will not want to stop playing.
- Movement chain: First person starts with a movement, like jump 5 times, the next person must do the same movement and add a movement of his/her choice. The next person must do the two first movements and add on another and so on. When the chain is broken because someone forgot the sequence, he/she is eliminated, and the winner is the one who will stay in the game till the end!
- Olympic race games: Kids like to compete and win medals. All games that involves competition in a funny way may captivate them as well as make them burn their energy! Some popular examples of Olympic race games are:
- Potato sack race: Use pillowcases and have your kids get in and hop to the finish to see who the best is!
- Obstacle course race: Create a course that includes a variety of motions such as jumping , crawling, balancing, etc. Add obstacles that will increase the fun: a table to crawl under, clothes basket to jump on, line of tape to balance on. Expect a lot of fun!
- Three-legged race: Tie the left leg of one child to the right leg of another one and have them run. The winner will be the pair who reach the line first. If your kid is alone you can tie his/her leg to yours and try to run together, lot of laughs guaranteed!
- Tape games: Tapes are awesome tools to create indoor games, especially painter’s tapes. You can use them on the floor to design shapes and recreate funny activities like in the school playground at home. Those activities are simple and funny, and your kids would enjoy playing as much as using the tape to design the shapes, developing their imagination and creativity. Some popular tape games are:
- Hopscotch board: Make a simple hopscotch board on the floor and let your kids have fun like on the playground at school!
- Tape shapes: Create different shapes on the floor and have your child move from one shape to another. Animate the game by giving them funny instructions (such as Hop like a monkey) and speed up the tempo!
- Spider web: Use painter’s tape to create a spider net on a door opening or between two walls and have the kids try to find their way through without touching the net!
- Balloon games: Kids of all ages are fascinated by balloons. The good thing is that there are a lot of games you can create using balloons. Balloons are an easy way to have fun and kids may work out their muscles, their concentration and coordination while enjoying the game. Some popular balloon games are:
- Balloon hand balance: the balloon should not hit the ground. Kids should hit the balloon up in the air as long as they could. Keep track of their time or count how many times they can hit the balloon before it falls to the ground
- Balloon feet balance: same as the previous one but with foots. Have the kids lie on the ground and balance the balloon on their feet
- Balloon volleyball: Tie a piece of string between two chairs and have your child hit the balloon back and forth, running from one side to another, to keep it off the floor. Keep track of their performance to set their own records.
- Indoor sport games: Even when you can’t go out, you can adapt some of your favorite sport games to play them indoor. Some popular sports games you can adapt are:
- Basketball: You can use a basket and rolled-up socks to see who can make the farthest shots!
- Soccer: You can use 2 plastic cups or bottles (to simulate nets) and a soft ball and see who will score the greatest number of goals!
- Bowling: You can Use plastic bottles or cups for pins and create and set up a bowling lane with painter’s tape. Bowl with any type of bowl and record the scores to see who the best is!
Enjoy those games with your kids at home, guaranteed quality time and laughs, while keeping them away from screens and boredom.
Which one is your preferred activity?VOTE below.
We would love to hear about your own activities! Add to the list any activity that may not be in using the comment section below.
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