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On the hunt for easy and fun indoor activities for kids?
I’ve got you covered with this massive list of over 100 fun indoor games to try out on a rainy day or just for fun.
Most of these fun games will work in your living room for kids of all ages.
The best part: I love that many of these activities are so easy and simple to put together.
Many of these items are probably around your home and are an easy and simple household item that can be used to create something epic.
I am so happy you are here.
Welcome.
Here is a Free Bug Preschool Theme Printable for you:
Be sure to bookmark this page to come back to for indoor ideas for kids each month/year.
I’ve also included a fun free printable that will save you some extra time while you check off the ones you completed.
See Also: 100+ Outdoor Activities for Kids
Indoor Activities for Kids
There are so many fun things you can bring about for both younger children and big kids.
Children of all ages can try out most of these fun ideas by creating an open play space.
I’ll be sharing some of our favorite fun ways to create the perfect time indoors with family and friends.
Looking for Year Round Preschool Printables? Check these out.. 🙂
An indoor play space doesn’t have to be complicated.
Lots of the methods and variables I will be showing in this post revolve around easy ideas to bring forth.
And, I’ll also be sharing some of our favorite supplies that can easily be incorporated into any indoor activity.
Whether you have a toddler, preschooler or 5-6 year old at home, I’ve got you covered.
Have a baby?
Here is a super fun baby painting idea that is loads of fun.
For even more baby painting ideas, check out this right here.
A fun indoor activity can look like including homemade items, DIY ideas for kids and more!
Supplies we like using for indoor crafts:
Cookie Cutters
Cookie cutters are a great option for creating a potato stamper, painting with, and using to play with play dough.
Paper Towels
Using sheets of paper towel are wonderful in creating calligraphy activities for kids, paper towel magic experiment and in water dropper activities.
Paper plates
I love a good paper plate activity. We use paper plates in our crafts that involve creating simple animals, flowers and other fun ideas.
Pieces of Paper
We love using pieces of paper whether its tissue paper, construction paper or gift wrapping paper for using in tearing paper activities, glue and stick activities and for creating simple crafts.
Recycled Cups
Using recycled items is one of the ways we love recycling and playing with cups, plates, spoons, cardboard boxes and more. There are so many fun and creative ideas that can be brought about from an easy recycled craft.
Pom Poms
Incorporating pom poms in our crafts and activities are a wonderful way to learn about counting, sorting and more all while gaining the benefits of fine motor play!
Piece of Paper
A simple piece of paper is a wonderful method to bring forth an easy and simple craft or activity. We love using pieces of paper to create an activity where we learn about colors, sorting and more.
Egg Cartons
When using a recycled egg carton we enjoy creating an epic popsicle stick activity for matching with the correct colored pom poms. We also love sorting jelly beans or pom poms to match and learn about color recognition.
Small Items (buttons, stickers, pom poms…)
Using small items such as buttons, stickers and pom poms can work really well for learning about counting, patterns and more. What are some ways you love using stickers and buttons in activities?
Little bins (for sensory play)
Most times we bring out a bin to include a simple sensory bin activity for kids. These bins in turn are used in water play, sensory play and more. What do you like bringing out a bin for?
Most of these items up atop can be found at a local grocery store.
Easy Steps to make a Great Indoor Activity
There are many different ways we love to set up simple activities for little kids and older kids.
A few easy ideas we love for toddlers are:
A simple sensory bin
This easy sensory bin is one that incorporates only 3 items: a bin, a base and a few manipulatives. We love it!
Play pretend pizza parlor
Dot sticker activity
Dot stickers are amazing! And, we love this easy dot sticker activity for toddlers.
Pom pom matching
You can get really creative with this. We love brining out the pom poms around Christmas in this easy Christmas decorating activity for kids.
Decorate a tree
Play hot potato
Do a puzzle
Sort cards by number
Letter sound recognition
Sing the ABC’s
Check out this free alphabet printable that will help in practicing the abc’s.
Build a fort
Have a scavenger hunt
Play peek a boo
Coloring
Play hide and seek
Indoor Activities for Preschool
Dye eggs
Whip up playdough
Have you ever made homemade play dough? This is one easy way to bring forth an easy playdough recipe. It is amazing!
Make rainbow crayons
Play hot potato
Leaf painting
Fallen leaves are a wonderful tool to use in an easy leaf painting activity. We use kids paint to stamp and create a work of art!
Counting practice
Alphabet recognition
Shape recognition
If your LO is learning about shapes, this free shape printable is a must!
Color recognition
Learning about colors? This is one of our all time favorite busy book printables that is sure to be a treat. Learn about colors, the alphabet and more!
I’ll be categorizing this list as follows:
Simple Craft Ideas
Toddler Indoor Activities
Preschool Indoor Activities
Indoor Activities for 5 Year Olds
Science Indoor Activities
Math Indoor Activities
Best Indoor Activities
Easy Indoor Activities
Fun Activities
Games
Sensory
Seasonal
Educational
These are by far some of our favorite indoor activity categories that will bring about easy ideas for kids by category.
Without further ado, let’s get into them…
Simple Craft Ideas
An easy way to bring out a simple fun activity for young children and older children is to set out an easy craft. This list is a great way to enjoy a good time for cold weather or sunny days.
Star Template
Tearing Paper Activities
Ball Painting
This ball painting activity is a fun one. It takes a couple homemade items to put this together and it is easy peasy! You’ll need a cardboard box, kids paint and a few balls.
Hedgehog Craft
Paper Plates Craft
Salt Painting
Marbled Art
Construction Paper Craft
Finger Painting
It’s no wonder kids love finger painting. It is a dream, sensorial fun and a wonderful keepsake thereafter. You’ll love this easy finger painting activity with the kids.
Make a DIY Bird Feeder
Watercolor Painting
Ice Painting
This is a great indoor activity. Especially on those hot summer days! I love how easy this ice painting is to put together. You won’t want to miss how easy this is!
Sidewalk Chalk
Toilet Paper Tubes Craft
Finger Paints Craft
Make Homemade Play dough
Shaving Cream Craft
We use shaving cream in our crafts and it is awesome! Here is one of our favorite shaving cream art activities for kids.
Make Bead Art
Piece of String Art
Toddler Indoor Activities
Some of the best ideas for younger kids is in this list! I’ve curated a simple set of activities that are so much fun for your busy toddler. Let’s get into them:
Tearing Paper Activities
I am a big fan of construction paper. Bring this out (alongside our free printable) and you’ve a super easy activity that will keep your little occupied learning and playing.
Painting with Balls
Mess Free Painting
Invitation to Create a Hedgehog
Stamping Activity
Foam Craft Puzzle
Construction Paper Craft
Handprint Rainbow
What kid doesn’t love adding kids paint to their hands for painting with. Best part is using all 6 colors of the rainbow to create an epic handprint rainbow with. This activity is one for the books!
Sticker Matching
Tissue Paper Window Craft
Feed the Penguin
Car Wash Craft
Creating a simple car wash craft is as easy as 1-2-3. The main item we used is a cardboard box. The rest was all a creation made from a kids imagination! We are loving it!
Heart Card
Shape Craft
Dot Marker Craft
Sticky Wall Craft
Paper Plate Craft
As mentioned earlier, paper plates are a wonderful tool we love using in our crafts. Here is a fun paper plate pumpkin craft that is easy peasy!
Dot Sticker Christmas Tree
Best Toddler Books
Preschool Indoor Activities
Preschool activities are filled with lots of free play, easy ideas and educational activities that are great.
Cardboard Box Activity
Traveling Waters Experiment
Pasta Threading
Uncooked pasta not only can be used in sensory bins but they can also be used in pasta threading activities such as this one. It is no surprise that this only took less than an hour to setup. And, it lasts for a really long time!
ABC Sensory Bag
Glitter Slime
Soap Foam
Alphabet Placemats
Fine Motor Activity
Alphabet Puzzle
This free printable is one for the books! Use it each year with your students or children to learn about matching the uppercase to lowercase letters and practice matching the images that contain the beginning sounds of that specific letter.
Best Preschool Books
Washing Pumpkins
Ice Painting
Shape Matching Activity
Rainbow Rice
Make snow ice cream
Movie night
Paint and Draw a Picture
Color by Code
Potato Stamps
Indoor Activities for 5 Year Olds
Kindergarten is such a fun time of year. In this list you’ll find lots of educational ideas and fun kids ideas for 5-6 year olds.
Raking Leaves
Shape Tree
Farm Sensory Bin
A sensory bin can be made for any theme, season or time of year. We made a farm themed sensory bin this time around but sensory bins can be themed year round. What would you theme your sensory bin?
Corn Beaded Pipe Cleaner Craft
Short Vowel File Folder Game
Grow an indoor garden
I remember becoming super excited to grow our own herbs and vegetables (parsley, cilantro, peppers..) in our home. This is a wonderful activity for learning about the life cycle of a plant.
Make a DIY marble run
Write a letter
Create a Gift Card
When you were little did you make the cutest cards for your family? This is one of the cutest activities to show appreciation for the people you love and come together as a family creating the cutest little treasures that last a lifetime.
Indoor Obstacle Course
Gross Motor Activity
Make a Bird Feeder
Science Indoor Activities
STEM ideas for kids are always so much fun to bring forth. If its looking like bad weather outside, bring the fun indoors with these science experiments for kids:
Water and Oil Sensory Bag
Sink or Float
Magic Paper Towel Experiment
Waterbed Sensory Bottle
Rain Cloud in a Jar
This is a wonderful STEM activity that is brilliant! Talk about the weather and specifically the clouds with this homemade STEM activity for kids!
How to make Oobleck
Make Homemade Play Dough
Math Indoor Activities
We have a huge list of math ideas that are not only educational but that are also fun for letting the time pass. Some of these ideas can be used on the go which will allow for learning in great places while on vacation. Here are our favorites:
Learning Websites for Kids
Busy Book Bundle
Ice Cube Tray Counting
Gingerbread Man Counting
Spider Eye Counting
This is a wonderful activity for learning to count the eyes of a spider on Halloween!
Sorting Game
Apple Tree Counting
70+ Math Activities for Kids
Best Indoor Activities for Kids
Bonus points for these best ideas for kids that require a few DIY ideas that are sure to be lots of fun.
Marble Run
Read a good book
DIY live shows at home
Make a DIY theater
Bake Cookies or Cupcakes
Use pillows for a pillow fight
Set up an indoor playground
Cardboard Boxes for pretend play
Gross Motor Skills Activity
Easy Indoor Activities for Kids
Cheers to those easy ideas that involve only a couple of homemade items that can most probably be found in your kitchen cupboard.
Toilet Paper Rolls Activity
Make Ice Cream
Build a Fort
Imaginative Play
Fun Activities
These fun ideas for kids are a hit! Let’s get into them…
Scavenger Hunt
Dance Party
Watch a Classic Movie
Visit interactive Exhibits
Games
This set of ideas is wonderful to bring out on snow days or even when its hot and super sunny outside.
Arcade Games
Tic Tac Toe
Board Game Family Night
Obstacle Course
Put together a Puppet Show
Play Card Games
Play Uno
Play Board Games around a Coffee Table
Sensory Indoor Activities For Kids
This list of easy sensory activities is our favorite! Be sure to bookmark this page to come back to each year for new ideas.
Easy Sensory Bin
Homemade Slime
Rainbow Rice
Make a Sensory Bottle
Make a Sensory Bag
Make a Sensory Bin
How to make Oobleck
Water Play
Seasonal Indoor Activities For Kids
Winter Activities
Spring Activities
Summer Activities
Fall Activities
Educational Activities
Toddler Free Printables
Preschool Free Printables
Home Science Experiments
Outer Space Preschool Activities
Call out the United States on a Map
Fine Motor Skills Activity
Time of Year Activities
Family Tree Preschool Activities
Kindergarten Learning Folder