15 Fun Indoor Games to Get Kids Moving This Winter

Sometimes it is nice to curl up on the couch with a book, but there is a long dark winter ahead and too many days on the couch will only make the season drag on. Make up an Activity Jar using these ideas (and add some more of your own!) and on nights when things need a little shaking up, pull out an activity from the jar and have some fun.

Kids by nature would rather be running around than sitting still, but sometimes they just can't get their imagination started to think of a fun activity to do. That is where you come in. Help the kids make an Activity Jar by decorating a plastic container with fun stickers and writing down all the ideas of fun games you can think of, each on its own piece of paper.

Here are 15 fun ideas to get you started, and I am sure you can come up with many more.

Dance Party

Use your Wii or just the radio and dance the night away. Make up new moves, teach each other your favorites or have a dance off – anything that keeps you grooving, sweating and giggling.

Yoga Moves

There are many great apps and you tube videos that show you easy yoga poses that will stretch, tone and inspire some Twister like moves. Learn new poses with the kids or teach them what you know from yoga class. Everyone can benefit from a little yoga.

Photo by Stuart Miles

Twister

If that yoga session parlays its way into a game of twister, go with the flow (get it?!). Twister is a great game of learning left from right and getting into groovy positions. Have fun with it.

Image: Amazon

Simon Says

Test their memory as well as their fitness level by having Simon say ‘do 10 jumping jacks’ or ‘do 20 sit up.’ Simon can be a great fitness coach and make it fun.

Hide and Seek

You wont have to encourage kids to an indoor game of running around the house for hide and seek. Make racing back to Home or the safe spot rewarding to keep them moving.

Balloon Volleyball

Throwing balls indoors in not recommended with kids, but a little balloon volleyball is fun, easy and won’t knock over that special vase!

Pillow Fights

Go old school with an old fashioned pillow fight. Maybe even let the kids stand on the bed if it is safe enough to do so. Who doesn’t love a pillow fight?

Photo by Photostock.

Flash Light Fashion Show

Play dress up where you get to be the model and there is real lighting! Grab flashlights and make a obstacle course runway.

Hula Hoop

So many fun things to do with hula hoops. For the parents, just trying to hula is an effort, but kids seem to come by it naturally. See if they can get the hula hoop on one arm over their head or hop on one foot without dropping the hoop.

Photo by Pat138214

Musical Chairs

Get lots of friends over for this one. You know the drill. Get to that last chair before the next guy, or you are out!

Cup Catch

Using a light or soft fabric ball, play catch indoors but use a larger plastic cups or a deep container to catch the ball. If you are getting too good at catching it, back up a couple steps and try again.

Basement Band

See what you can find around the house and make your own basement band. Use paint sticks and drum on containers, use stretched elastics and pick some cords, find some bells to jingle and make a pretend microphone to sing your favorite tunes.

Water Bottle Bowling

Indoor bowling with empty – or full – water bottles on the kitchen floor. How many can you knock down?

Photo by Stuart Miles

Obstacle Course

Set up an indoor obstacle course where you have to crawl under chairs, climb over couches, hop through hula hoops, go up stairs and limbo under skipping ropes.