27 Indoor Games for Kids in 2025
Keeping kids entertained indoors can be a challenge, especially on rainy days or during long weekends.
In this article, I’ll share 27 exciting indoor games that are perfect for kids, enjoyable and great for stimulating their creativity and learning.
Let’s begin!
27 Indoor Games for Kids
1. Hunt Against The Timer
In the Hunt Against The Timer one player sets a timer and chooses a color. All other players race to find items of that color and return to the starting point before the timer goes off.
If a player returns after the timer stops, they are out. The winner is the one who gathers the most items within the time limit. This game can be varied by choosing a letter or allowing players to steal items from others.
2. Grandma’s Footsteps
Grandma’s Footsteps is a classic game where one player, acting as Grandma, stands with their back to the other kids. The other players try to sneak up and touch the wall next to Grandma without being seen moving.
Grandma can turn around at any moment, and if she sees someone moving, that player is out. The game continues until someone successfully touches the wall or is the last person standing.
3. Egg Jousting
In Egg Jousting, each player gets three hard-boiled eggs. Players start by gently tapping the narrow ends of their eggs together.
When one egg cracks, they flip and bang the wide ends. The player whose egg remains uncracked wins and gets a new egg.
This continues until only one player is left with an intact egg. The cracked eggs can be used for sandwiches afterward, making this a fun and sustainable activity.
4. Zingo
In the Zingo is a bingo-like game each player gets a Zingo card, and players take turns sliding the Zingo Zinger device to reveal two tiles.
If a player sees a tile that matches an item on their card, they call out to claim it. The first to fill their card wins.
This game enhances quick thinking, matching skills, and is a lot of fun with its fast-paced action.
5. What’s The Time, Mr. Wolf?
What’s The Time, Mr. Wolf? is a thrilling game where one player, Mr. Wolf stands at one end of the room with their back to everyone else.
The other players call out, “What’s the time, Mr. Wolf?” Mr. Wolf replies with a time, and the players take steps forward corresponding to the number.
When Mr. Wolf says, “Dinner time,” they turn around and chase the players. The player caught becomes the new Mr. Wolf.
6. Go Fish
Go Fish is a card game where players aim to collect pairs of matching cards. Each player is dealt six cards and places any pairs they have on the table.
Players then take turns asking others for specific cards to make pairs. If the asked player has the card, they must hand it over.
If not, the asking player draws a card from the deck, continuing until all pairs are made. The first player to put down all their cards wins.
7. Musical Chairs
Musical Chairs is a high-energy game involving music and chairs. Set up chairs in a circle, one less than the number of players.
As music plays, children walk around the chairs, and when the music stops, they must quickly find a seat. The player left standing is out.
One chair is removed each round until one player remains. This game promotes physical activity, teaches kids to follow rules, and brings out their competitive spirit.
8. Freeze Dance
Freeze Dance is a fun game where kids dance to music and freeze when it stops. Players must hold their position until the music starts again.
Anyone caught moving during the freeze is out. This game encourages children to move and dance freely while honing their listening skills and self-control.
It’s an excellent way for kids to burn off energy, enjoy music, and practice their ability to stop and start on cue.
9. Hopscotch
Hopscotch is a classic playground game that can be brought indoors using painter’s tape to create a hopscotch grid. Kids take turns hopping through the squares on one foot, following the numbered sequence.
The game helps develop balance, coordination, and motor skills. It also teaches kids to take turns and follow rules.
Indoor hopscotch is a fantastic way to keep children active and engaged, even when they can’t go outside to play.
10. Play Pretend
Play Pretend is a creative game similar to charades, where kids act out various roles or scenarios.
Players can choose to be anything from an astronaut to a kitten, using their imagination to bring their characters to life.
This game encourages storytelling, improvisation, and boosts creativity. It’s perfect for family bonding and can provide lots of laughs and fun.
11. DIY Obstacle Course
You can use everyday items like pillows, chairs, and hula hoops to set up various challenges around the house.
For added excitement, incorporate “The Floor is Lava,” where kids must navigate the course without touching the ground.
This game promotes physical activity, problem-solving skills, and creativity as children find ways to overcome each obstacle.
It’s adjustable for different age groups and abilities, ensuring everyone can participate and have fun.
12. Race Paper Planes
The Race Paper Planes game involves making and racing paper airplanes. Kids can design and decorate their planes before racing them to see whose flies the furthest.
This game fosters creativity as children personalize their planes and enhances coordination as they learn to fold and launch them effectively.
Set up a starting line and mark the distances each plane travels to determine the winner.
It’s a delightful blend of art and science, as kids can experiment with different designs to improve flight performance.
13. Hot Potato
Hot Potato is easy to set up and fun for kids of all ages. Players sit in a circle and pass an object, usually a small ball or a potato, while music plays.
When the music stops, the player holding the “hot potato” is out. The game continues until only one player remains.
This game is great for improving hand-eye coordination and quick reflexes. It also teaches kids to listen and react promptly.
14. Play Dough Art
Play Dough Art is a timeless activity where kids use play dough to create various shapes and figures. This hands-on activity enhances fine motor skills as children mold and shape the dough.
It’s an excellent way for kids to express their creativity and develop their imagination. Play dough comes in various colors, allowing for vibrant creations.
This activity can be educational too, as kids learn about different colors and textures while having fun.
15. Guess Who
Guess Who sharpens critical thinking and deduction skills. Players take turns asking yes/no questions to guess the identity of a mystery person.
The game can be customized using family photos or popular characters, adding a personal touch.
This game enhances memory and concentration as kids remember details about the possible identities.
It’s a fun and interactive way for children to learn about their family members or favorite characters while practicing their questioning and reasoning skills.
16. Paint Your Dreams
In the Paint Your Dream each child receives a blank canvas and a set of paints to create their unique artwork.
This activity encourages self-expression and helps children articulate their goals and dreams visually. It also boosts their confidence and artistic skills.
The finished paintings can be displayed around the house, providing a sense of accomplishment and a beautiful reminder of their creativity.
17. Ping Pong
Ping Pong games improve hand-eye coordination and reflexes. Setting up a ping-pong table at home provides endless fun for kids and adults alike.
The game involves hitting a lightweight ball back and forth across a table using small paddles. It’s a great way to promote physical activity and friendly competition.
Ping Pong also teaches strategic thinking as players anticipate their opponent’s moves. It’s suitable for all ages and can be played in singles or doubles.
18. Memory Games
Memory Games boost cognitive skills and memory retention in children. These games involve matching pairs of cards or objects, testing and improving a child’s recall ability.
They can range from simple picture cards for younger kids to more complex puzzles for older children.
Memory Games enhance concentration and attention to detail as kids work to remember the location of each card.
These games are fun and educational, making them a valuable addition to any indoor activity lineup.
19. Indoor Hockey
To play this game, you should use rolled-up socks as pucks and wrapping paper tubes or broomsticks as hockey sticks. Set up goals using laundry baskets or small boxes.
This game promotes physical activity, teamwork, and gross motor skills. Kids can play one-on-one or in teams, making it adaptable to different group sizes.
It’s a great way to keep kids active indoors and helps them burn off energy while developing coordination and balance.
20. Hula Hoop
Hula Hoop tests a child’s coordination and core strength. The goal is to keep the hula hoop spinning around the waist for as long as possible.
Kids can compete to see who can hula the longest or try different tricks and variations, like spinning the hoop on their arms or legs.
Hula Hooping improves balance and fitness, providing a full-body workout in a fun way.
21. Start A Band
In this game children can use real instruments or create their own using household items, such as pots and pans for drums or rubber bands stretched over boxes for guitars.
This activity encourages kids to work together, listen to each other, and create music as a group.
It’s a fun and noisy way to spend an afternoon, and it also helps develop their musical talents and collaborative skills.
22. Make Bottle Hurricanes
To make these sensory toys, fill empty water bottles with water, glitter, food coloring, and small objects like beads or sequins.
Seal the bottle tightly with glue to prevent spills. Kids can shake the bottles to watch the glitter swirl and settle, mimicking the effect of a hurricane.
This activity provides a calming sensory experience and can be used to teach children about weather phenomena and buoyancy.
23. Ring Toss
You should use paper plates with the centers cut out to make the rings, and set up a bottle or cone as the target.
Players stand at a designated distance and try to toss the rings onto the bottle. This game helps improve hand-eye coordination and precision.
It can be modified for different skill levels by adjusting the distance between the players and the target.
24. Marshmallow Tinkertoys
Using marshmallows and thin pretzel sticks, kids can build various structures, such as houses, bridges, or any shape they can think of.
This activity enhances fine motor skills and creativity as children figure out how to balance and connect their creations.
This game is perfect for encouraging spatial awareness and problem-solving skills in a playful and engaging way.
25. Family-Photo Bingo
First, you should arrange nine individual photos of family members in a bingo grid and give each child nine playing cards or checkers pieces to use as bingo chips.
When someone calls out the name of a relative, the child covers the corresponding photo. The first player to get three in a row wins.
This game improves memory and strengthens family bonds by helping children recognize and remember their relatives.
26. Stop the Bus
In the Stop the Bus game each player draws columns on their paper with headings like Girl’s Name, Boy’s Name, Animal, Food/Drink, and Place.
One person silently says the alphabet while another calls out “Stop the Bus” to choose a letter. Players then fill in the columns with words starting with that letter.
Unique answers score higher points. This game promotes quick thinking, vocabulary skills, and can be customized with additional categories or time limits for more difficulty.
27. Indoor Treasure Hunt
To set up this game; parents can hide objects or photos around the house and give children a list of items to find. For added challenge, use a timer to see who can find the most items in a set time.
Variations include taking photos of hidden objects for kids to match or hiding one sock from each pair and having children find the matches.
This game encourages observation skills, problem-solving, and can be adapted to different age groups.
