Any parent will tell you that kids can be a handful, especially when they are indoors and idle. That is why it is best to set-up a playhouse outdoors where the kids can go play- or just waste the day away. However, sometimes you are forced to allow the kids to play inside, mostly when it is rainy or too hot outside.
Being stuck indoors with your kids– probably because of nasty weather- can be so frustrating. You will be trying to get things done or just spend some quality time with them but they won’t let you because they are restless or bored. It could also be that you want to keep an eye on them as you attend to other things, or you want to spend quality bonding time together.
The good thing is that kids are easy to please; just a creative activity and you will have them occupied as you do your chores or just get down and do it with them. Here are a few suggestions of such activities.
1.Baking
When was the last time you spent time with your little one in the kitchen? Kids love some sweet treats, they will love it better if they make themselves. Get in the kitchen with your kids for some baking session. Let them shape the dough in to their favorite animals’ shapes. You can also allow the older kids to create their own recipes and bake them. The kids can use the remaining dough to mold different patterns and have a messy play with the flour.
Cleaning the kitchen after you are done will go a long way in instilling good values in them. If you aren’t busy with other things, make good use of this time by teaching him/her how to make a moreish butterscotch pudding or some colorful biscuits. You won’t believe how creative your kid can get given the chance.
2.Coloring
Get some coloring books and some crayons and encourage your kids to get creative in mixing the colors to come up with the mos
t captivating pictures. You can as well draw some images yourself for them to color. It’s always a good idea to create a competitive atmosphere by promising a reward for the best image.
3.Bathtub play
All kids love playing with water. Instead of them playing with muddy water outside, why not fill up the bathtub with warm water and allow them to bathe with their toys. If you add some fizzy bath tablets to the fun, you can be sure of at least an hour of peace and quiet.
4.Challenge them
Kids love challenges and they can spend a lot of time working on it just to prove to you that they are able. Give them educational toys that they can dismantle and build them up again. Puzzles that they can solve are a good challenge that they can take on. You can also use masking tape to create some roads and toys for obstacles and let them drive their toy cars while avoiding the obstacles.
5. Play classic board games
Your options are endless when it comes to classic board games for kids. They are particularly fun when the whole family participates. So, if you want to keep the kids away from the TV or smartphone, play a classic board with them. A good example of a classic board game to try is a murder mystery game, where the kids play the role of young detectives and try to resolve a murder. You will be moving from room to room trying to find the culprits and gather new evidence, so you need to set aside a couple of hours for that. This game is ideal for kids above 10 years.
6. Painting
Are you okay with a little bit of mess? If you are, then allow the kids to have fun with water paint. Just give them paint and some poster boards and allow them to paint whatever comes to their young minds. You won’t believe the kind of masterpieces they can create. If you have been trying to touch up the walls of your house and you can’t get time out of your busy schedule, when you are stuck indoors is the best time to do this. It makes it even better because you have your kids to help you. Bring out your kids’ artistic side by letting them paint the walls of their rooms. Let them use different colors to make it captivating.
7. Use their help
Every parent desires their kids to have some sense of responsibility as they grow up. There is no better way to instill this than assigning some house chores to them. You can let your kids help you do some chores as you guide them on how best to do them. Let them clean and arrange their rooms to instill a sense of cleanliness in them.
8. Read a story together
Grab a book and read your kids a story. Your kids are probably used to watching cartoons all day long, get them off the screen by reading them an interesting story and encourage them to act out the characters in the story. If you have a kid with a speech problem, go for a book with colorful pictures. As you read, encourage him or her to repeat the words or identify the images. You can also encourage the other kids to identify more words with similar syllables while he or she repeats them. This speech therapy will help your kid in a great way.
Conclusion
Some of the above activities do not require a lot of movement, which makes them a good choice when you need the kids to stay still so you can rest, or have a few things done peacefully. Those activities that you do together with your kids help in.
Staying indoors doesn’t have to be sad and boring. If you know the right games for your kids, you can easily turn an uneventful day indoors into a memorable one. The 7 boredom-busting games above will help you get started. All the best!
