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    Indoor Activities For Kids

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    Here is a select, yet giant list of indoor activities for kids and projects that I have posted. (I will be adding to this list as I write new posts.) Although I have sorted them by category, categories are not mutually exclusive. An Artsy activity can easily filed under Motor Skills, or a Geometry activity under Science.

    Giant list of indoor activities for kids

    Nearly all are free or super-cheap, can be easily set-up (a few are more complicated) and many, depending on the age of your child, do not necessarily require intense parental involvement (Hurrah!). Of course, engaging in the activity with your child is never discouraged.

    Have fun and to let me know which ones are your favorites!

    List of indoor art activities for kids

    Arts and Crafts Indoor Activities for Kids

    I've separated these indoor art activities by general age range, but there is a lot of cross-over, of course! Start out by exploring our Art Supply List.

    Best for toddlers:

    DIY Toddler Dot to Dot
    Tandem drawing (good for any age)
    Sticky Paper Collage
    Drawing on Big Paper (drawing from a new perspective)
    Toddler Collage
    Decorate Your Own Stickers
    Easy Faux Stained Glass Art Project (no sticky paper or tissue paper!)
    Free Play Art - a no-prep way to help kids explore their creative side
    Color Mixing in a Bag
    Homemade Colored Glasses

    Best for preschoolers:

    Make a giant hug
    Hand tracing
    Tape art journal page
    Window Painting
    Homemade Button Stampers
    Cellophane Faux Stained Glass Window (direct technique)
    Salt, Watercolors and Sticky Paper Art
    Giant Dot to Dot
    DIY shapes book
    Plant markers for an indoor garden
    Mondrian "Stained Glass" Window Art
    Collage Books
    Monthly Moons
    Homemade Apple Blossom Stampers
    Autumn Wreath
    Homemade Pumpkin Stampers
    Leaf Art
    Start a Pre-Schooler's Journal
    Glitter Glue Snowflakes
    Snowflake Wreath
    Sticker Resistance Painting
    Salad Spinner Art
    Painting with Marbles
    Container Painting
    String Art
    Heart stamp index card valentines
    Snowflake "stained glass" window
    Art from recyclables

    Ages 5 and up:

    Zentangles with a 5 year old
    Transforming origami ninja star
    Thaumatrope, an old fashioned science and art toy
    Melting crayon project (also good for older preschoolers)
    Clone Trooper paper dolls
    Cityscape Sponge Art
    Handmade Journals from Recycled Art
    Mermaid Paper Dolls
    Postage Stamp Bookmark
    Make a Rainbow Prism
    Mini Beaded Bookmarks
    Single color art exploration
    Shaving Cream Marbled Paper
    Painting with Magnets
    Drawing Seashells
    Homemade Bookmarks
    Homemade Wrapping Paper
    Shrink Plastic Shell Garland 
    Hobby Book
    Homemade Puppet Theater
    Handmade Bookmarks Kids Won't Lose
    Amate Art Project (guest post from Artchoo!)
    Fabric Pen Tee-shirts
    Family harmony and kindness tokens
    Spirolaterals math art

    Want More Free Activity Ideas?
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    List of indoor science activities for kids

    Science Indoor Activities for Kids

    Most of these ideas are easily adapted for preschool aged children on up, and a few are even suitable for toddlers. Older children can extend scientific exploration by recording and comparing observed results. Younger children's natural curiosity will benefit from simple free play.

    Balloon Rocket Races
    Simple Preschool Science Lab
    Easy circuit experiment to learn about electricity
    Superhero science activities - test your powers
    On the go float and sink discovery bottle
    Electric play dough
    Water refraction magic (with video)
    Spinning noise maker to explore sound science (with video)
    Cabbage juice science experiment to explore acid and bases (take two!)
    Zoom ball to learn about inertia and reaction
    Explore engineering by fashioning a paper boomerang
    Simple Machine Play with a Pulley
    STEM playdate
    Ice cube on a string; or how failure teaches kids to think like scientists
    Homemade compass
    Solar oven
    Seashell Exploration Ideas
    Homemade Bottle Thermometer (guest post)
    Homemade Rubber Ball (guest post)
    Baking Soda and Vinegar
    Homemade Catapult
    Salt Volcano
    Grow Crystals on a Pipe Cleaner
    Acid/Base Science Experiment
    Magnets
    Blowing up Balloons with Soda and Vinegar
    Magic Jumping Coin
    Magnet Container Play
    Moon Phase Viewer
    Homemade Moon Phase Puzzle
    Tracking the Moon Phases
    Apple Taste Test
    Fog in a Bottle
    Making Moon Craters
    Pear Ripening Experiment
    Tracking the Weather 
    Magnetic Building Blocks 

    Gardening Indoor Activities for Kids

    Teach science through gardening! Yes, you can garden indoors.

    Beansprouts
    Paperwhites and Book
    Planting Paperwhites (full tutorial)
    Indoor Root Vegetable Garden
    Plant Misting
    Regrowing vegetable scraps
    Indoor plant race with pantry items

    Literacy activities for kids to prepare them for reading

    Literacy Indoor Activities for Kids

    The best activity you can do to encourage literacy learning is to read aloud to your kids. You'll find more than 100 themed book lists in our book lists index - books for every interest! Use these simple literacy play ideas to have fun learning with your kids.

    Easy Phonics Teaching Ideas
    "Sift-N-Spell"
    Spine Poetry
    Superhero secret code scavenger hunt (also incorporates math!)
    I Spy Spelling Game
    Teaching Phonics with a Puzzle
    Simple Rhyming Games
    Alphabet tracers
    Little Blue and Little Yellow Book Activity
    Learning How to Form Letters with craft sticks
    Hanging the Alphabet
    Frozen Letter Scramble
    Preschool Journal with a variety of materials

    List of prompts for indoor pretend play and game ideas.

    Free play is so important! Allow plenty of time everyday for kids to explore their world on their own terms. These simple pretend play, games and free play ideas act as prompts to get kids busy playing -- the real "work" of childhood.

    Pretend Play

    Homemade Stove
    Homemade Road for toy cars
    Another Homemade Road
    Homemade Car Ramp
    Bean Tray for Construction Toys
    Shaving Cream Car Wash
    Play Wallet 
    Homemade Car Garage (or whatever else you want it to be)

    Games and Free Play

    DIY string and bead problem-solving puzzle
    Tchuka Ruma, a solitary Mancala-type game
    Land, Sea and Air (indoor active game)
    Three in a Row Game: Tapatan
    Pong Hau K'i : DIY Board Game from China
    Five Thinking Games
    Balloon YoYos
    Indoor/Outdoor Homemade Boomerang
    Superb Toddler Puzzle
    Homemade Catapult Game
    Quiet Time Jar
    Whirligig
    Put a Tape Shape on the Floor
    Blocks in a Box
    Homemade Carnival Game
    Pompoms, Paper Rolls and Egg Cartons Free Play
    Games to Take on the Airplane
    Balloon and Paddle Play
    Re-purposing Games for Toddlers
    Easy Indoor Ball Game 
    Obstacle Course for Toy Cars
    Color Photographic Scavenger Hunt

    List of indoor motor and sensory activities for kids.

    Motor Skills and Sensory Indoor Activities for Kids

    Exploding Toy Car Wash
    34 Add-ins for Play Dough to work fine motor skills beyond sculpting and smooshing.
    Superhero Slime Rescue
    Snow Traffic Jam
    Fine Motor Activities with Acorns
    Mini Sensory Bin
    Indoor Snow Play
    Wiki Stix on the Window
    Sensory Paper for Toddlers
    Homemade Toddler Lacing Activity
    Threading Pipe Cleaners
    Homemade Lacing Circle and Chopsticks Sorting
    Using Scissors
    Bottle and Lid Match-Up
    Muffin Tin Sorting
    Homemade Pomanders
    Popsicle Sticks Free Play
    Putting Popsicle Sticks in a Container 
    Filling a Jar
    Ball in a Box
    Stacking with Cookie Molds
    Pounding Practice
    Pounding Spices
    Working with Pizza Dough
    Putting Caps and Pompoms in a Container
    Ten Ways to Help in the Kitchen
    Restaurant Games for Toddlers
    Toothpicks and Colander
    Sorting Activities for Preschoolers and Toddlers

    Water Indoor Activities for Kids

    Kids LOVE to play with water! It's also a great sensory activity. Don't be afraid to play with water indoors. Grab a few towels and you're all set.

    Homemade "Sailboats"
    Dropper Water Transfer Activity
    Rainy Day Painting
    Water Drop Races
    Float and Sink Experiment
    Water on a Chalkboard
    Ocean in a Bottle
    Ice Wreath
    Container Bubbles in the Bath
    Funnel and Hose
    Car Wash
    Playing with Thin Ice

    List of math activities for kids

    Number and Math Indoor Activities for Kids

    My kids LOVE math! Never say "I'm not good at math to your kids!" Instead, instill an early love of mathematics with these ideas.

    Best for toddlers and preschoolers:

    Bean Counting
    Montessori Bean Counting
    Handmade (Giant) Connect the Dots
    Sorting Coins
    Number (and Letter) Pretzels
    Sorting Cards
    Noodle Shapes
    Skip Counting with Pennies
    Pattern Practice with Felt
    Handmade Building Circles
    Map Your Living Room
    3-D Shape Sorting
    Making Hexagons
    Fraction Cookies
    Homemade Montessori Triangles

    Best for ages 5 and up:

    Pi city skyline
    Parking Lot Addition with Toy Cars
    Möbius strip
    Fraction Card Game
    Kindergarten Number Matching Game
    Counting to 100 by tens activity
    Parabolic Curves designs (math art)
    Fibonacci art (math art)
    Tens Go Fish 
    Fives and Tens Card Game 
    Dots and Boxes
    Tessellations (Math Art)
    DIY shapes book
    Beginning and quick brain teaser puzzle
    Classic T Puzzle
    Tower of Hanoi puzzle
    Magic square
    Turn circles into a square (with video)
    Symmetry paper trick brain teaser
    Counting game

    More Indoor Activities Ideas

    Super easy ideas for toddler indoor activities. Indoor ball games to play with kids when they are stuck inside Fun indoor activities for tweens when they are stuck inside.

    Excellent resource for indoor activities for kids

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    Want Your Kids to Love Being Unplugged?
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    Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.
    Want More Free Activity Ideas?
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    Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.
    Want your kids to love being unplugged?
    Join our newsletter and as a thank you, I'll send you a list of 10 waiting games.
    Your email will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Click here to view our privacy policy.