Indoor Games Featuring Pretend Play

Active Imagination

Take the kids on a walk through the forest without leaving the living room. For each prompt, demonstrate a movement while you tell the story out loud. For example:

• You are walking down a path in a forest (walk in place).
• You see a deer leap across the path (leap!).
• You chase after the deer (run in place).
• But you trip on a branch and fall (slowly fall in place).
• You roll down a hill (roll around on the floor).

You can take this in any direction you want and make it last as long as you need to!

Grow, Little Seed, Grow!

In this scenario, you’re going to “plant” your kiddo and watch them grow. Your steps could include:

• Have your child curl up in a little ball on the floor. If they’re small enough, you can carry them to the spot.
• Declare you are a gardener, and you are planting the rarest seed.
• Tickle their back while you say, “Water, water, water!”
• Lightly tap their back while you say, “Sun beats down, sun beats down!”
• Now the seed can start to unfurl. “Oh, the seed is reaching through the soil!”
• As your child slowly comes to standing, at each stage say things like, “Oh, the leaves are unfurling!” and “Look, there’s a flower on the top.”
• Finally, have your child stretch to the sun.

You can end it there, or you can go and pick the flower, having the kiddos collapse in a giggling heap as you “chop” at their heels.

Animal Antics

Can your kiddo waddle like a walrus? Walk like a penguin? Gallop like a horse? Call out animal names and watch as your child imitates the creature’s antics.

Dress-Up Challenge

Raid the dress-up bin or pile all your best costumes together. Then call out open-ended prompts your kids can respond to with their clothing choices. Dress up as someone who helps others. Dress up as someone who builds things. Dress up as a hero. Have kids race against each other or set a timer for singletons as they take on this best-dressed challenge.

Indoor Games That Get Physical

The Alphabet Workout

This one takes a bit more prep, but it’s super easy to learn and guaranteed to burn off energy in no time. First, you need to associate a specific exercise with letters of the alphabet (example: A, 5 burpees, B, 10 jumping jacks, C, 10 jumps in place). You can repeat exercises, so you don’t have to come up with 26 new ones! You can also find a pre-made one, like this one from Leash Your Fitness.

Next, you take turns doing the exercises based on your name. Adjust to kids’ ages and fitness levels. For example, you can do middle and last names if the kids need more. Or choose random words. Your heart will be pumping in no time (It makes a great break from work for adults, too.).

Pool Noodle Jousting

Okay, we’ll admit this one could be a recipe for trouble among certain siblings, but it’s ever so easy and ever so fun! Just be sure to establish rules like no hitting faces, body parts, etc. All you need are two pool noodles. If the kids are small, you can cut a pool noodle in half. Arm each child (or yourself and a child) and joust away.

No noodles? You can get a set of two 52″ long noodles for $24.99 on Amazon right now.

Related: 21 Easy Play Ideas for Kids (Whether You Have 5, 15 or 30 Minutes)

At-Home Obstacle Course

Indoor games get an activity boost with this obstacle-filled option. Use all the cardboard delivery boxes in your basement or pile pillows together. Then have your ninja warriors test their skills on the course that gives them a legit reason to climb the furniture.

Family Wrestling Match

This simple activity pits your kiddo against mom or dad in a battle of physical strength. To play, create a circle using painter’s tape or something that will easily peel off your floors. Make sure it’s big enough to move around in. Plant yourself firmly in the middle before motioning to your sidekick Matrix-style to try and wrestle you out of the circle. Set a timer for each round, or keep it going until you finally get pushed out.

Dance Party

Host an indoor dance party with a game-filled twist. Turn on your kid’s favorite tunes, and dance follow the leader style. The leader twirls, whirls, and swirls around the room while everyone else follows.

Indoor Games That Use Balloons

Bat the Balloon

Fill a balloon, toss it into the air and count how many pats your child can bat the balloon before it falls to the ground. Add another balloon to make the game more challenging.

Balloon Ball

All it takes to play balloon volleyball, baseball, basketball, or hockey is hot air (to blow up the balloons!) and a little ingenuity. Use trash cans on opposite sides of the room as baskets and a simple painter’s tape line to divide the room for a volleyball net. For hockey and baseball, use pool noodles to bat balloons in the air or on the ground.

Balloon Challenge

Blow up as many balloons as you can, and divide them up so roughly half are inside a painter’s tape-made circle and half are outside of it. Then free the kids, challenging one to get as many balloons into the circle while inviting the other to keep out as many as possible. It’s a Ying/Yang situation that’ll wear them out faster than you can say, “nap time!”

Active Indoor Games for Kids

Mirror Mirror

Take follow the leader to a whole new level. Pretend your child is a mirror and have them imitate your movements—reflection style. Reverse the course and give them a chance to play the role of leader as you mirror them.

Family Freeze

Are you looking for games for kids that don’t require materials, cards, boards or anything else? Try a quick game of freeze. Let the kids run, dance, twirl or move to their beat. Yell, “freeze,” and watch them suddenly turn into statues.

Musical Chairs

Don’t count out the games you played as a child. Set up chairs in your playroom, turn on the tunes, and play a game of musical chairs.

Indoor Hopscotch

A long stretch of wood or tile flooring is all your little ones need to play indoor hopscotch. Lay out the game using painters or washi tape so it won’t stick to your floors. Then off they go, tossing and hopping down the alley until they reach 10. Get more on this sweet idea over at Toddler Approved.

Pillowcase Race

Who doesn’t need an excuse to change the bedsheets? Have the kids stuff themselves into their pillowcases, then send them off down a carpeted hallway or across a room with a rug toward an imaginary finish line. Add in obstacles to make it more challenging and to keep the fun rolling.

Potato Relay

To play this silly game, all you need are buckets, potatoes and kids with a good sense of humor. Set the buckets up at one side of the room. Next, ask each child to carry a potato between their legs (no hands allowed) across the room and plop it in the bucket before turning and running back to tag the next player in line.

Indoor Bowling

Put your plastic dixie-cup collection to use. Line them up bowling pin-style and use a soft, squishy ball to bowl!

Flip Cup Fun

This simple game is a total energy burn. To play, grab 20 paper or plastic cups from the cupboards and scatter them around the room—10 facing up and 10 facing down. Divide your crew into the Up Team and the Down Team before setting a five-minute timer. Once the timer is set, send the teams off to flip cups in their direction (up for Up Team, down for Down Team).

Indoor Games for Kids That Like Color

Paint Race

Who can paint a portrait, landscape or still life the fastest? Choose a subject, hand out the canvases and race to see who can paint their masterpiece the fastest.

Rainbow Race

Add science to your indoor games for youth! Preschoolers and younger kiddos will get a kick out of this fun-filled full “STEAM” -ahead game. Drip a few drops of food coloring into water and freeze colorful cubes. When the ice is ready, place different colors on one side of a piece of poster board paper and race the cubes to see which one melts the fastest—and wins!

Color Wheel Magic

Preschoolers will dig this simple game you can make with construction paper. Place colored papers around on the ground cakewalk style and turn on some music. Then start your crew out around the circle. Whatever color they’re on when the music stops becomes their challenge color, and they need to race through the house to find an object in that color. The first one back to the circle wins!

Color Match

Choose a few colorful old socks; fill each sock with dry rice, beans, or something similar, and tie the ends together. Place sheets of paper on the floor—with one for each color of the sock. Your child can toss the homemade bean bag onto the corresponding color of paper.

Icy Building Blocks

No blocks? No problem! Freeze colorful cubes of ice and use them to build skyscrapers in your kitchen. Have a parent-child contest to see who can build the highest tower—without toppling the freezing blocks.

Low-Key Indoor Activities

Storybook Show

Combine two favorite activities into one when you help your kids get their favorite book ready for its stage debut. Think out costumes and dialogue as you prepare them to act out their favorite book for the most approving audience around—you and your parenting partner! It’ll be standing ovations and encore applauses when they’re done.

Related: 14 Low-Key Games to Play with Grandparents

Scavenger Hunt Ideas

Photo Scavenger Hunt

Make your kids’ day with this simple activity that you can play virtually anywhere. Write a list of random items your kids can find around the house. Then, send them off with your phone to find and snap pictures of each of the items. Make the list as long or as short as you like and change it every time you play.

Color Hunt

Stage a rainbow-filled scavenger hunt at home. Give your child pieces of colorful construction paper and ask them to find something around the house that matches each one.

The weather is finally warmer, which is amazing, but in a few weeks, it’ll kind of go overboard, and the novelty of all-day outdoor summer activities will wear off. We’ve got indoor summer activities that will get your child moving, experimenting, and creating in the comfort of your living room, kitchen, or playroom. If it’s reached crazy temps where you live, it sounds like you’ll need some great indoor activities for kids.

Looking for other indoor activities for kids? Check out ways to paint without brushes, edible science experiments, fun toddler games, and 15 ways to play with kids that take 10 minutes or less.

1. Laugh out loud. Stage a little comedy show in your living room. Here are 300+ of our favorite kids’ jokes to get you going.

2. Create a cool collage. Spend the day (or at least part) drawing summertime pictures. Your little artist can create portraits of the family at the beach, draw the swimming pool, or recreate what they see just by looking out the window. Use a large poster board or cardboard as a background and collage the pics into one summer mural.

3. Have a dance party. Pick a few summer-themed tunes (like anything from the Beach Boys) and dance, dance, dance.

4. Play store. Set up shop in just in no time at all and play grocery store. Or maybe you’d rather go to the moon or climb Mt. Everest? Here are 27 make-believe prompts that’ll fill those 30 minutes before dinner. 

5. Play a round of “Would you rather?” Would you rather have a pet monkey or a pet porcupine? Inquiring minds want to know! All you need are a few good questions. Here’s a great list you can pull up, so you can throw out questions as fast as your kids can answer them.

6. Draw a shadow. Set up toys, place books on their short sides, or use any other item that casts a shadow. Place the objects on a light-colored paper and shine a flashlight on it. Your kiddo can draw the shadow. Now move the light, pretending that it’s the sun. Draw the new shadows to see how the sun’s rays change as the day continues

7. Read together. Grab a stack of your kiddo’s favorite books and hunker down for some reading fun.

8. Write a story.

9. Sing a song. Choose a favorite family song and sing as a group. Don’t worry if you can’t carry a tune; the goal is for everyone to spend time together enjoying a fun indoor activity.

10. Make popsicles! Everyone loves to cool off in the summer with a delicious frozen treat, so why not make them yourself? Here’s our list of really yummy popsicle recipes. Which will be your family favorite?

11. Have an indoor picnic. When the weather gets too hot or rainy, that doesn’t mean your summer day is ruined—just move the party indoors! Lay out a blanket and have a picnic in your living room. Here are our favorite picnic snacks.

12. Play animal charades. Can your kid waddle like a penguin? Or maybe hop like a bunny? This twist on the classic game of charades can be as easy or as hard as you want. All you have to do is write down a bunch of animals on cards or paper and have everyone take turns picking a card and acting out the animal.

13. Connect the dots. Tic Tac Toe is so yesterday. The Dot Game is so today. And it can easily be re-created when you’re in a lurch. You need paper and a pen to make a large-scale dot grid. Then, take turns connecting one dot to the next, trying to complete squares. When you do, don’t forget to claim your property with a big fat initial smack dab in the middle of the box.

14. Pick a card. Have the kids learn a simple magic trick and perform it for you.

15. Learn how clouds hold water. There may not be a cloud in sight, but that doesn’t mean your science-loving child won’t get a kick out of this experiment. With a few simple everyday ingredients, your child can explore the science of clouds with this fun indoor activity from Learn With Play at Home.

16. Make crumpled paper art. Explore art in a completely colorful way. Learn how to turn regular watercolor paint into awesome artwork with texture, depth, and so much more. Get the full directions from Buggy & Buddy.

17. Freeze water and oil. What happens when you mix oil and water? Make a few regular ol’ ice cubes and a few with veggie oil. Drip drops of food coloring in before popping the cubes into the freezer. Take them out (after they’re completely frozen), put them onto a piece of paper, and watch what happens as they melt.

18. Bake some blueberry muffins.

19. Sponge print fun. Take the stack of unused kitchen sponges that you bought at the big box store and put them to use. Cut the sponges into shapes, dip them into tempera, and let your little one paint the day away. They can sponge-paint a pattern, make abstract art, or put shapes together to make a picture, such as a tree or a house.

20. Create a mailbox and write each other letters.

21. Find your inner James Bond. Set up a spy game scavenger hunt a la Hands on as We Grow.

22. Get glowing with ice. This indoor activity is cool, in both senses of the word. Explore the wild world of tonic water, experimenting with its ability to glow (really, it does). Make tonic water ice cubes, pop them out of the freezer, and take them to a dark room. Turn off all the lights, turn on a black light, and watch the glow. Get the details here.

23. Make slime. This is always a fun indoor summer activity if you’re okay with a mess (it will happen).  Add glitter, sequins, craft sand, or small toys for a better sensory experience. If you need a new recipe, get your slime-making steps here. And when they’re done, check out how to get slime out of your hair, off the couch, and clothes.

24. Make a water-density rainbow. Explore density with this completely colorful experiment.

25. Plan an afternoon movie marathon. Pick a family flick from this list and make a new popcorn recipe. Or, head to the theatre to catch the hottest summer kids’ flick (this year, Smurfs is leading the pack, hitting theatres on July 18).

26. Ice-Capades! Freeze colored water in ice cube trays and then let the kids paint with their slowly melting watercolors. Check out these other surprising ways you can have fun with ice.

27. Sink or Float
This basic science experiment makes an exciting indoor summer activity for toddlers. And as a bonus, it uses water—perfect for a hot summer day. Fill the sink, tub, or plasticware bin with cool water. Pick a few waterproof items, predict if the objects will sink or float, and then toss them in; observe what happens and record the data.

28. Make sensory bottles. This is an easy indoor summer activity for kids to try; this sensory play idea lasts for more than one day. Fill an old plastic bottle partway with water. Add sparkles, colorful craft sand, or anything else your child wants. Drip a drop of food coloring in and pour a splash of baby oil into the mix. Close the bottle, seal the top with tape, and shake to watch what happens.

29. Set up your own indoor Olympics.
Set up your version in the living room or playroom. Create obstacles to pretend slalom around or set up an indoor aquatic race. Your child, the neighborhood kids, and the rest of the family can act out swimming movements as everyone races around the house.

30. Make a dinosaur terrarium. 

31. Make something out of a cardboard box. Give those Amazon packages a second life with one of these fun ideas.

32. Paint without a brush. If you have finger paints or tempera at home, your kids can get into this art activity from Mini Monets and Mommies.

33. Make melted crayon shells. Older kids enjoy crafting too. Use those seashells from your beach vacation with this colorful indoor summer activity from Fun at Home with Kids.

34. Have a beach party. That is, have an indoor beach party. Grab the towels, pull up a paddling pool (minus the water), and pour a few kid-friendly fruit juice drinks. Fill the pool with torn blue tissue paper or a blue sheet. Pretend to splash, all from the cooling comfort of your home.

35. Sign up for an Outschool course. There are dozens of different courses and classes for every interest.

Warm days are on the way, and there is an easy way to make sure the kids get enough fresh air and sunshine. Classic backyard games take almost no props or planning, many of them are well-suited to siblings, and some even encourage parents to get in on the fun! These games to play outside are a perfect addition to your neighborhood gathering or summer birthday party.

If you’re looking for other games to play outside, check out these water games, classic yard games, and games to play in the dark.

1. Ice Pool Challenge

Chill out with this easy-to-play, simple-to-stage backyard game that kids of (almost) any age can play. To set it up, fill your kiddie pool with water and dump it in a bag of party ice. Yep, it’s that easy. Then divide the Littles into two teams, each with a bucket. Their goal is to fill the bucket with as many of the submerged ice cubes as they can, using only their feet to move those little rascals from one place to the next. Brrr-ing it!

2. Ninja Attack

In this game, ninjas-in-training test their skills by quietly sneaking up on a ninja master. Intrigued? Start by setting up a ninja course (think: paintball course) using oversized moving boxes, play tunnels, and other objects kids can quickly duck behind (or into). This is where the little ninjas will try to hide as the ninja master scans the yard for tiny foes. Then, have the master stand at one end of the yard opposite their attackers.

When you say go, the ninja master turns their back on their opponents while they stealthily walk toward them. When you say stop, little ninjas duck behind whatever’s closest so the master ninja won’t spot them. If they do, the little ninja is out. But if you’ve got the skill and can reach the ninja master first, you become the master!

3. Balloon Relay

This is one of the best games to play outside in the summer! Fill up a few water balloons and line up the kids Madeline-style (that’s two straight lines). Hand each line leader a balloon and have them place it securely between their knees. Players pass the balloon, knees-to-knees, down the row until it reaches the finish. It doesn’t get easier than that!

4. Bandana Tag

Transform the typical game of tag into a free-for-all (this one works best with older kiddos). The twist? They’re all “it.” To play, hand out bandanas to your crew to tuck in along their waistline, and let the great chase begin! Players tag each other by snagging bandanas, while simultaneously guarding their own until one player is left standing. It’s a wild romp they’ll want to play over and over again.

5. Bucket Toss

You can’t go wrong with carnival games, and the bucket toss is an all-time favorite. Line up the prize-filled buckets in a row. Each kid who power-slings a ball into a bucket is the proud owner of the goodie waiting to be plucked up. Opt for three turns each; otherwise, there could be a lot of standing (or wiggling) happening!

6. Squirt Gun Soccer

You should probably start stockpiling super soakers for this one. Little athletes will have a blast with this no-kick version of soccer that trades feet for squirt guns and traditional soccer balls for a lighter-than-air beach ball. To start this backyard game, break the party group into two teams, and arm each player with a fully loaded squirt gun. They’ll use the stream to move the ball around the field as they try to score (or block) a goal. Set up sports cones at either end of the field so they know where to aim, and then it’s time to play. Go, team!

7. Statue & Tourist

Perfect for when the light is fading (or in a dark room). One player is the “tourist” who is viewing the amazing statue garden. They get a flashlight.  All the other players must stay as still as a statue: they are allowed to move when the light is off, but as soon as the tourist turns the flashlight on, they must stay still. When the flashlight is on the statue, the tourist tries to make the statue giggle or wiggle. If they do, they join the tourists’ team and go tour for the next statue.

8. Run Through the Sprinkler

Turn your pool noodle into the best kiddie pool accessory in town, by converting it into an overhead sprinkler. Mommy’s Block Party can walk you through the process. It’s like a trip to the splash pad, without leaving the house. That sounds like the perfect summer pace for us! Check out these other amazing things you can do with a pool noodle (that don’t involve a pool).

Related: 55 Free or Cheap Ideas for Inventive Backyard Play

9. Play with Hula-Hoops

Who says you have to have moves like Jagger to have fun with a hula hoop? Check out Parents‘ awesome hula hoop games—you’ll be amazed at the different and new ways you can play with one of the oldest toys imaginable.

10. Water Balloon Piñata

Bye-bye piñata loaded with sugary sweets and playful trinkets; hello suspended deluge! String up an array of colorful water balloons in the yard (over a tree, from the swing set) to serve as the party piñata. Line up the Littles, bursting with excitement to try this creative alternative, and let each one take a swing in turn, with a plastic bat or even a wrapping paper tube, in the hopes of hitting the delicate target and letting loose the wild waterfall. Blindfolded or not, this is one guaranteed way to get wet!

11. Monkey Around

Building on the “tag, you’re it!” theme, Monkey Tails is a silly variation that gets the whole crew involved in the chase. Simply tuck tails (socks or even dad’s ties make great ones) into the monkeys’ waistbands, then send everyone off, ducking, dodging, and running wild, to keep their tails from being nabbed by another player. The last player with a tail wins. 

12. Superhero Showdown

Organize a meeting of the superheroes and watch the afternoon fly by. You might be ducking to avoid Batman’s (imaginary) gadgets and Spidey’s web all afternoon but the non-stop giggle-fest will be worth the effort.

13. 21 Questions, or “Who Am I?”

One person comes up with a person or thing; the other person has to ask “Yes” or “No” questions to try to figure out what or who it is. For younger kids, nix the Yes or No and just let any question do.

14. iSpy

This one’s another standby that’s great for nice afternoons outside. You can play it by “spying” something that is a certain color (“I spy something purple”) or by spying something that starts with a specific letter (“I spy something that starts with the letter B”). You can also up the game with binoculars and try to spot things at a certain distance away. 

15. Give Up the Charade

Have your little monkey stay in character when you play a quick game of animal charades. No prep is necessary for this easy guessing game. Just pick your favorite animal and go for it! With each successful guess, trade places and start again. Ee-i-ee-i-o!

16. Rock, Paper, Scissors

Get your game hands on and “shoot!” Want to know how to be a Rock Paper Scissors star? Watch this fun video from Buzzfeed on “How to Win at Rock Paper Scissors.” Or try the Japanese version, called Janken. Start by saying “saisho wa guu.” Then “janken pon” as you pump, before throwing on “pon.” The winning combos are still the same in this timeless, quick game you can play outside, at home, or on the go.  

17. Simon Says

Simon says to try this backyard game with your kids instead of handing them your phone the next time you’re waiting for anything (i.e. at the doctor’s office, outside the classroom, etc.). If you didn’t grow up on Planet Earth and don’t know how to play, here are the rules.

18. Make and Play Giant Pick-Up Sticks

Instead of playing pick-up sticks with the chopstick-sized sticks of our youth, why not spray paint the sticks in your yard and play with those, instead? Bonus: Guess who helps you gather the sticks out of your yard? And they say they’re too young for yard work. You can thank I Heart Naptime for the great idea.

19. Let’s Race!

On your mark, get set, GO! Whether you’re staging a relay race or a full-tilt foot race, all you need for a memorable obstacle course is whatever you’ve got in your garage (think big wheels, basketballs, and jump ropes) and a little creativity. Want to up the ante? Add a stopwatch, and you’ll have them competing against their own PRs all afternoon long. Nothing gets the giggles going more than an obstacle that involves improv dancing!

20. Play Blind Man’s Bluff

Blind Man’s Bluff is one of the most classic games to play outside. Like a thinking man’s tag, all you need is a blindfold and a few players to start. Put the blindfold on the Seeker; then spin them around a few times while the other players scatter. Now it’s time to seek. Using their keen other senses, the Skeeker tries to tag the scattered players who are rooted in place. Sure, players can duck and dodge their outstretched arms, but they can’t move their feet. It’s a giggle-worthy backyard game everyone can play!

21. Food Truck

From the brilliant mind behind Tinker Lab comes another great way to pretend play outdoors. If you’ve got a big cardboard box, then you’ve got a restaurant, a vehicle, and a store! Yup, it’s a pretend food truck and it’s rolling right into your living room. They’ll be serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert— all in one afternoon.

22. Green Light, Go!

We love Red Light/Green Light because it’s one of the easiest games to play outside. Plus, it gives parents the option to take it easy as the caller or join in the game (hello, daily workout!). Stop and go until they’re tuckered out from all that running.

23. Marco Polo (with a twist)

Modify a classic pool game with a few tweaks, and you’ve got a backyard game that’ll tire out your kids. Play a few rounds of Marco Polo outside—all that ducking, dodging and blind searching is more tiring than you’d expect, which makes it a great way to wear out wee ones pre-bedtime.

24. Have a Sponge Ball War

Better than a water balloon fight (sayonara, plastic balloons all over the yard!), DIY sponge balls (find them at It’s Overflowing) are reusable, versatile, and a total blast.

25. Look for Pictures in the Clouds

After all of these fun backyard games, the last, and best one on your bucket list is to lie back in the grass and hunt for pictures floating by in the clouds. See who can be the first to spot an animal, an imaginary being, a building, a car, and whatever other fun shapes you can think of.

Paint with Water

Quite possibly the cleanest, easiest idea of the bunch, we love the simple brilliance of water painting. This is an especially great outdoor art project for toddlers because there’s no paint to be found! Happy Hooligans has more tips and tricks.

Use a Salad Spinner

The best way to prevent art from getting messy is to keep it contained. That's why we think this spin-art idea from Meri Cherry is pure genius. Your kids will get swirly designs, and all you’ll have to do is drop the spinner in the sink when everyone is done. See what you’ll need over at Meri Cherry.

Pull out the Squirt Guns

If you don’t want the family art easel to be covered in paint, you can easily recreate this outdoor art idea by attaching a few sheets of paper to a tree! We love the idea of containing the colors in a squirt gun, too. Get more details about this brilliant idea over at Fireflies and Mudpies.

Related: 27 Adorable Toddler Crafts You Can Pull Out Anytime

Make Foam Paint for the Sidewalk

You’ll be able to ditch the dusty residue of sidewalk chalk with this easy foam paint recipe. Plus, keeping the paint contained in the condiment bottles helps to keep little hands free of stains. 

 

Related: Need 20+ Minutes of Quiet Time? Study Says These Crafts Are Your Best Bet

Skip the Paint Brushes

These incredible rainbow pour pots are pretty easy when it comes to cleanup, especially since there aren’t any brushes involved. Just be sure to totally cover the space before handing over the squeeze bottles. Make your way to Messy Little Monster for the tutorial.

 

Colored Salt

Colored salt projects are gorgeous, and they help to hone fine motor skills, too! After you've taken plenty of pictures, all you’ll need is a broom and dustpan to sweep it away. Find out how to color the salt—and how to get it to pour just right—over at Buggy and Buddy.

 

Paint Rocks

Kids only need a little bit of paint for this outdoor art project, so you don't have to worry (as much) about spills. We love the story behind the idea of painting rocks, too!

The exhibit that’s more than just play

Kidspace has cracked the code: If you make learning feel like play, kids won’t just retain knowledge—they’ll run toward it. With Wired for Wonder, summer break becomes a chance to build brainpower, make memories, and leave boredom in the dust.

While most kids are in danger of hitting the dreaded “summer slide”—losing up to two months of math and science skills over break—Kidspace is flipping that script. Wired for Wonder turns summer downtime into a summer stride, letting kids explore complex STEAM concepts through hands-on, high-sensory play.

And here’s the kicker: Your kids won’t even know they’re learning. At Wired for Wonder, they can:

• Weave through glowing light tunnels
• Engage in sound-reactive experiences
• Touch ALL the art!
• Cool off their taste buds in The Chill Lab
• Create, collaborate, and crawl their way through curiosity

It’s open daily, now with new evening hours on Fridays and Saturdays for those post-dinner energy bursts. The best part? Wired for Wonder at Night includes extra special opportunities, like dessert at The Chill Lab—a delicious scientific exploration of your favorite summer treats!

Designed for all ages & all brains

This isn’t a one-size-fits-all setup. Whether you have a curious crawler, a wildly creative 5-year-old, or a tween who “doesn’t like museums” (yet), Wired for Wonder brings them in and keeps them engaged. The exhibit was co-created as part of Getty’s PST ART: Art & Science Collide initiative, and it shows—every corner is smart, sensory, and surprisingly soothing.

Neurodivergent kids will love the low-pressure exploration, and there are toddler-friendly zones for those just learning to walk (or climb). It’s built for co-play, but if you’re more the stroller-pusher/photo-snapper/safety-watcher type, that works too.

Even the littlest learners will love it. The soft, colorful elements are perfect for sensory stimulation, and babywearing through the maze is totally doable. Bonus: you’ll feel like an astronaut in a very tiny science fiction movie.

Science is sweet (and so is this limited-time deal)

Discounted admission is available for a limited time, so if you’re thinking of going, now’s the moment. Fridays and Saturdays even offer extended evening hours, perfect for families looking to beat the heat (or sleep in).

Get your tickets to Wired for Wonder now!

1. Take a family bike ride.

2. Have a Yes Day. 

3. Learn a magic trick. Here are seven easy tricks just for kids.

4. Build a LEGO City.

5. Read a chapter book as a family.

6. Sign up for a fun summer program and do it together!

7. Fly a kite in your neighborhood park.

8. Paint rocks and hide them for others to find.

9. Watch the planes at your local airport.

10. Organize a scavenger/treasure hunt. We’ve got printables here! 

11. Explore a new park.

12. Learn how to make friendship bracelets.

13. Learn about a different culture (and make a meal to match!)

14. Find a pond and go fishing!

15. Make and eat popsicles. 

16. Make a fairy garden.

17. Get a paper map of your city and push pins. Plan out the places you want to visit in the future.

18. Spend an afternoon writing a story with your kids.

29. Go backyard camping. We’ve got great ideas to help you get started.

20. Go stargazing. Check out our top tips here.

21. Take a picture each day and print out an end-of-summer photo album.

22. Be a scientist for a day with one of these cool experiments. 

23. Plant flowers.

24. Have a toy car wash. Or better yet, have a real carwash. Nothing thrills a kid like an afternoon spent with a shop vac and a spray bottle.

25. Pick a “Summer 2025” song and play it till everyone can sing all the words.

26. Make root beer floats.

27. Find a business raising funds for a local cause and donate.

28. Create a secret handshake.

29. Go to a splash park.

30. Make lemonade at least once. For a little variation, try these fun recipes.

31. Call or FaceTime with out-of-town family.

32. Go to a baseball game.

33. Make slime.

34. Craft something out of your TP rolls.

35. Visit your community library and pick out some new reads.

36. Stay up late and play flashlight tag.

37. Go to a drive-in movie.

38. Set up an ice cream sundae bar.

39. Pack a picnic and take a deck of playing cards with you.

40. Run through the sprinkler.

41. Arrange an afternoon with just your son or your daughter.

42. Create an obstacle course for kids.

43. Play hide and seek.

44. Play board games for a whole afternoon.

45. Lie in the grass and look for pictures in the clouds.

46. Paint rock pets. And then find out how you can care for them.

47. Make pickles. Here’s an easy-to-follow recipe using cucumbers from your new garden or from the grocery store!

48. Play games with Dixie cups (that aren’t beer pong).

49. Make a wind chime.

50. Prank someone.

51. Make potato stamps. See how The Postman’s Knock does it.

52. Make something out of a cardboard box.

53. Have a potions party.

54. Make s’mores. You can go gourmet with one of these unconventional twists.

55. Learn about a wild animal.

56. Have a shaving cream war.

57. Bond with your kids over ’80s TV shows that are still cool.

58. TP your kids’ rooms.

59. Create an ice cream bracket and work your way through the summer.

60. Play Marco Polo at the pool or try one of these classic pool games.

61. Break a Guinness Book of World Records. Peruse the titles up for grabs on the official site here.

62. Learn about rainbows.

63. Make a bird feeder.

64. Bob for donuts at breakfast.

65. Have a tea party outside.

66. Make tie-dye crafts. Here are 11 easy ideas! 

67. Support a small business or order a new read from your local indie bookstore.

68. Use ice for more than a cool beverage.

69. Turn your backyard into a water park.

70. Have an outdoor art afternoon. Here are our favorite ideas.

71. Write and act out a play.

72. Jump into a lake.

73. Surprise the postman with a thank-you gift.

Play Ideas for Kids Age 2-4

Notoriously known for having zero attention span, toddlers can lose interest quickly, so filling 20 minutes with engaging activities isn’t always easy. These quick-fix ideas help turn any idle time into a burst of fun.

1. Play I-Spy. This classic game stands the test of time and helps toddlers better understand their surroundings. It’s also easily adaptable, requires no materials, and takes almost no time to complete. Put a twist on the same old game and set up your “I Spy” with a theme. Pick a letter (all things that begin with “B”), a color (only purple objects), or any other focus that your kiddo can dream up.

4. Play Follow the Leader. Get creative with this old-school favorite. Choose a theme (such as acting like animals or moving like snowflakes), create super-silly walks, or explore outside with a follow-the-leader nature walk.

Ideas for Ages 4-6

Preschoolers are curious, and their imagination is always running at warp speed. It’s a great time to introduce play ideas that activate their love of make-believe. Unchanged: Preschoolers are curious, and their imagination is always running at warp speed. It’s a great time to introduce play ideas that activate their love of make-believe.

4. Act out a book. While reading a book together is always a good idea, acting one out could be even more fun. If your toddler has a favorite book they’re obsessed with, dig into the dress-up box and have them try to act out a live-action version.

5. Have your little one stay in character when you play a quick game of animal charades. No prep is necessary for this easy guessing game. Just pick your favorite animal and go for it. With each successful guess, trade places and start again. Ee-i-ee-i-o!

6. Create a card for a loved one. Surprise a friend or relative with a homemade card from you and your toddler. They’ll have fun stamping, coloring, and creating a fun design, and the recipient will be thrilled with the surprise mail.

Play Ideas for Kids Ages 6-8

It’s no surprise that recess is this group’s favorite time of day. Grade school kids need to run and unleash energy, so killing 20 minutes is easy when you have open space to move. Here are some fun activities to keep moving and even a few for when they need to sit still.

7. Play freeze tag. The person who is “it” tries to tag the others. Once you’ve been tagged, you have to stand (frozen in the position you were in when you were tagged) until another “untagged” person can tag you to free you.

8. Create a Scavenger Hunt. Whether you pull a pre-organized list off the internet or create your own, enjoy watching your grade-schooler expend some serious energy while hunting for one item after another.

9. Play a minute to win it game. This age set loves a timer and since every phone has one you can break out a minute to win it game just about anywhere. From ball drop to sponge run, we’ve got a full list of games that take 60 seconds or less and are sure to make time fly.

10. Have fun with jokes. Laughter really is the best medicine. Telling jokes is an instant mood booster, so whether you’re stuck in traffic or waiting in the orthodontist’s office, tap into some of our favorite belly-laughing jokes. We even have a best-of-summer roundup!

Play Ideas for Kids Ages 10-12

Avoid the dreaded “I’m bored” phrase by suggesting one of these activities to your soon-to-be middle schoolers.

12. Conversation starters. Jumping into a good discussion with tweens isn’t always seamless, but these conversation starters can help. Try using this one right before dinner—If you could make any vegetable against the law, which would it be? Just be ready for their answer!

13. Play “Exquisite Corpse,” where you create a story together. Decide on a theme and have the first person write a phrase or sentence. The next person continues the story by writing the next sentence or phrase, using the last word or phrase from the previous person’s contribution. Continue taking turns until you have a complete story.

14. Learn a magic trick. Start with the simple paper-clip trick and keep moving through this entire list of tricks. 

15. Play Name that Tune—and let them pick the music! It’s a great way to get your kiddo to talk more about what they’re into and for you to add some variety to your playlist.

The Best Ideas for Teens

Trying to get your teen to put down their phone and engage in conversation is like trying to teach a cat to swim – it’s not impossible, but it sure feels like it sometimes! The good news is, once you do, they’re happy you did it and more likely to form healthy habits around screen usage.

15. Play a game of “20 Questions”. Get more insight into your teen’s mind and thought process with this classic game you can play anywhere, anytime. It also fosters strategic thinking and is a game of deduction and logic that will be very satisfying for your ever-growing tween.

16. Play Wordle or do a mini crossword. Want to engage and still use the phone? We suggest pairing up to solve everyone’s favorite word puzzles.

17. Boost their confidence. Sometimes just letting them know you’re proud of them can lead to the best discussions. Here are 30 positive things to say to your favorite almost-teen when they don’t feel like talking.

18. Trivia for Tweens and Teens. From who is the half-blooded prince to who is the oldest gamer on YouTube, we’ve rounded up some of the most intriguing trivia questions for teens (and tweens) that are guaranteed to keep them entertained.

Even five minutes can make a difference in a child’s emotional well-being. But as Randy McCoy, VP of Product & Curriculum for The Little Gym, reminds us, how long you play is less important than how often. “It’s not necessarily the ‘duration of play’ but the ‘frequency of play’ that matters most,” Mccoy says. “If a parent can give their child their undivided attention and play with them just five minutes a day, every day, they’re on the right track.”

The good news is, there are lots of ways to play that take next to no prep. Read on for 21 easy ideas to play with your kids, whether you have five minutes, fifteen, or more.

8 Super Fast 5-Minute Games

When you have a few minutes, whether it's before school or after dinner, parent like a pro with these little-to-no-prep basics you can use just about anywhere.

Try out "Would You Rather?" kid edition.  Spend a fun five minutes taking turns asking questions like, "Would you rather never eat ice cream again or get a trampoline?" or "Ride a dinosaur for 20 miles or an elephant for an hour?" The sillier the better. This also makes a great road trip game.

Make a dictionary dash. Grab a dictionary and choose a word at random. Read it out loud and have the kids guess what it means. If they can read, they can take turns finding words and trying to stump you.

Tickle your sidekick’s funny bone. Whip out brain busters or riddles that will make them laugh. Luckily you don’t need Comedy Central writers for this one. We think your goofballs will get a kick out of our ultimate list of jokes for kids.

A few rounds of “We’re going on a picnic” alphabet style will entertain the tot lot. The first player up says, “I’m going on a picnic,” then adds a tasty packable to the phrase, like an apple, apricot or avocado. Stick with ABC-order, or focus on just one letter for each round.

Play 20 questions. Have your kids guess what you're thinking of, and keep it simple, like something you can see from where you're standing.

Related: 15 Awesome Activities That Take 10 Minutes (or Less)

Play a classic game of Rock, Paper, Scissors—Japanese style. It’s called Janken. Start by saying “saisho wa guu.” Then “janken pon” as you pump, before throwing on “pon.” The winning combos are still the same in this timeless, quick game you can play at home or on the go.

Turn yourself into a living “spot the difference” puzzle. Start with a slow model turn, then disappear and make a quick change out of sight. When you come back, your cutie’s got to spot what’s different. Did you take off a cap? Put on a scarf? Untie a shoe? Keep it easy for the tots, and kick it up a notch for older kiddos (only one earring!). Then let them have a turn trying to stump you.

Try out a sequencing game when the wanderlust takes hold. Name a person, place, and object, all starting with the same letter of the alphabet, then string them together like kids lining up for the school bus. “Alice from Australia loves alligators!” See how far you can get in a short amount of time.

6 Mini-Games That Take 15 Minutes

For parents, playing with our kids allows us to step out of all those daily parental duties and, as McCoy explains, build friendship between parent and child. “When you play with your kids,” he says, “it provides an opportunity for you to interact with them on a different level. For a special moment, you step out of the ‘parent’ role and step into a playmate role.”

Take a break from your to-do list and try one of these 15-minute play breaks that will thrill the kids and relax you, too. 

Post-It style. A stack of Post-It notes and a pen are all it takes to play this short-and-sweet variation of the classic guessing game for parties. Choose someone to be "it." Write on the Post-It note the name of a character from a book, movie, or show that your kid will recognize—it can be a famous person, someone they know or a fictional character. Stick the note to their forehead, without letting them see what you wrote. Now take turns going around the room giving "it" clues to help them guess who is on their head. 

Curl up with a good book. Putting out a basket of books in a central location motivates the kids to take a look through the pages when they’ve got time to spare. Add in a sweet bookmark that keeps track of time to make it count.

Give them their daily feels. Keep your favorite sensory bin fillers on hand (like cotton balls and dry beans), along with trinkets to bury and cups for spilling and filling. When you’ve got a short window, pull out the bin, fill ‘er up, and watch your kids dig and drizzle until it’s time to go.

Set up a quick cotton ball and straw race. Perfect for the kitchen table before lunch is served. Have siblings challenge each other for the pole position on a straightaway down the center of the table, or set up a simple obstacle course using cups that the kiddos have to work around. Ready, set, go before you go!

Related: 10 Quiet-Time Activities Kids Will Actually Enjoy

Give a penny for their thoughts when they write in a journal. Setting aside a short amount of time to write (each day!) is a great way to encourage your amateur author’s creativity. Use silly or thought-provoking prompts to get them thinking, like, “The first time I tried ...” or “When I get to be principal, I’ll …” or even “The craziest thing that happened today…” Write on, brother!

Give up the charade. Have your little monkey stay in character when you play a quick game of animal charades. No prep is necessary for this easy guessing game. Just pick your favorite animal and go for it! With each successful guess, trade places and start again. Ee-i-ee-i-o!

4 Power Half-Hour Ideas 

Whether your aim is active playtime or quiet(er) crafting time, filling a cool 30 minutes with your kids is easier than you think. It may take a bit of planning, but once the prep is done, it’s a sit-back-and-relax situation that’s well worth the time upfront.

All things LEGO. If LEGO was the first thing that popped into your head, then we’re right there with you. They’re the forever fallback for a reason, but to hit that half-hour sweet spot, try throwing a LEGO challenge into the mix: building a car that can also work underwater, or constructing a tower that’s at least 24 inches tall. Then let your master-builder go to work.

Spin them right round. Ana at Babble Dabble Do has a new way to play with Perler beads. She puts them to work teaching science and playing tricks when these melted beauties become spinning tops. It’s just the right amount of make-and-play to fill a brief window in your busy day.

One for the movers and shakers. Print out (and laminate them if you’re feeling bold) The Alerting Activity Game, designed by Training Happy Hearts. Keep the deck on hand to stack the odds in your favor when the kids need something to do. With simple activities like “jump up and down ten times” or “pretend to be a volcano,” it’s packed with energy-burning activities that kids can run through on their own or with you!

Bring the outside in and paint it. If snow isn't covering your yard, go for a hunt for leaves, evergreen boughs, and sticks. Then take your findings to the craft table to fancy them up with paint. Acrylics work great for this project.

3 Super 60-Minute Sessions

For activities that span the hour, the two-step Make & Play approach works well. You may want to do a little prep the day before to make it easier, like putting crafting necessities into one small bin that you can pull out to surprise the kids. 

Wage war. Ah, the classic card game that is so simple to learn and so hard to win. It is possible that a game of war can take longer than one hour, but it rarely takes less. You do two card battles with the highest card the winner until one person has all the cards. Get the complete rules here. 

Create a catapult. Little Bins for Little Hands has an awesome tutorial, using craft sticks and other office supplies you’re sure to have around the house. Once it’s built, set up target practice plates before letting the marshmallows fly.

Put on a show. Puppets never get old; they’re easy to make with an old sock, brown paper lunch bag or even familiar characters glued to craft sticks. Whatever method you choose, spend time creating and playing with puppets when you’ve got an hour or more to spare. Be sure to stock the craft bin with all kinds of googly eyes, buttons, yarn and doo-dads to help bring the puppets to life. Then find an old sheet or use a baby’s blanket draped over the table to create a stage. Bravo!

1. Alphabet Game

Who says families can only play this popular game on road trips? Adapt this one to your environment, be it a restaurant or the waiting room at the DMV, and get searching. Play it the traditional way, where you start with A and end with Z, or mix it up a bit. Play where the letters have to come at the beginning of the word or have kids compete in a speed trial. You could even play it backward if older kids need a challenge.

2. What’s Missing?

Put the ultimate parent accessory—the diaper bag—to work when you use it for this waiting game that works well in spaces that have a place you can display items from it, like a table or chair. Take out any number of items, lay them out for your kiddo, and give your little detective a few minutes to study them. Then when their eyes are closed, take one away. It’s their job to figure out what’s missing when they open their eyes.

3. Race Ya

Got phone? Then you’ve got all you need to take the kids to the races while they’re waiting. You set the task, they see how fast they can get it done. How many jumping jacks can kids do in 30 seconds? How many times can they turn around? If you’ve got some space, let them run from point A to point B, keeping track of splits. You can even adapt this game for a calmer experience, a good choice for those moments when they’re stuck waiting in a quiet spot like the DMV or the doctor’s office. Pick a category, like Animals or Fruits and see how many they can name in 30 seconds. Endless possibilities make this an easy go-to for kids of any age.

Related: 24 Car Games to Play on Your Next Road Trip

4. Chopsticks

To play this waiting game, kids need to know how to do basic addition. If they can add up to five, they’re set go. Two players or more players can start this tapping game no matter where you’re waiting (in line, at a restaurant, even when you’ve got twenty numbers in front of you at the DMV). Although it’s not too complicated to play, it takes a few rounds to really figure it out and develop your strategy. This illustrated explanation should get your and your mathematicians started.

5. HeadsUp

If you’ve ever stood in line at an amusement park, you’ve probably seen families playing this one. Download the HeadsUp app to your phone and you’ve got a crowd pleaser you can pull out anywhere. With plenty of family-friendly categories to choose from, it’s like playing Headbandz without the blue bands. Sure, you’ll look extra cool holding your phone up to your head, but whatever it takes to keep the kids entertained in long lines, right?

6. Chain Game

A different take on the alphabet game (a.k.a. the license plate game), this game is easy enough that even toddlers can play. Pick a category like Sports or Foods. From there the progression is easy. Players have to come up with a word that fits that category that starts with the last letter of the previous word. So if “swimming” starts off the game, it could be followed by “golf” which then becomes “frisbee.”

7. Play with Cars

Never underestimate the power of an unexpected toy car, especially when it’s a remedy to waiting around with kids. We love this idea of bringing it to the doctor’s office and playing while you wait in the room, from the Busy Toddler. But we’re also willing to bet you can use this one in lots of places. Put the cars through their paces while mom is trying something on in a dressing room or when you’ve got to sit for an oil change.

8. Photo Challenge

Pull out your phone and get scrolling. It’s all you need to help distract the kids, no matter where you’re waiting. How you play is up to you—the possibilities are endless. Let kids take photos of categories you choose (like “take a picture of something red” or “take a picture of a plant”) and then report back to you. Or you can challenge them to scroll through and find specific photos. They can find a photo of their favorite food, their pet, or even a grandparent. If you’ve got more than one kiddo, you can easily turn this game into a head-t0-head competition. And if all else fails, remember, nothing entertains kids more than taking pictures of their own silly faces.

Related: 10 Amazing Airplane Games for Kids

9. Fortunately/Unfortunately

This storytelling game is experiencing a resurgence, but it’s been around for a while. You start with one scenario (make it a fortunate one) and then the person you’re playing with follows it up with a downturn (the unfortunate part of the story). Then you alternate between players to see how long you can keep the story going. Here’s an example to get you started: Fortunately, I got a new pair of shoes. Unfortunately, they weren’t the right size. Fortunately, they fit little brother. The sillier the better.

10. Simon Says

There’s a reason this game has stood the test of time. Kids love it. So why not break it out the next time you’ve got a wait ahead? The only question is—who’s going to play Simon? You or the kids? Remember to pace to the youngest player so everyone can have fun. Then see if you can trip ‘em up with the old “Simon says touch your nose, touch your toes” quick combo.

11. Pack Something Special

While you don’t need Mary Poppins’ magical bag to keep the kids entertained while you wait, it doesn’t hurt to have a few stand-bys on hand for those unexpected moments you’re stuck somewhere. A spare bottle of bubbles is always a hit, just ask any parent who’s ever bought a musical bubble wand at Disney. And you can’t go wrong with a simple writing board (think: Boogie Board or something similar) that’s as easy to erase as it is to pack. If you don’t have one, coloring pages work wonders. Don’t forget game staples like tic-tac-toe, dots, and boxes (you can even play it on your phone), or simple card games that can easily fit in your diaper bag or purse.

Related: 15 Cool Coloring Pages & Worksheets for Kids

Come frolic and play the Kidspace way as you count down to the holidays and make your greatest wish for the season come true—treasured moments that fill your heart with warm and lasting memories. “Creating family traditions, especially this time of year, is so important to give children a sense of identity and foster a safe, warm, and secure environment where they can learn and grow,” said Kidspace CEO Lisa Clements. “Winter Frolic has become the most delightful memory-making tradition at Kidspace. It brings together all the warmth and joy of the season for children and their families.”

There’s a flurry of hands-on wintertime activities and all-new special performances to behold at one of Southern California’s favorite family holiday celebrations, where winter wishes come true even when it’s warm and sunny. Try prancing like a reindeer, perfecting your ballet twirl, or practicing a penguin slide across the no-ice Sock Skating Rink. Or build a fort with frost-free ice blocks, camp out in a cozy cabin, and dress up a snowman family, including their dog. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg!  

While you’re there, visit the Kidspace Museum Store for gifts designed to surprise and delight every kiddo on your list. Shop heirloom-quality toys, the softest cuddly plush animals, and books that become instant family favorites. Their charming holiday collections make it easy to find the perfect gift for every age and interest. Shop in-store or online. 

Don’t live in Southern California but know someone who does? Go ahead and share the joy! Kidspace admission or annual memberships are the perfect gift that families can enjoy all year as they create, explore, learn, and play.

Winter Frolic runs November 8, 2024 through January 5, 2025 and is included with Kidspace general admission. Sock Skating tickets are $5 per person. Visit kidspacemuseum.org to reserve your tickets.

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