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As parents, finding engaging and entertaining activities for our kids can be a challenge, especially when the weather outside is not ideal.
But with a little creativity and some household items, indoor playtime can be just as fun and educational as outdoor adventures. In this post, we’ll explore some exciting indoor activities that are perfect for kids of all ages.
From sensory play to crafts and games, we’ve got you covered with ideas that will keep your little ones entertained and learning, even on the rainiest of days.
Ultimate List Of Activities For Teens
Set up an obstacle course in the living room. Let the kids get creative and use chairs, pillows, even tape on the floor. This is not just for toddlers, teenagers can totally have fun doing this, i did as a teenage girl!
Play video games together. YES, I said it. Screen time, but together. If you have a Nintendo switch, then Mario party sure is a fun one to get active and have lots of laughter as a family playing a fun game.
Make slime. Ok, there are a million ways to make slime and who has all the supplies on hand to make it all the time? I have a solution for this.
We bought this slime kit from Toys R Us as a gift for my kids for Christmas and there are so many different ways to make slime. There is a booklet with instructions and the kit comes with all the materials you need to make all the different slimes. The good thing is, everyone loves slime, from toddlers to pre-teens, so there really is no losing here.
Reading. YES, it’s a basic activity, how dare I even put it on the list? But hear me out, reading out loud together opens up opportunities for communication. You can talk about the story, what is happening, what could happen later, why did that happen etc.
You can let your children read on their own as well if you need some much-needed adult time (I’m with you there!). Make sure your children read at least 30 minutes daily, with you or without you. You can go to a book club together too for some quality time.
Bake together. The older your kids are, the more you can let them have control over the baking! Your bored teenagers could be tired of basic chocolate chip cookies, but do they have a foodie channel on Instagram that they follow that’s full of good ideas?
And was there a strawberry roll on there that they’ve been dying to make? Ask them about it! Let them make it. It’ll be fun!
Get messy with paint. Ok ok so maybe your teen is not interested in “art and crafts” insert eye roll… but go to youtube and find a tutorial on how to paint a simple landscape. there might even be some online courses about painting that you can find with your teen. You could make a paint night out of it and then BAM instant art for your walls too. Winner winner!
Chalk. Yes, all kids need to play with chalk. Have your older children draw a nice picture on the garage door or driveway. Have them practice writing, make a hopscotch grid, or simply doodle some abstract art.
No judgment. If you really wanted to let your kids enjoy chalk all year round, paint a wall in your house with chalk paint and designate it as the drawing wall.
Drawing on the walls is one of the best indoor activities. I’ve had relatives do this in their homes and boy did the kids just love their chalk wall. You can paint furniture too with chalk paint and let the kids draw on that… Use your imagination.
Paint the bedrooms! Has your child been begging to have their rooms painted as part of their bucket list? If you’ve got time to kill, why not paint some walls?
Get creative, let your kids choose colors and patterns. You can even help them refinish furniture if you’re skilled like that (I am NOT!) for their new room.
Let your kids create a meal. Ask your kids what they would like to make for dinner. Who knows, they might be super creative in the kitchen. Help make their dinner visions come true.
Make smoothies. Have some fruit lying around? Make some smoothies or popsicles! Let your kids throw some fruit together in the blender and make their own type of smoothie. Make sure they put the lid on the blender…or it’ll be a bit of a mess for them to clean up after.
Binge-watch a show together. Have a show that you like to watch together? Make a day of it. Just binge it all day long. Stay in your pj’s. Don’t brush your hair. Eat chips on the couch. It’s going to be ok. Here is a list of documentaries you kids might like.
Family game night: Bring out the family board games. Heck yes! Have a fun family game night, in the middle of the day. Playing card games, board games or party games with family members can be a fun way to bond and spend quality time together.
Scavenger hunt: Organizing a scavenger hunt for friends or younger kids can be a fun activity that promotes problem-solving and teamwork.
Plant some herbs. If you have leftover toilet paper rolls or egg cartons and some soil, go ahead and plant some herbs together. DIY a planet box if you have to. There are also herb planting kits available like this. Have fun, but do it together. These are great life skills to have and your kitchen will have a little more green life in it. How sweet.
Escape room: Trying an escape room with a group of friends can be a fun challenge and a great team-building experience.
Play music. Do you have a guitar? A Piano? A Flute? If you have some sort of an instrument buried somewhere in your home, dig it up and teach your child how to play. Research also shows at risk youth greatly benefit from music.
Virtual field trips: Taking virtual field trips to museums, national parks, and other interesting places is a fun and educational activity for teenagers.
Have a photoshoot. Grab your camera and let your kiddo put on outfits they already own and take some photos of them. You can then go ahead and print out the photos and make a collage for their bedroom wall. This is my favorite Camera for teens, it’s professional enough but not so professional you’re scared they will break it.
Declutter together. Ask your children if there is anything in their rooms they no longer need or like. If it’s all approved by you, then go ahead and take it to the donation bin. You can watch a tv show like the “Home Edit” to get some great ideas on how to organize all your stuff after you declutter. This is fun for kids of all ages and spring is the perfect time to do this project!
Simple craft projects: Doing simple craft projects with household items like paper airplanes, pie face, or bath bombs can be a fun and creative activity for teenagers.
Do some yoga. Get stretching and do a little yoga together. Whether you want to do kids yoga or adult yoga, let them do yoga with you, plus it’s great for boosting the immune system.
Create a youtube channel. If your child has been asking to make a channel for a while, now is a great time to get that done. Making a youtube channel can be such a fun activity and you can possibly make a small commission one day too.
Clean the car together. Teach your child how to properly clean the inside of your vehicle! Yeah, it’s true, they probably won’t want to do that with you, but who knows, they could be eager to help. Cleaning is a great skill to have.
Take the pet for a walk. If you have a dog or cat, you can take either one for a walk. Go ahead, put the cat on a leash, it’ll be fun. (I’m actually serious, I have family members that regularly take their cat for a walk.
Indoor sports: Playing indoor sports like bean bag toss, arcades, and simple games with a lot of energy can be a great way to get exercise and have fun.
Try to understand the TikTok. Yeah, something I don’t yet understand… but if you have kids that are into it, try to understand it and see if you can enjoy it with your kids. It’s basically a giant dance party and a good time from the comfort of your own home.
Go ice cream shopping. If you can go shopping, go get all different kinds of ice cream and toppings and create an ice cream bar. This is a really good idea if your teen is having some friends over for a movie night.
Time capsule: Creating a time capsule with a group of friends to be opened in the future is a fun and meaningful activity for teenagers.
Do a large puzzle together. Do you know those puzzles that are over 1000 or 2000 pieces? Yeah, do one of those together! younger children can get bored of puzzles, but the older children might be into it.
Listen to podcasts. Do your kids have some favorite podcasts? Listen to them with your kids. You can even invite your kids to listen to your favorite podcasts. You can also go through and practice any skills you learned on an online parenting course.
Friendly competition: Having a friendly competition with a group of friends playing games, sports, or other activities can be a fun and healthy way to challenge each other.
Drop some beats and clean! Haha, you’re thinking, you’ve got to be kidding me, my kids don’t clean. But why not? Put some music on in the house and do some embarrassing dancing while you clean. Who knows, the kids could join in, and maybe their dancing is worse than yours. Plus, it’s a great way to stay off Facebook which can bring your anxiety levels higher than you need right now. Experts say that staying off social media sites like Facebook can free up as much as 2.5 hours of your day! What a great way to find some time to get work done.
Print out school worksheet. Yep, they aren’t super fun but they do keep your kids learning. So don’t be afraid to go hunting for worksheets that are appropriate grade-level work.
Build a lego castle. Who says Lego is just for kids. Heck, grab that big box of lego and see if you can build a cool castle or something. Your kids will join in I’m sure, but you can probably do this one on your own and have some fun.
Local library: Visiting the local library to check out books, attend events, or participate in programs can be a fun and educational activity for teenagers.
Adult coloring books. Do you love adult coloring books? Let your teen join in on your coloring adventure.
Food network: Watching cooking shows or trying out recipes from the Food Network can be a fun activity for teenagers interested in cooking.
Try some lifehacks. Find some life hacks on youtube or Instagram and see if they actually work as some more fun indoor activities. Document them and put them on the kid’s Instagram too. Super fun.
Wash the dog. Well if your dog needs a bath, let the kids do it. Sure the bathroom could be a mess afterward, but I bet they will have lots of fun. You can also make this one of those outdoor activities and let the kids use their hose.
Movie marathon: Hosting a movie marathon with friends, complete with snacks and pillows, can be a fun indoor activity for teenagers.
Science: Do some yucky science. We have a yucky science kit and it really is super yucky. Smelly, disgusting science experiments that kids just love. It’s one of those family activities that make for great memories.
Simple outdoor games: Playing simple outdoor games like frisbee, tag, or capture the flag can be a great way to get exercise and have fun with friends.
Download a new video game. Sometimes it’s ok to let kids play video games, and if they have not had a new game in a while, download a new one and let them play. Especially if you have virtual reality, this is a perfect opportunity to bond over some cool things together.
Give them a writing assignment. Get creative and make your kids write you a story. You can encourage them to write about their younger siblings, a bike ride they remember taking, or a good book they remember reading.
Simple DIY projects: Doing simple DIY projects using household items or old clothes like a shirt or pair of jeans can be a fun and creative activity for teenagers.
Learn how to make paper flowers. This is so much fun! a little hot glue, a little construction paper, and you can create a masterpiece.
Budget: Teach your child how to budget. YES, it’s kind of boring for them, but it’s an important skill.
Read through the driver’s handbook online. If your kiddo is almost ready to drive, go through the driving book with them and explain some of the things that they might find confusing.
Local attractions: Visiting local attractions like parks, zoos, and aquariums can be a fun and educational activity for teenagers.
Volunteer work: Volunteering at a local shelter, food bank, or community center can be a great way for teenagers to give back to their community and gain valuable work experience.
Painting or drawing: Taking up painting or drawing as a hobby and creating art pieces for friends and family can be a fun and creative activity for teenagers.
Practice Photography. Grab that camera and teach your kiddo, or maybe even learn yourself, how to work it! Youtube is a great resource for learning new things and this sort of activity can help you create a good relationship with each other.
Learn a new language. Have you always wanted to learn a new language? Now is a great time.
Camping: Going on a camping trip with friends or family can be a fun and adventurous activity for teenagers to get away from screens and technology.
Virtual concerts: Attending virtual concerts of favorite artists can be a fun way for teenagers to enjoy music and stay connected with friends.
Indoor Activities For Teens Bottom Line
There are so many ways to keep your kids entertained, you just have to be creative! And your children have to be open to trying new things as well.
And if you’re having major anxiety about this pandemic, you need to read this article by my good friend Carly over at Mommy on purpose, it may just be the peace of mind you need.
Good luck! You can do this.
