40 Fun Indoor Activities for Kids of All Ages

 It may be raining and pouring, but your kids don’t have to be snoring. When the weather is bad, there’s nothing for it: It’s going to be an inside day. But that doesn’t mean your kids can’t stay entertained! These fun indoor activities for kids will help you avoid the sentence that all parents dread: the pouty “I’m bored” that means whining is imminent.

There’s nothing wrong with an indoor movie day, but you also want to find a way to engage your kids that doesn’t just involve screen time. But that’s easier said than done indoors — especially when you’re busy. Luckily, we have a ton of ideas for inside activities for kids that make great boredom-busters. As a bonus, most of them are easy on the wallet, too! Engage their creativity with a craft for kids like making modeling dough, or harness their sense of humor for a comedy show. Bad weather days will fly by with how much they’re having.

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Put on a Play

If you have a budding writer or actor, encourage them to put on a play! They can write a simple plot, play dress up for the costumes and spend the day rehearsing to put on a performance for you.

father and daughter lying on floor, drawing on digital tablet

Have a Paper Airplane Competition

Try different ways to fold paper airplanes and see which one flies the furthest. Or, cut holes out of some cardboard to make targets to try to fly through!

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Preserve Memories With a Scrapbook

Scrapbooking is a fun and creative way to preserve family photos and all the fun times you’ve had together. Use supplies like glue dots, 3D stickers, decorative paper and more to start a scrapbook together that you'll look at for years to come.

Make a Movie

With cameras on everybody’s phone, it’s become easier than ever to make homemade movies. Your child can make a documentary of family life or act out scenes with stuffed animals. Simple editing software can combine short clips to make the movie.

adult craft ideas, paper chain art hanging on the white wallWhite House Crafts

Create a Craft Museum

Pull out the paints, crayons, markers, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, and any other DIY materials you have around the house. Let their imaginations run wild, or encourage them to try one of these crafts for kids. At the end, hang them on the wall like they are in a museum and invite “visitors” (family members) to come see the show.

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two bowls of homemade modeling dough in different colors

Make Homemade Modeling Dough

This easy recipe for modeling dough is simple enough that the kids can help you make it! At the end, you have fun and colorful playdough-like dough that can be used to make shapes and sculptures, great for working on self-expression and spatial reasoning.

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Host a Comedy Show

Practicing a comedy set together can help with public speaking, as well as practicing timing, clear speech and self-confidence. Using a book or the best jokes for kids, create a set of five jokes and have them put on a show.