Another "stuck inside" day? We see you over there: Restless kids fidgeting on the couch, the clock ticking slower than usual, and you’re fresh out of ideas for things to do. We have your back with this list of the best indoor games you might have not already tried. They are simple to set up and so much fun you’ll want to play no matter what the weather is like outside.

1 . THE FLOOR IS LAVA GAME

All kids hop from couch to cusion to book to anything strategically placed and possibly even make a flying leap across the living room to the corner chair.  Aim - Hop from one surface to another with one thing on their minds… The living room floor had turned into boiling hot lava! - you can't step on it.

 From jumping, leaping, hopping, rolling, and crashing, The Floor is Lava is a fun and creative way to encourage movement and sensory motor play, both indoors and out!

2. PAPER DRESSES

When I was younger, I used to love making dresses out of toilet paper for my barbies. One great afternoon fun idea is designing dresses for your child, with your child, out of paper. I was inspired by Mayhem a beautiful girl who makes dresses completely out of paper (check her out!)  I've tried it with my daughter Meels, and although unfortunately I don't have pics of Meels in her creation as part of the fun was also busting out of it and ripping it, the verdict was a big thumbs up! 

3. BALOON CUP SHOOTERS

This super simple idea will definitely keep them entertained for a few hours! All you need are plastic cups, balloons, tape and ping pong balls. Watch this video to show you how it's done :) 

Step 1:  Cut the bottom off of the paper or plastic cup, line it with tape to avoid rough edges.

Step 2:  Tie end of balloon. 

Step 3: Cut other end of a balloon.

Step 4: Stretch balloon over wide end of cup.

That’s it!  Now watch the kids have a blast shooting ping pong balls around the house.  And if you don’t have ping pong balls, you can use marshmallows, beans, pom poms, and even paper balls.

 

4. PUZZLES AND BOARD GAMES

Puzzles are always a perfect idea! Exercise those creative, cognitive and problem-solving muscles with a good puzzle. Children learn to work directly with their environment and change its shape and appearance when they work with puzzles besides, 

• Improved Memory. Solving puzzles helps reinforce existing connections between our brain cells. ... 
• Better Problem-Solving Skills. ... 
• Improved Visual-Spatial Reasoning. ... 
• Improved Mood. ... 
• Lower Stress Levels.

Board Games are a great way to boost their self esteem teaching them about teamwork, patience, and how to win and lose gracefully, board games can actually benefit kids' brains and language development and sharpen their focus and develop their competitive drive. 

Anyone who knows me knows well enough that if there is one thing I can't stand doing is cooking. However, when I discovered this simple and super recipe on how to make playdough, I never bought again! Make it with your child, and let them experiment with colour, glitter or even some scent. I usually add vanilla or lavender oil to it and it comes out smelling beautiful. 

• 1 cup water
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
• 1/2 cup salt
• 1 tablespoon cream of tartar
• Food coloring
• Saucepan
• 1 cup flour

Directions

1. Combine water, oil, salt, cream of tartar, and food coloring in a saucepan and heat until warm.
2. Remove from heat and add flour.
3. Stir, then knead until smooth. The cream of tartar makes this dough last 6 months or longer, so resist the temptation to omit this ingredient if you don't have it on hand.
4. Store this dough in an airtight container.

6. BOTTLE DOLL FAMILY

A fantastic way to upcycle a used bottle is to paint it and stick some silly funny face, drawn by them and bow tie on it and you've got your first doll!
Add some buttons and and wrap around some material, you've got your second! 

Different sized bottles are great! Each and every individual bottle doll with join the fantstic bottle family. 

7. INDOOR TREASURE HUNT

Easy and fun!! hide random objects and make a list for them to find them  ..  or make a list for them to find something red, something round, something soft, somerthing that smells ..  Make it more challenging and write clues instead of a list. 

8. FREEZE! with a challenge. 

Choose some of your kids’ favourite songs and turn up the volume. Ask them to dance until the music stops. When it does, they have to freeze in whatever position they find themselves in – even if they have one leg up. To make the game more challenging, ask the kids to freeze in specific poses: animals, shapes, letters or even yoga poses!. Toddlers in particular love this game.

9. BLIND FOLDED FOOD TASTING

Prepare random food items in different bowls. Something spicy, something sweet, something chewy, something soft, something hard etc .. (cheese, bread, chocolate, sweets, ketchup, mayo, mustard, fruit, vegetables) blindfold your child and let them taste it and guess what it was they have just eaten. I always put more sweet and happy stuff. With more then one kid it is always a laugh when one is blindfolded and his hand hovers over the spicy or cheesy bowl. 

10. CLEAN UP

Cleaning up CAN be fun for them! My kids love playing this game and in the end - we have a cleared room, exhausted kids and a happy me! win / win! This is best if played with more then 1 child - or + you! 
Each child gets to choose one song. Once their song is being played it is up to the that child to clean up their toys and more as fast as they can. They need to pick up and clear & put away at least 20 items / pieces before the song finishes. Whilst that song is playing, the other kids relax, sing and dance. 
When the song is up - the next song comes on and it's the next childs turn to clean up. 
This is always done with a promise that what ever is left to clean up will be done by me. 
Clean up will never be a chore again! 

In other words, play matters, let the children PLAY! 

To keep up to speed with all things Kekstor; follow them on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram

As an advocate of outdoor play, post rain or shine, those who know me know that I get very frustrated when I'm stuck indoors. I need fresh air, I need to hear laughing in the distant. I just love unstructured and unplanned play. 

However, there are those days where we just can't go outside. Sick days, rainy days, afterschool HW and extra curricular days .. there are many. (& as my kids get older I realise they get less time each year to do so) 

Through playing, children learn about concepts such as wining, loosing and playing fair and also develop problem-solving skills. Indoor play gives children that opportunity to develop such skills. 

Indoor play opens up a world of imaginative play and Social Play

Role playing, being superheroes, playing 'mummies and daddies', playing shop, dress-ups, tea-parties, playing with cars playing with dolls and soft toys to name a few. ... I used to love sitting all my soft toys around a table and play "schools" 

The process of pretending builds skills in many essential developmental areas. When your child engages in pretend (or dramatic) play, S/he is actively experimenting with the social and emotional roles of life. 

Movement 

I have very energetic kids that love to move! Obviously when stuck at home that limits their movement. We recommend the following active tried and tested ideas :) 

I always leave a Bilibo lying around .. We have had this same one for over 10 years. My kids gravitate to it and always end up burning quite a bit of energy with spins and balance. We can not recommend this enough. 

- Lava - place cushions all over the floor and tell your kids that they cannot put a single toe on the floor as it is "lava". Their mission - They need to get to the other side of the room and pick up the prize (could be a book, or a toy, or a sweet) without touching the floor. it's not as easy as it sounds! but it is lots and lots of fun!! 

Spider Webs

Chose a large enough room and tape toilet paper across making a web. Their aim - to get to the other side without ripping the paper. 

Clean up 

Cleaning up CAN be fun for them! My kids love playing this game and in the end - we have a cleared room, exhausted kids and a happy me! win / win! This is best if played with more then 1 child - or + you! 
Each child gets to choose one song. Once their song is being played it is up to the that child to clean up their toys and more as fast as they can. They need to pick up and clear & put away at least 20 items / pieces before the song finishes. Whilst that song is playing, the other kids relax, sing and dance. 
When the song is up - the next song comes on and it's the next childs turn to clean up. 
This is always done with a promise that what ever is left to clean up will be done by me.
Clean up will never be a chore again! 

Downtime

For us, downtime are those days when we are tired & less motivated. This is the time where we move on to reading, puzzles, board games or we watch a movie or series. Now that Christmas is soon here we will soon start to watch all the classics again .. you can't really get enough of them! - our favourites are Muppets Scrooge, Jingle all the Way and the Grinch (original) 

In other words, play matters, let the children PLAY! 

To keep up to speed with all things Kekstor; follow them on Facebook, Pinterest or Instagram