When the weather prevents the children from playing outside, don’t despair. Try these indoor fun and games.
Don’t let the gloomy weather take the smiles away, try our selection of indoor fun and games and other entertainment suggestions,
bake it, decorate it
You’re never too young to learn to cook. Try baking and icing teddy-bear biscuits or cupcakes that can be covered with all kinds of sweets and sprinkles. Create your own recipes for delicious hot drinks or edible treats with toasted marshmallows as the key ingredient. If you are lucky enough to have a fire, toast the marshmallows there, or toast over a candle. NB: Parental supervision required.
make it, play with it, eat it
This is a great activity for younger children. Let them make their own edible playdough using honey and peanut butter. They can eat their own creations later. Find the edible playdough recipe at the end of this article.
record it and store it
Older children can commemorate their cooking and baking experience by creating their own recipe books. Let them each write out and decorate a recipe, then let them compile their own little recipe books.
release their inner star
Dressing up and fantasy play are among the most enjoyable and versatile indoor fun and games. Use capes, scarves, hats and other accessories. Make masks using brown bags or paper plates. Let children act out their favourite story or nursery rhyme.
put on a puppet show
Older children may enjoy turning a big box into a puppet theatre, or making any number of miniature worlds in boxes using sand, plants, fabric, clay or playdough, and all the miniature toys your home accumulates, such as cars, dolls, army men, or McDonald’s toys.
let’s be pirates
An old favourite is Treasure Hunt, which can be played indoors. Make up clues for the hunt leading from one hiding place to the next (put them in the fridge, behind the mirror, in shoes, on the windowsill). You can also give clues by drawing household objects to indicate where the next clue is hidden. Remember to include some small prizes.
Older children can take turns to think of clues and hiding places. This will provide hours of indoor fun and games. It works particularly well when they have cousins or friends over.
show off their talent
If your children are a little older, have them stage a talent show – they write and recite their own poems, scenes from plays or short stories.
rhyme it
If your children don’t enjoy writing, challenge them to a nursery-rhyme contest to see who knows the most nursery rhymes. Each child takes a turn to recite a rhyme. If a child can’t think of a different rhyme – one that hasn’t been done before – they’re out of the game, and so on until you have a winner. This is a great party game, too.
boredom-buster board games
There’s nothing more fun for children than beating their parents at their favourite board games. So haul out the Monopoly, Pictionary, Jenga, Rummikub and Cluedo.
The real joy of games for most children is not the game itself, but the valuable time spent having fun with mom or dad.
Find more boredom-busting indoor entertainment ideas here.
green thumbs
The cold weather doesn’t mean gardening is out of the question. Children love to help things grow, and it’s a good way to foster a love of nature in your child.
Choose a non-poisonous, hardy plant that can stand up to some rough treatment. Together with your child, plant a small seed in a container and have them water it daily. Encourage your child to keep a plant journal by writing about or drawing the plant’s growth each day or each week.
get into the theme of things
Theme days can stimulate a child’s imagination. At the start of each day, pick a theme (colour, shape, size, number, letter). Then spend the day looking for things that fit in with the chosen concept. This activity can take place anywhere – in the car, the shop, the home, the garden.
imaginary fun
Stimulate your children’s imagination by asking questions to make them think of unusual and creative answers. Ask questions like “What would it be like to be a seagull or a spider? What would it be like to be a chair or a microwave? A world champion, a miniature person or a giant?
With all these indoor fun and games you can keep your family entertained throughout winter.
child-friendly edible playdough
Age 4 and up
You will need:
- ½ cup of smooth peanut butter
- ¼ cup of honey
- ½ cup of instant no-fat (skimmed) dry milk powder
How to make it:
Combine the smooth peanut butter with the honey and the instant no-fat (skimmed) dry milk powder.
Mix until it reaches a dough-like consistency, then, if you like, decorate your creations with edible goodies such as nuts, coconut, raisins or chocolate chips.
