Come rainy season the first thing that tends to take a beating is physical activity. The season almost becomes a license for a sedentary lifestyle. Parents also often find children glued to their screens without any other way to release the boundless energy they have within themselves.
It needn’t be that way. There are many indoor sports and fitness activities that can keep children active and busy. If you are looking for some suggestions, you are at the right place. Before we recommend a few activities that children will like and benefit from, let us begin by looking at what benefits these activities offer.
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Benefits of Indoor Games
- First things first. These indoor activities offer children much-needed exercise and a way to release their boundless energy. Therefore, it is a given that they benefit their physical health.
- Research shows that exercise helps the body release hormones called endorphins. Now that explains what is popularly known as the “runner’s high”. With exercise, you can help keep stress and anxiety at bay and keep the children feeling good.
- While playing outside in the rainy season could be risky, indoor play is relatively safe.
- Several games are also known to improve mental skills. They also help children with essential life skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, and more.
- Playing games together with the children gives you much-needed bonding time with them. It also offers you some very important coachable moments with the child. Messages passed on in such times that do not come across as preaching tend to stay with the child.
That said, here are some great indoor games and activities for children.
Fun Indoor Activities for Children
1. Obstacle Course
Create a fun obstacle course using household items. You could develop barriers they need to jump over, tunnels they need to go through, and more. You are limited only by your imagination. The giggles filling the house as children play this game will be heartening!
2. Cushion Islands
This creative game involves you setting up cushions at some distance on the floor. The cushions represent islands that are safe, while the rest of the floor is filled with crocodiles. Children need to make their way from one safe island to another.
3. Treasure Hunt
Now, this is one activity that offers both physical activity and mental stimulation. Get creative and leave those fun clues about the house, and see the children cracking them! With its physical and mental elements, this one easily counts among the best games for children.
4. Indoor Bowling
How about setting up an indoor bowling station right in the comfort of your home? All you need is some bottles and a ball. Children will have fun doing this, which will be an excellent exercise for hand-eye coordination and improving concentration.
5. Freeze
Among the list of indoor games is- Freeze. Let the children put on their dancing shoes and listen to the music. Only they need to freeze when the music stops. It offers great exercise and also a fun game rolled into one activity.
6. Toss the ball
Remember those fun fairs we visited as children? Ones that had various games, and you could win some small knickknacks. How about creating that flavour at home? All you need is a basket and some balls. For that matter, even rolled-up socks will do. The game is as follows- in a given amount of time, say a minute, the rolled socks must be tossed into the basket. The one who can toss the maximum number of socks will be the winner!
7. Lemon and Spoon Race
How about recreating a traditional race that we have all participated in, albeit outdoors? This one can keep the fun going for a long time. You can replace the lemon with an egg if you want to increase the stakes.
8. Indoor Camping
When the children are tired from all the running around, help them create an indoor camp where they can relax. A cosy camp made of household items can be a great place to relax and replenish their energy with a healthy meal!
Now, with such activities, children will surely wait for more rainy-day holidays. You may as well get used to organising such days as they will be a lot in demand. You can customise the activities based on the age and interest of children and the available space. Time permitting, you can also let your hair down and participate in these activities yourself. It will be like channeling your inner child and soaking in all the fun. You will be happy reminiscing about the fun the children had and the physical activity they got along the way.
Stay tuned to this space as we bring you creative ways to keep children occupied and ensure that they do not lose out on physical activity this rainy season. At Pragyanam, one of the top schools in Gurgaon, we are committed to the holistic development of children and equipping them with much-needed life skills.
