If you have ever been stuck inside for multiple days in a row with a child, you know how hard it gets to find ways to keep them busy and off of their screens.
The winter months are especially hard because days can turn into weeks with no outside playtime. Keeping your child engaged and active while being cooped up is a huge challenge. As a kindergarten teacher, I see this at school, too. If we have more than two days in a row of indoor recess, the kids start to get stir-crazy! Some of them get bored and complain about not having anything to do, while others have so much energy they seem to be bouncing off the walls.
One of my favorite tricks is to rotate toys. Don’t keep all of their toys accessible all the time. Put some away in a closet until your child forgets about them, then pull them out again. The excitement of getting re-introduced to the rotated toys will get them over their boredom and get them up and playing again!
If you are looking for some new toys to add to your “Rainy Day” toy collection, check out some of these great options!
Top Indoor Fun Toys Recommended by a Kindergarten Teacher
Grand Canyon National Park Hiking Gear Play Set
Don’t be afraid to bring toys you would normally consider “outside only toys” inside to play with! Toys don’t only have to be played with in one certain way. Change the rules of the game and try something new with them. This hiking gear play set is a perfect example! Normally, I would expect my child to play with this outside looking for things in nature. But if you bring this inside, there are so many fun ideas you can try! Make an indoor scavenger hunt—they can use the binoculars to help them find clues or items around the house. You could also set up stuffed animals for an indoor safari. You could even play something as simple as “I Spy” or have them come up with their own ideas. Often children come up with much better games than we do as adults!
Giddy Buggy Bowling Set
This is a great option for some more active play indoors. Setting up the bowling pins and rolling the ball to knock them down is great for developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination. Going back and forth from the starting line to setting the pins back up gets them up and moving. Bonus teacher tip: I use this game in my kindergarten classroom to practice basic subtraction. We start with the total number of pins, subtract how many were knocked down, and figure out how many pins are left. If your child is struggling to practice math at home, this could be a great way to get them excited to do homework!
Giddy Buggy Tunnel
This one is perfect for toddlers and young preschoolers. Crawling through the tunnel builds muscle in their arms and legs and improves coordination. There are many different things they can use the tunnel for besides simply crawling. Add in new challenges. For example, slither through like a snake, slide like an inchworm, crab walk backward, or have timed races.
Race Around The World Tracks Floor Puzzle
Floor puzzles are great options for quiet indoor playtime when you do not want your child on a screen. There are dozens of great puzzles available, but one of my favorites is the Race Around the World Tracks because once the puzzle is complete, they can still play with it as car tracks!
Cozy Cottage Play Tent
This play tent is one of those great things you can keep in a closet and pull out on a rainy/snowy day. Your child will get excited because it is something they don’t get to use all of the time. They can play so many different things with this, their imagination is the limit!
Being cooped up for long periods of time is always hard! Finding creative ways for kids to beat the boredom and use up some of that energy can really help! Look around at the toys you already have and try to come up with new ways to play. Don’t be afraid to change the rules of the game sometimes!
Click through the links below for more great toy-themed content from Melissa & Doug!
30 Best Childhood Games to Share with Kids Today
Toy Spotlight: La Patisserie Bakery
Toys that Grow with Your Child
5 Fundamental Skills You Can Teach Kids Through Play
Shop ALL Melissa & Doug Pretend Play
Shop ALL Melissa & Doug Puzzles
