Games to Play With Children Inside

Physical Games

• If you want your kids to get some exercise, choose a physical game for them to play. Twister is one of several options to consider for letting kids get their pent-up energy out. Twister is played on a mat, with the participants placing hands or feet on different colored shapes based on the instructions from the person using the spinner. Alternately, create a game using craft materials, like a game in which you create paper letters or numbers that can be placed on the floor. Children can be asked to spell a specific word, or give the answer to a simple math problem, learning as they play.

Learning Games

• There are a variety of learning games that you can pursue at home or in your classroom. Board games are a great option, as are games that involve cards. Games like Monopoly can help children better understand concepts related to money, like buying, selling, and value. You may also want to create your own learning games. For example, develop a game that helps to teach children about literary or historical figures by answering questions that allow them to proceed though different locations that relate to the story or character. Reuse an old game board you have, or glue a printed sheet with your game on it to a piece of cardboard.

Creative Games

• Play a dress-up game, in which the object is to use the clothes in the house to look like a famous celebrity. Or, put on an improvised play. Another creative game that children might enjoy that has a physical element to it is Charades. Charades is played by two teams, with each player pulling a phrase or word out of a hat and trying to get members of his own team to guess what it is by using only gestures and movements. Add a prize as an incentive, like going out for ice cream when the sun comes out again.