Indoor Games for Kids

"Adults are always asking little kids what they want to be when they grow up because they're looking for ideas." ~ Paula Poundstone.

A kid's mind is blooming every moment with innovative ideas and quests. Thus, suggesting indoor games for kids is not an easy vocation until we understand what will actually make him happy. To understand the nature and the psychology of the kid is also an important task. If such games can help them in developing their personality and skills, then there is nothing like it! Outdoor and other camp games are much different from indoor games. There are a lot of restrictions in terms of space and exploration while playing in the house. So, they should be such that the kids get to enjoy to the fullest keeping the 'indoor' intact!

A lot of working parents want their kids to be engaged in fruitful activities. Some parents want to know about games that their kids can play on rainy days as they are just stuck at home. Indoor games can have different purposes. Some games merely serve as a mode of passing time, some involve learning activities, some even help the child in developing motor skills, and the best games should be the combination of all. The number of kids who are playing is should also be considered. Some indoor team games are really tempting and funny but the strength also acts as a factor, sometimes in favor of it and sometimes not. Again, girls and boys also have different sets of interests. Girls mostly prefer to play indoors. Wherein, boys are mostly into outdoor games and activities. Indoor games are meant to be enjoyable and should not be dragging and predictable. Keeping these concerns aside, let's see what games can be interesting as well as creative.

Important Aspects

Before setting up or advising a game, the following things should be considered and taken care of.

• The first step should be to explore the child's field of interest. If the child or group of children are interested in any particular activity, say painting, then you can set up a game in which the child can get involved in such an activity. The best thing about setting up such games is that, it motivates the child to a great extent.
• Girls and boys have different sets of interests, so you should categorize the games accordingly. And if they are playing together, then a balance of interests and preferences should be maintained which will even help in avoiding conflicts.
• If the child is likes to play outdoors and is stuck at home due to rains etc., then you will have to put some extra efforts to hold on his interest in the indoor game. Some exciting rainy day activities for kids can just add some zeal to it.
• There is always a risk that the child fiddles with the home appliances while playing in the house. Thus, the safety and security of the child should also be taken care of. Don't allow the child to use any sharp or hazardous object by any means.

Listed below are some indoor games for kids which can serve various purposes like learning, polishing and flaunting talent, and of course serving the main purpose of playing and enjoying the game.

Memory Games And Word Puzzles

• Memory games and word puzzles are a good mode of brain exercises. They help to improve the concentration power and also enhance the skills of your child. There are different types of memory games. Chinese Whispers is one of the most common games. In this game, the children have to sit in a circle. The first child has to whisper something (preferably a phrase) to the next child. The process will continue till the last player hears it and blurts it out. It's quite a fun game to play and helps improving the communication and auditory skills of the child.
• There are a lot of other types of memory games which can prove to be really interesting. Like, you can divide all the children into 2 groups. Ask one group to observe the objects around a particular room and leave for a while till the other group makes certain changes in the place and position of those objects. Then ask the first group to come in and find out all the possible changes that the second group has made. You can swap the groups after 2-3 rounds. This game becomes all the more interesting if there are a lot of objects around. Ask all the children in the beginning itself that they rearrange the objects in the similar manner at the end of the game. This will make sure that everything is in place once the game is over. This game helps to improve the memory skills of the children and slowly, as the game progresses, they also learn how to make changes in a smarter way.
• You can test the memory of your child and improve his vocabulary and spelling skills. Collect different types of objects like bottles, books, pens, keys, a small clock and more, and put them in a basket. Show them the basket with all the objects and call out the names of each, if needed. Then cover the basket or keep it aside. Ask the kids to write down the names of all the objects they remember. You can even set a time limit and give some gifts or token of reward to the kid who writes down maximum names of objects (spellings can also be considered). This way the game becomes more interesting and challenging.
• There are different types of ready-made word puzzle games which are available in kits like scrabble, crossword puzzles, sudoku puzzles, riddles, chess, math riddles and puzzles, and other such board games. You can even try homemade board games.

Art, Craft And more...

• You can explore your child's talent through his performances in games related to his art acts. They can enjoy activities related to art and craft and also get a wonderful chance to flaunt their talents. You can gather old magazines, newspapers and books and ask them to make cut-outs of pictures and make a relevant collage. They can also scribble down their thoughts in the form of stories or poems. They can even maintain a book of collages and name it accordingly. You can also motivate them to make origami and puppets. They can even set up a show or a drama with their handmade puppets. You can teach them how to go about it. Assign the kid as a composer who is fond of music. Ask the other kid to choreograph if he's fond of dancing. Similarly, just come up and implement every possible idea to make the act creative. Let your kid also participate and contribute to suggestions.
• Assist and help your kids to perform some basic science experiments. You can even refer to their textbooks. They will understand better and of course, enjoy learning in school.
• You can also arrange for art, music, painting, dance, essay writing competitions. This way you can make them enjoy and in some cases, even help them wrap up their homework.
• Other similar activities include making sock monkey hats, egg carton crafts, bird feeder crafts and more.

Miscellaneous Activities

If we actually sit and agonize, we can come up with various new ideas of indoor games for kids. They can include anything and everything. Apart from crafts and memory puzzles, they can play imitating games like imitating a radio jockey, a cook, a parlor attendant, babysitter, show host, teacher and what not. Girls are more fond of imitating games. You can even arrange for debatable games and seek each kid's opinion. Such activities will help them learn a lot of things and even make them responsible. You can also put on some music and ask them to dance with the music and stop immediately as the music pauses. Similar is the concept of musical chairs. Ask them to read out or enact some portions of their favorite story book. Even if it is a very simple game, do make every possible effort to spice it up!

"Kids: they dance before they learn there is anything that isn't music." ~ William Stafford.

A kid's mind is invincible. The more we try to understand, the more we fail. Kids need a lot of exposure and a healthy environment to grow up. Games are not only a mode to entertain them but also to help them learn a lot of practical things and their implementation in a wonderful and creative manner. Indoor games not only serve the purpose of entertainment but also contribute in making them responsible individuals. The game has to be planned and designed according to the child's need and preferences. And to be precise, who are we to decide what and how they should play? So, all you need to do is assist. Leave the rest on the kids. Observe them, how they enjoy, explore and learn to be smarter and better every moment. Even for hyperactive kids, give them space but keep them engaged. They say, "if we don't commit mistakes as a child, then we don't have anything to talk or laugh about when we grow up."