Kids need to burn off energy, and these fun indoor physical activities help. They can be simple adaptations of outdoor games or more creative exercises that are fun for all ages.

For example, play hallway soccer using masking tape on a long corridor. Have students line up along one wall and bear crawl to the opposite side, with the last student eliminated.

Scavenger Hunt

Getting kids to run around, jump over things and scavenge for clues is a great way to get some exercise. They also learn with their whole bodies (feeling the soft teddy bear, seeing the alphabet, tasting a sweet fruit) and can use their creativity to come up with fun solutions for their challenges, like dressing as their favorite celeb or posing in silly ways for selfies or videos.

Scavenger hunts are highly adaptable and can be focused on any theme or subject. For example, if your kid loves trains, you can create a scavenger hunt that gets them to search for train related items and answer questions on a printable sheet. For older students, you can try a science-focused scavenger hunt where they have to find different states of matter. Another good idea is to try a visual scavenger hunt for kids who can’t read yet. Use pictures instead of words and even a code to help them feel independent as they hunt for their clues.

For bigger groups, team-based scavenger hunts can be fun and provide valuable social skills. During these types of activities kids will work together to accomplish their goal of getting as many items checked off as possible on the list in the shortest amount of time. This is a great opportunity for them to practice their communication and collaboration skills while learning from their strengths and weaknesses of their teammates.

Ball Toss

Kids who love to throw or kick a ball will get a lot of exercise with this simple activity. They can practice kicking, rolling, throwing, and catching, all while developing coordination. This is also an excellent time to work on jumping and hopping skills as well as hand-eye coordination.

Adding obstacles into the game will increase the challenge and fun. For example, try drawing a hopscotch on the floor with chalk and have kids skip around it while throwing a ball or other object. This will help them focus on navigating the course without looking at their feet and also strengthen their ankles, calves, and hips.

Another fun variation is to have children toss a ball or a rolled up sock back and forth between each other in a circle, taking steps backward as they pass the item. Whoever is the last to touch the item wins. For a more challenging option, put the items in different spots and tell them to try to find them as fast as possible.

This is a great way to build teamwork, communication, and coordination as a group while also working on throwing and catching. It can even be a fun precursor to organized sports teams. Kids can start off by playing in a non-competitive league, and as they progress, they can learn about sportsmanship, setting goals, and practicing their skills.

Obstacle Course

A popular activity for older kids, obstacle courses are a fun way to get in some physical exercise while also practicing problem-solving, planning, and following directions. These skills are all critical for success in school, and a great way to burn off energy that might otherwise be spent on sedentary activities like video games or TV.

Whether indoors or out, an obstacle course is easy to set up and can be pieced together with things you already have around the house. Aim to make it more challenging by incorporating age-appropriate learning tasks into the sequencing of the obstacles. This might include a letter of the alphabet or number sequence that kids must complete while going through the course, or even more complex learning challenges like finding objects in a hidden container.

Gross motor skills like jumping, running, crawling, hopping, and climbing are important to practice for young children, and an obstacle course offers a great opportunity to do so in a safe environment. It also helps children develop their bilateral coordination, which is the ability to use both hands and legs at the same time.

To help your children feel comfortable navigating the obstacle course, add in some soft surfaces like pillows, blankets, yoga mats, or hula hoops. Be sure to supervise children while they play, and take care not to place any sharp items in the course.

Dance Party

For this indoor party, set out some dance music (try this kid-friendly playlist), and let the kids move to their favorite tunes. This free-form dance party also gives them the chance to showcase their creativity and dance moves, but it can also be a great way to burn off excess energy.

If the kids get bored with dancing, introduce some other games that require them to use their bodies. For example, have them make a 3-legged race by tying their outside ankles together with a long ski sock or PJ pants. This helps them build balance and coordination, and can also be a good sibling bonding activity. Challenge them to see how high they can jump, or try this fun hopping game from Hands On As We Grow that also builds balance and speed.

Another fun way to get the kids moving is to play a game of indoor croquet. You can set up a croquet course by using a large piece of cardboard, painter’s tape, and colored markers. You can also add in some active tasks like running up and down the stairs 2 times or doing 15 jumping jacks to make it more challenging for older kids.

Round up some judges to oversee the competitions. If a child drops a balloon or hits one of their teammates with an object, they are “out” and the last team standing wins. This is a rowdy, fun game that promotes friendly competition and physical fitness.