Indoor games to keep you active this summer

Summer break is here and so are long weekends. When we think of summer, we think of lots of indoor fun for these hot days. These activities are not only exciting, but yield some incredible keepsakes and memories.

There are many advantages of playing indoors. Playing indoors teaches your child to invite other children and bond with peers. Children also learn to bond with older and younger siblings, thereby learning to share and play fair. We have compiled a list of indoor games that will appeal to people of all age groups and can be played with grandparents, uncles, aunts, cousins and building friends.

Jigsaw puzzles

Jigsaw puzzles are the popular game of all time. They come in all shapes and sizes. Your kid can play this all by himself or he/she could gather 2 or 3 of his friends to work on it together.

Such puzzles help your child with analytical skills. They help develop creative, cognitive and problem-solving skills in your toddler. What can make this even more interesting? You can create your own jigsaw puzzle. Simply draw a picture on a cardboard and have it cut into multiple pieces. This way, you can create a new puzzle every day.

Home skit

Give your child and their friends a theme and use materials available at home. Ask them to make up a script and act it out. This not only develops your child’s confidence and acting skills but also their imagination.

Foot Volleyball

Ask all teens to remove their shoes and form two groups. Hang the net in such a way that it is at least three to four feet above the floor. Let both the teams take their positions, on each side of the net. Your teen and his friends now need to play volleyball with the balloon using their feet instead of their hands!

An indoor obstacle course

An obstacle course is not just for people in the armed forces. Your child can get the required amount of physical activity from this game. What you need: Pillows, large cushions, beams with masking tapes, ottomans, and stuffed toys. Create a trail of sorts with all these items and let your children jump, roll and make somersaults over them. This is not only fun but also works up a good appetite in your child.

Hula Hoop

While most might think that Hula Hoops are a solo activity, you can totally play hula hoop with others as a fun kid’s indoor sports activity. The most fun team-based activity using a Hula Hoop is racing: Have two kids spinning Hula Hoops and then try to simultaneously move, whether they run, shimmy, or herky-jerky their way to the finish line, and is then declared winner!

Table Tennis

It is an indoor variation of tennis, played on table divided by net with small paddles and a light weight ball. Table tennis is a complex physical sport. It is good for the body, mind and soul. It improves your child and yours physical as well as mental activities.

Squash

Squash is a great indoor sport that provides fun and recreation. It is a game played in an enclosed court by two or four players who strike the ball with their rackets and hit onto playable surfaces of the walls of the court.

Not many people used to know about squash but it is gaining so much popularity these days due to the fact that people are enjoying it once they start playing. Besides being enjoyable, it is also advantageous. It helps you to learn better social skills and gives an opportunity to make new friends. Squash is a very good leisure activity to try!

Treasure hunt

Treasure hunt is another game that will get children moving and keep them active. It helps develop problem-solving skills and gives them a sense of adventure. The treasures could be simple like a box of crayons or colouring books. You can make your own clues and hide them at various places around the house.

Pyramid Stack Race

Each player gets 36 cups. When time starts (declare ‘go’ or blow a whistle) each player must construct a pyramid with the cups with a base of 8 cups, each row containing one less cup until the top row completes the pyramid with a single cup. The first player to complete his or her pyramid wins. If you don’t have enough table space or cups, have just 2-4 people compete at a time in heats and then have winners of each heat compete against one another.

Chess

If you’re bored with all those old games then you can try playing mind games like chess is a war of thoughts between two players on a chess board having 16 pieces each with the objective of check mating the opponent’s king. Your kids can learn a lot in chess like visualisation and judging the body language. They can improve their memory and become more creative.

Carrom Board

Carrom is another favourite game among kids and adults alike, the aim of the game is to pocket one’s nine carrom men and Queen before your opponent.

Disco Down

Disco has been dead and resurrected so many times, young kids love to dance to it. Dim the lights, close the blinds, hand each child a flashlight (for the full disco effect) and a small scarf to twirl around. Cue up some classic tunes was some rocking song, and watch the disco magic unfold.