Ohhh, the dreaded snow day! I don’t know where you are, but here in Ohio, we have had quite a snow-filled winter so far. Even though there were brief glimpses of spring this past week, I know that there is still another month or so of possible snow, rain, and cold. This translates to being stuck inside the house for a bit longer.
At this point in the winter season, we tend to have the TV and iPad are going daily (insert mom guilt). Every day, I try to make Logan shut everything off for a few hours and play. Some days he does an excellent job finding things to keep him entertained and some days I must rack my brain for ideas.
Here is a list of a few kid-friendly screen-free indoor activities (seven to be exact) that seem to work right now, and I have them on rotation. Keep in mind that my child is a five-year-old boy. So, they may not work for everyone, but hopefully, they will give you some ideas! Oh, and if you make it to the bottom of the post, there is a free printable for you!!
Board Games
Right now, the board games in our house have come out every single day! No joke! The two that Logan is loving is Trouble and Aggravation. I think we play at least two games in a row every time. I know that games are not exactly a solo activity, but they help us turn off the TV and enjoy some quality time together.
Since Shadrach and I have gotten a little tired of playing the same two games over and over, we picked up some fun kid’s card games at Target recently. Logan still has a little trouble holding all the cards, so we ordered these excellent card holders too, which have made playing them so much easier!
Building Toys
The first thing I always think of when it comes to building toys is Legos, which is a favorite in our house right now. However, we have come across a few others that Logan LOVES and are just as fun and entertaining.
These are the few that we have, and every time Logan pulls them out, his imagination always runs wild, and he stays entertained for hours!
Sticker and Activity Books
Since Logan was two-years-old, he has enjoyed sitting down with a sticker book. In fact, on a cold rainy day, or a sick day, it is something simple and easy to keep little ones entertained. We’ve gone through quite a few. My mom is the one that supplies them for us, but here is one that is similar to what we have.
Also, I like to hit up the dollar tree and check their kid’s section. They almost always have some fun little activity books, and they are only $1! I had a few on hand for about a year now, but Logan has just recently started showing interest in them.
One other type of activity book that I keep on hand for days stuck in the house is dry erase books. I love these the best because we can use them over and over again!
Balloons
Okay, so you may be wondering why in the world I’m mentioning balloons, but they are one of my favorite things to pull out! This activity helps to let some energy out!
I find the balloons at the dollar store, 15 for $1. I blow up one or two and then give them to Logan. He loves to play the game of hitting the balloon up in the air or back and forth with someone. Whenever I play with him, I make the rule that the balloon can’t touch the ground.
This is such a simple activity, but it’s always a big hit!
Podcasts
Sometimes the TV ends up being more just background noise instead of entertainment. However, I do get tired of hearing the TV on. So, I will suggest a podcast. For Christmas, we got Logan a little, rugged, Bluetooth speaker so I could turn on music or podcasts without him having access to his iPad or my phone. Let me tell you, it’s been wonderful. Logan loves them right now!
A few of his favorite podcasts at the moment are:
While he is playing with his Legos or working in an activity book, he plays one of these podcasts. They are educational and fun, so I don’t feel guilty for letting him listen for a while.
Dance Party
When all else fails, and you are desperate to get some energy out, turn on some music and have a fun little dance party! This always puts smiles on our faces, and there are usually some giggles involved too!
Some of my favorite kid’s music to dance to is The Laurie Berkner Band. If you haven’t heard these songs, run and check them out! They are original and not at all annoying! There is very few kid’s music that I can listen to on repeat, but these I enjoy, and so does Logan.
Snow Day Activity Sheet
I don’t know about you guys, but I am NOT a Pinterest mom. Don’t get me wrong, I love looking for fun things to do with my child on Pinterest but 99% of the time, I never do them. I do like finding free printables though that I can have right away and that requires little to no prep. Arts and crafts just aren’t my jam.
Well, if you feel this way too, I have a fun little printable for you! Education.com has kindly given me a fun snow day printable to share with you. You can use it if you just need a few minutes of sanity to do something, like take a shower, or just have some peace and quiet. Just print it and enjoy! Also, if you are looking for some more educational, fun activities, be sure to head over to their website and check them out!
- Also, if you have a baby or toddler, be sure to check out thinkbaby.org for some great tips and tricks for your little one! Their website is so informative and a great go-to website for all of those questions that come up when you have a baby!
Trying to Unplug with Indoor Activities
Hopefully, this gave you a few ideas of some things you can do to turn off the TV or tablet and keep your children busy on those snowy/rainy days. Also, just know that if screen time ends up happening more than you’d like, there is no judgment here. Chances are we have some sort of screen on more than we should too!
If you do find yourself ready to unplug your kiddos for a few hours though, these are just a few ways that you can do that. ????
What are some ways that you help your kids unplug on those days you can’t get out of the house? Do you have any go-to activities? I’d love to hear about them!
Laura Ramnath
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Ever since my kids were little, I would play board games with them as our indoor activity and they grew up still playing them. I love how board games are so much fun and educating at the same time especially those strategy games where my kids need to think like scrabble. Aside from that, I also taught my kids to enjoy puzzles. They started from a few pieces and just recently they finished building a 1000-piece puzzle!
That is awesome that your kids love puzzles and board games! I’m looking forward to the day when my little guy can play more challenging games. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
Hello Laura, Playing outside for children in snow, rain, and cold season is not possible and kids have to stuck inside the house and they get bored for a longer. In that case, indoor game activities are excellent things for kids to keep entertain and playing. Thanks for sharing different indoor activities that will really helpful for many parents.
Thank you for stopping by Julie! And yes, keeping kids entertained inside is so tough! I hope the post helped you!