As lock down continues here a some fresh ideas to help you keep your little ones entertained while you are all at home together

Games to play when you are stuck inside

 

 

 

1. Hangman: You can play the traditional way or if your little one has yet to master spelling you can ask them 20 questions to which they give you a yes or no response.

 

 

 

2. Xs and O’s: This game can last for hours if you have enough paper! Simply draw three vertical and three horizontal lines overlapping each other so that you are left with nine squares. The winner is the person who manages to get a line of Xs or Os.

 

 

 

3. Card Games: Card games are always a great way to keep kids entertained, and snap is a really easy one. Divide the deck out between the number of players and keep placing them down until two match – the winner is the person who yells ‘snap’ first.

 

 

 

4. Puppets: Make your very own puppets out of paper bags and put on a show for the rest of the family.

 

 

 

5. Hide and Seek: You don’t need to go outside to be able to play this fun game, there are plenty of places to hide in the home!

 

 

 

6. Indoor bowling: All you need is a beach ball or a football and ten empty bottles and you are guaranteed an afternoon of fun.

 

 

 

7. Touch and feel box: Fill four or five boxes with various textiles, food and toys so that each has a different feel. Cover them with a blanket and get the kids to guess what’s inside.

 

 

 

8. Target practice: Line up three different buckets each about a foot in front of the other. Each player then needs to throw a rolled up sock in each – the winner is the person who gets the sock in first.

 

 

 

9. Simon Says!: This is a really great way to have fun and act silly with the entire family.

 

 

 

10. Scavenger Hunt: Come up with a list of hard-to-find or hidden things in your house and give it to your child. Searching for the items can help keep both body and brain moving. Just be sure you match the quest with your child’s age and abilities. Here are some age-specific ideas:

 

 

 

a. Variation for preschoolers: Use pictures to show your child the things to try to find.

 

b. Variation for school age: Write down a list of things for your child to look for, but leave some open-ended, such as “something you can draw with.”

 

c. Variation for teens: Use riddles as clues. For example: Find something that gets wetter the more it dries. (A towel)