Indoor Activities for Kids

Here is a select list of our indoor activities that I have posted. I will be adding to this list as I write new posts, but will not necessarily include everything. Although I have sorted them by category, categories are not mutually exclusive. An Artsy activity can easily filed under Motor Skills, or a Geometry activity under Science.

Nearly all are free or super-cheap, can be easily set-up (a few are more complicated) and many, depending on the age of your child, do not necessarily require intense parental involvement (Hurrah!). Of course, engaging in the activity with your child is never discouraged.

Have fun and to let me know which ones are your favorites!

Fun with Numbers
Bean Counting
Counting in Egg Cartons
Montessori Bean Counting
Quantities Game
Handmade (Giant) Connect the Dots
Sorting Coins
Number (and Letter) Pretzels
Sorting Cards
Noodle Shapes
Skip Counting with Pennies
Kindergarten Sudoku
KenKen

Geometry
Handmade Building Circles
Map Your Living Room
3-D Shape Sorting
Making Hexagons
Fraction Cookies
Homemade Montessori Triangles
Using a Compass

Water Play
Homemade "Sailboats"
Dropper Water Transfer Activity
Rainy Day Painting
Water Drop Races
Float and Sink Experiment
Water on a Chalkboard
Ocean in a Bottle
Frozen Letter Scramble
Ice Wreath
Container Bubbles in the Bath
Funnel and Hose

Artsy Activities
Origami
Toddler Dot to Dot
Paper Mache Bowls (guest post)
Collage Books
Sticky Paper Collage
Start a Pre-Schooler's Journal
Glitter Glue Snowflakes
Shaving Cream Marbled Paper
Sticker Resistance Painting
Salad Spinner Art
Painting with Marbles
Container Painting
Art Supply List
Cellophane Stained Glass
Free Play Art
String Art
Painting with Magnets
Drawing Seashells
Window Painting
Homemade Button Stampers
Monthly Moons
Homemade Apple Blossom Stampers
Autumn Wreath
Homemade Pumpkin Stampers
Leaf Art
Homemade Bookmarks
Homemade Wrapping Paper
Drawing on Big Paper
Toddler Collage
Decorate Your Own Stickers

Science
Homemade Rubber Ball (guest post)
Baking Soda and Vinegar
Homemade Catapult
Salt Volcano
Grow Crystals on a Pipe Cleaner
Acid/Base Science Experiment
Magnets
Blowing up Balloons with Soda and Vinegar
Balloon Races
Magic Jumping Coin
Magnet Container Play
Moon Phase Viewer
Homemade Moon Phase Puzzle
Tracking the Moon Phases
Apple Taste Test
Fog in a Bottle
Making Moon Craters
Pear Ripening Experiment

Pretend Play
Homemade Stove
Homemade Road for toy cars
Another Homemade Road
Homemade Car Ramp
Bean Tray for Construction Toys
Ribbon Wand
Shaving Cream Car Wash
Play Wallet 
Homemade Car Garage (or whatever else you want it to be)

Playing with Color
Color Mixing in a Bag
Homemade Colored Glasses
Pattern Practice with Felt
Little Blue and Little Yellow Book Activity
Color Photographic Scavenger Hunt
Easy Color Sorting

Games and Free Play
Indoor/Outdoor Homemade Boomerang
Superb Toddler Puzzle
I Spy Spelling Game
Homemade Catapult Game
Quiet Time Jar
Whirligig
"Sift-N-Spell"
Bottle Cap Tiddlywinks
Indoor Frisbee
Indoor Ball Play
Word Find
Put a Tape Shape on the Floor
Blocks in a Box
Homemade Carnival Game
Pompoms, Paper Rolls and Egg Cartons Free Play 


Motor Skills
Wiki Stix on the Window
Sensory Paper for Toddlers
Homemade Toddler Lacing Activity
Threading Pipe Cleaners
Hanging the Alphabet
Homemade Lacing Circle and Chopsticks Sorting
Using Scissors
Learning How to Form Letters
Bottle and Lid Match-Up
Muffin Tin Sorting
Homemade Pomanders
Popsicle Sticks Free Play
Toddler Popsicle Stick Sorting
Putting Popsicle Sticks in a Container 
Filling a Jar
Ball in a Box
Stacking with Cookie Molds
Pounding Spices
Working Pizza Dough
Putting Caps and Pompoms in a Container 

Indoor Gardening
Beansprouts
Paperwhites and Book
Indoor Root Vegetable Garden
Plant Misting