Screen Overload Part 2 Indoor, Screen-Free things to do

I think it is a good idea to help kids come up with ideas when they are at a loss of what to do. Having a list of ideas handy helps cut out the time you both lose just trying to decide what to do. :) I tried to come up with a list of ideas off the top if my head.
I am breaking this list up into two separate posts. This post will just be for indoor ideas and the next post will be for some outdoor ideas.

This list is for a variety of ages. I didn’t break them down into ages. I tried to break them down into categories, but many of these activities can be classified in more than just one category. :) Here are just some ideas to get the kids’ creative juices flowing. I’m sure I missed a lot of great ideas. I would love to hear any suggestions of more things to add. :) We would love to expand this list. :) Please keep in mind that I have all girls, so that is why there are not a lot of boy-friendly activities on here. :) I’m so sorry. :)

I am currently trying to put together some little bins to hold different toys/accessories for some of the ideas listed.. They are being stored in our storage area in our garage. They aren’t big bins, but small ones that hold a few things for playing make believe games. :)

When you see a * next to the activity, it means that is an activity they have to ask to do first. :)

I think it is also good to encourage kids to pray about how to spend their free time. God will guide them in good choices & ideas.

INDOOR IDEAS:

Creative Play:
Little People
doll house with little people
Lambs
Hospital (Use items in Hospital bin)
beauty parlor ( use items in beauty parlor bin)
restaurant (use items in restaurant bin)
store (use items in store bin)
Daycare/Nursery (use items in baby bin)
Receptionist (Use play phone, etc)
maids (use stuff from the maid bin)
Olden days (Pick an era)
*Playdough
Dog Show/Dog Groomers
Pet Store
House
Dolls
Dress-ups (use items in dress-up bin)
Tea Party
horses
dogs
farm
Build a fort out of chairs & Blankets & play camp out
Build-A-Bears /stuffed Animals
Little guys
*Story pass with tape recorder (Someone starts a story & passes it to the next person who tells more of the story. They pass it to the next person who tells more. This goes on until the story ends. :)
play piano/guitar/violin
Make your own musical instruments
Sing
*paint rocks
Blindfold art
**Play bakery with play dough, or Baking soda cakes. (Our girls LOVE this activity. You put baking soda into a little cup & add just enough water to make it wet, but now watery. When you turn it over, it will hold the shape of the cup. Our girls like to use the cherries from their Hi Ho Cherry O game for cake topping). :)
make up your own game. :)
Do something to bless someone else:
Here are a few ideas:
make a card
write a letter from your heart
bake someone a special treat
Fix someone a snack
make someone a gift
draw someone a picture
Do someone’s chore just to honor them


Quiet Activities:
Pray
Memorize Bible Verses
Read
Read to a little Sister
*sewing
*knit
cross stitch
latch hook
needle point
puzzles
*bake
draw
color
*crafts
*Paint Rocks
write a letter
write a story and draw the pictures
write a poem
write a letter to a friend, or relative
scrapbook
Mr. Potato Heads
Make gifts for Christmas to put aside
Listen to books on tape
Listen to CD’s of old radio shows for kids
Listen to inspirational CD’s (Teaching, or soft music)

Educational play/activities: These could also be considered quiet activities.
Blocks
Legos (Both small kind & Duplos)
Lincoln Logs
Dominoes
peg board
frogs on logs (teaches counting and colors)
lacing beads

Games:
Board Games
Duck Duck Goose
Card Games
Hide and Seek
charades
Tic Tac Toe


Get Moving/Exercise:
Dance
exercise

Productive activities: These are for the “EXTREMELY bored” kids that tell me they are bored. :)
Help mommy
clean
*clean out fridge/pantry
Organize your Bookshelf/room/closet
Help with projects
Sweep
wipe down walls
wipe cabinets