Whether your kids are stuck inside on a rainy day or you just need to keep your toddler entertained while you fix dinner, having a few great games on hand is a good idea.
But finding fun toddler indoor games can be a little difficult. In addition to being simple to play, games for toddlers shouldn’t require advanced skill sets or complex rules.
If you’re searching for the best toddler games to play indoors, you’ll love these 13 simple game ideas.
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Toddler Indoor Games
I Spy
Help your toddler take notice of the world around them while also playing a fun game with I Spy. This classic kids’ game is perfect when you’re stuck inside or driving in the car!
How to Play: Look around the room and select an object in clear sight. Start by saying “I spy something [color of the object].”
Then, let your toddler keep guessing until they find the correct object. If you’re playing with multiple kids, let the kids take turns guessing until one of them finds the right object.
Keep the Balloon Off the Floor
While a lot of the games on this list require more than one player, this simple game can be played alone or with a friend. And all your toddler needs to play is a blown-up balloon.
How to Play: Blow up one or several balloons and toss it in the air.
Tell your toddler to keep the balloon from hitting the ground by catching it, hitting it with their hands, or kicking it with their feet.
The more balloons you toss in the air, the more difficult the game becomes. But if you’re playing with more than one toddler, it’s probably a good idea to give them each at least one balloon to prevent an argument later on.
Sock Basketball
With sock basketball, you can create a fun game for your toddler and let them help sort your laundry! To play this game, you’ll need socks and a laundry basket.
How to Play: Ball up a few pairs of socks and hand them to your toddler.
Place the laundry basket a few steps away from them, then tell them to toss the sock balls into the basket.
After they’ve made all the socks into the basket, dump them out and let them start again.
The Floor is Lava
This game is a blast for kids (and adults) of any age. And it can be played anywhere!
How to Play: Yell “The floor is lava!”
Once that sentence is shouted, everyone playing must get off the floor immediately and stay off.
If your toddler needs to move to a different location, they’ll have to find a creative way to get there without touching the floor.
Color Sorting
If you’re looking for a fun game that also helps your toddler practice an essential preschool skill, why not try color sorting? To set up the game, lay out pieces of construction paper in different colors. Then gather up different things from around the house for your toddler to sort.
How to Play: After getting the game set up for your toddler, ask them to sort the objects in front of them onto the corresponding construction paper.
To make the game a little more difficult, set your toddler free around the house to find objects that match the pieces of paper.
Balloon Tennis
If you have two toddlers, a balloon, and a piece of ribbon or some streamers, you can set up this easy game in just a few minutes. Create a “net” by stringing a long piece of ribbon or streamer across the room, then set your kids free to play balloon tennis.
How to Play: Blow up a balloon and give it to your toddlers.
Let one toddler stand on one side of the ribbon and the other toddler stand on the other side of the ribbon.
Then, tell them to toss or hit the balloon to each other without letting it hit the floor.
Keep score to make the game a little more competitive or just let the little ones play without keeping track of points.
Duck, Duck, Goose
Do you need to keep a whole group of toddlers entertained inside? You’re going to love this easy toddler indoor game! You’ll need at least six kids to play, but no special equipment.
How to Play: Tell all the kids to sit in the floor in a circle.
Choose one child to be the goose, who will walk around the outside of the circle tapping each child on the head. Each time they tap, they’ll say “duck” until they decide who the next goose will be.
After the child has picked their goose, they’ll say “goose” as they tap that child on the head.
The old goose then has to run to the open seat while the new goose chases them.
If the old goose makes it to the empty seat before being caught, the new goose will go around the circle saying “duck, duck, goose.” But if the old goose is tagged before they can sit down, they have to be the goose again.
Simon Says
This is another fun game for a group of kids who need to entertain themselves. All you need is a group of attentive kids to play Simon Says.
How to Play: Choose one child to play Simon.
Simon will stand in front of the group of children facing them.
The child playing Simon will give all the other kids commands starting with the words “Simon says.” For example – Simon says touch your nose or Simon says stand on one foot.
If one of the kids playing doesn’t do the command before Simon says another command, they’re out of the game.
Children can also be eliminated if they do a command that doesn’t begin with Simon says. The last person standing at the end of the round becomes the new Simon.
Red Light, Green Light
Toddlers love playing red light, green light. You can have any number of toddlers with you to play it.
How to Play: Choose one person to be the traffic light.
The traffic light will stand on one end of the room with the kids all on the other end of the room facing them.
The person playing the traffic light can give the following commands:
- red light (means stop)
- yellow light (means slow)
- green light (normal speed)
The rest of the children walk toward the traffic light according to the command given. Whoever gets to the traffic light first gets to be the next traffic light for another round!
Toddler Board Games
Some of my favorite toddler indoor games are board games! These games are great for teaching your toddler how to get along with others, in addition to providing some family fun. But not all board games are good for toddlers. These simple board games are the best for little ones:
- Elefun: With little butterflies that blow out of an elephant’s trunk, this fun game will get your toddler moving as they play.
- My First Animal Upon Animal – There are three versions of this game so as your toddler gains skill stacking the animals, they can move onto a little bit harder gameplay.
- Pop the Pirate – Lots of suspense as each player take turns adding their sword to the barrel. Choose the wrong spot and the pirate flies out!
- Uno Moo – Match animals by their color or type to bring them back to the barn.
- Hoot Owl Hoot– Your toddler will learn how to take turns, while working together to get the owls back to their nests before daytime.
- Pop the Pig – Your toddler will love this game of feeding the pig. Plus, they will learn numbers, colors, and counting.
- Go Away Monster! – Have your toddler take control over monsters in the bedroom. As they work to furnish their bedroom, if they find a monster then they throw it in the pit.
- Roll & Play
- Mr. Bucket: Let your little one practice their fine motor skills by scooping up balls and placing them in a bucket. Mr. Bucket is another fun indoor game that will get your little one moving as they play.
- Seek-a-Boo: Whether you play this as a matching or memory game, Seek-a-Boo is a great indoor toddler game. The large cards are easy for little hands to manipulate and the memorable pictures make game play super simple.
- Matching Games: Matching card games are another great board game option for toddlers. These simple games can be played with the cards facing up, allowing your toddler to easily find matches. Or place the cards face down to let your little one practice their memory skills.
What are your favorite activities to do with toddlers inside? Let me know in the comments below.
More Fun for Toddlers You Might Want to Read:
Entertaining Puzzles for Toddlers
Fun Toddler Indoor Slides to Help Get Toddler Energy Out
Toddler Sand & Water Play Tables for Hours of Fun
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