9 year old boy activities: Fun learning activities for 9-10 year-olds

20 Indoor and Outdoor 9 Year Old Birthday Party Ideas

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I cannot believe that my little boy is growing up as fast as he is. Just yesterday we were bringing him home from the hospital, brand new parents, hoping we could figure it out. Now, he’s a curious and creative boy that is continually surprising us. With the knowledge that birthdays are coming, I want to have the best 9-year-old boy birthday party ideas ready for planning. 

9-Year-Old Boy Birthday Party Indoor Ideas

Since birthdays happen year-round, its best to have activities that you enjoy despite what mother nature throws our way. My son and I are both winter babies, so I have been coming up with indoor activities since before he was even a twinkle in my eye. Plan a great party at one of these locations or pick a few events and make it a progressive 9-year-old boy birthday party. 

Laser Tag

Running around an obstacle course blasting each other with lasers, this is the quintessential activity for a 9-year-old boy birthday party. If you are planning on playing laser tag, add in some extras like glow-stick necklaces and bracelets. You could even do some fun “war paint” before the party to enhance the theme. 

Movie Theatre

Create a fun cinematic experience for your special boy with a movie theatre birthday party. With great movies coming out all the time, there is never a shortage of films. When you throw a movie theatre party, you book the theatre itself as a “private event.” Most of the newer theatres offer packages that will include everything. From popcorn to a full menu service, these theatres will customize to give you a unique 9-year-old boy birthday party place.

Arcade Party

Kids love video games; this is no surprise. An arcade party can be more than just running around throwing quarters into machines and little hands open begging for more tokens. Create an arcade party with a few other ideas. Have an on-going leader board that shows specific games and what your group did. Have a decided air hockey tournament or fire-round of basketball free-throwing. 

Mobile Video Game Trailer

New on the scene, mobile video game trailers bring the party to you. These long haulers have huge TV screens and plenty of age-appropriate options. The kiddos hang out (Bonus: not IN your house, lol) in the trailer and binge several different gaming systems. These trailers are outfitted with significant lounging areas that make it comfortable for everyone to play and watch.

Black Light Bowling

Bowling alleys make it super easy to throw a birthday party. Adding in the fun of a black light makes the event cooler. Make sure you let all the attendees know that it will be blacklight. Encourage day-glow clothing and accessories to make it a WOW factor. Make this 9-year-old boy birthday party idea a bright and fun event with neon straws and birthday accessories that create a show-stopping experience. What are the coolest bowling alley’s in America? See if one is near you!

Science Center

We always show our son that learning can be fun. Putting this into practice isn’t hard at science centers. Unlike museums that may be a little lack-luster for him at this age, science centers pride themselves on excitement and exploration. They will provide fantastic interactive experiences that kids will love while also learning. See what exhibits your local science center has available. Call and see how they can help increase the birthday fun. 

IMAX

An IMAX movie experience is fantastic at any age, but it can seem monumental at nine. These enormous screens that are two or more stories tall can seem infinite to a kid. The sound systems are more intense to give you the experience of not just hearing, but feeling the sounds. If you are lucky enough to have an Omni-MAX screen near you, I highly recommend that experience as well.  

Indoor Rock Climbing

Getting kids active is always important to me. We want our kids to try every style of sport there is until they discover their passion. Rock climbing, in my opinion, is a near-perfect solo-sport. It is self-affirming and provides new challenges and great opportunities. It is terrific at developing hand-eye coordination and muscle groups, which is why it is always in my “favorites.”

Indoor Trampoline Center

My son loves a trampoline park. His grandparents and I have taken him plenty of times, and it never gets old. There are so many activities to engage in at these locations that you will continuously find entertainment. I love obstacle courses and foam pits. The centers provide challenges for all ages and abilities, making a tremendous 9-year-old boy birthday party idea!

9-Year-Old Boy Birthday Party Outdoor Ideas

If you know that you will have weather on your side, then throwing a great party is easy; narrowing down the fun will be the hard part with so much to choose from. You may have a facility near you that offers several of these activities in a party bundle. Pick your favorite 9-year-old boy birthday party idea places from my list!

Putt-Putt Golf

Around the age of 9 is when putt-putt starts to become a great experience. Hand-eye coordination is much more tuned-in, and kids can begin to perfect their technique. I love the crazy themed courses with bright colors and fun characters. Some of the best putt-putt courses in the country could be right near you!

Go-Carts

Be advised; not all go-carting locations are for young kids. Make sure you do a little research to find out if the age, weight, and height minimums are available at the place you choose. Child go-carting minimum height is around 4ft. With smaller, petite kids, they could be saddened if they have to miss out on the fun due to this oversight. The excitement is solo driving is within their grasp now that they are nine!

Ropes Course

These tree-top obstacle courses are popping up all over, just waiting for you to come and experience them. I love the thrill of being up high and wandering around the flora with a harness and helmet. You feel like a regular Tarzan (in my case, Jane). Most of these tree-top experiences will have zip-lining and climbing walls too! With all that fun and exercise, you will have made a very memorable 9-year-old boy birthday party.

Batting Cages

Nine is a massive year in growth and development for kids. Their skills are improving rapidly, and now would be a great time to engage them in a batting cage. When my dad used to take me, it was exhilarating. I loved the challenge and adrenaline rush of a baseball being tossed to you every 30 seconds. Gripping the bat, I would dig in and SWIIIIIIING! CRACK! The best feeling in the world to successfully nail that ball back into the net. 

Camping

Tent camping is so much fun as a kid. Sitting around the fire with your friends making s’mores and talking under the stars is a great experience. I love this for a thrifty party option. You can camp in so many locations for very little money. There are plenty of National Forest camping areas to choose from that provide a safe environment to enjoy. You can also do this from a friend’s backyard. If the weather is good, you could incorporate a fun outdoor movie night into the mix as well!

Paint Ball

Every nine-year-old wants to play paintball. If they have played any first-person shooter game at this point, they will be stoked. Always look at the essential facts before going. Make sure everyone in the group has proper attire before arriving at the paintball course. Low-impact paintball is the recommended level for nine-year-olds, but since ten is when they switch to “regular impact,” you may choose to go that route. 

Pool Party 

As a winter baby, I was always very envious of those that could have a pool party. Don’t discount this a great 9-year-old boy birthday party idea. A pool party can be a memorable event with choosing fun pool party themes and ideas.  Get the kids even more exciting with new and classic pool party games. Enjoy the beautiful weather that pool parties are known for and throw one of the best birthdays yet!

Zoo or Animal Preserve 

I was always fascinated by animals as a kid. Anytime I was able to go to a petting zoo or the elaborate Asheboro Zoo here in North Carolina; I was on cloud nine. There are so many options when it comes to animal experiences. You can enjoy a camel ride, feeding a giraffe, or learn to milk a cow. 

Tour a Football Stadium

Of course, this doesn’t have to be a football stadium; it can be whichever sport is currently attractive to your child. You can contact the stadium, and they will have times available that you can experience the stadium without the madness of the crowds on game day. Imagine the look on your 9-year-old’s face when he steps onto a professional field. It will be an experience he will never forget. 

Car Drifting 

All little boys love fast cars. Find a car drifting or racing experience near you. This activity allows your child to ride with a professional driver that is trained to do all sorts of driving tricks. Kids will be blown away by the high-speed nature of this opportunity. Whirling and swerving through courses, burnouts, and all the horse-power will leave them speechless. 

I hope that these activities help you in your quest for 9-year-old boy birthday party ideas. Have fun making memories that will last a lifetime. 

Nerf Party

When it was all said and done we ended up going with a Nerf Party. In our case we had planned to have it outside but when the weather didn’t cooperate we had to move it inside.

Nerf 9-year-old-boy birthday parties can be held at parks, community centers, or in a backyard. Everyone brings their guns, you order a little ammo and you have a blast (pun intended – Boom).

I hope you got some good ideas from this post!

Before you go, check out my thrifty little Stress-Free Kid’s Birthday Bash Printable Planner!

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Kim Anderson

Kim Anderson is the organized chaos loving author behind the Thrifty Little Mom Blog.   She helps other people who thrive in organized chaos to stress less, remember more and feel in control of their time, money, and home. Kim is the author of: Live, Save, Spend, Repeat: The Life You Want with the Money You Have. She’s been featured on Time.com, Money.com, Good Housekeeping, Women’s Day, and more!

Summary

25 Best Toys & Gift Ideas for 9-Year-Old Boys (2022 Picks)

Are you looking for inspiration trying to find the best gifts for 9-year-old boys? It can be a tough one. They’re no longer little kids but neither are they in their teens.

They’re at that tween age when they want grown-up gifts but still want to have fun. At 9 years old, they’re starting to dip their toes into the adult world but aren’t quite ready yet. It’s possible they’re starting to backchat and test the limits but still recognize discipline.

Finding an appropriate gift that will challenge, stimulate, and still be fun is no mean task. Let’s have a look at what sort of presents you could choose, and our top 25 picks of the best toys and gift ideas for 9-year-old boys.

Our Top Picks

We love honesty! Mom Loves Best earns a commission through the following hand-picked links at no extra cost to you.

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Model

Product Comparison Table

Features

Motoring Magic

Tinkering Labs STEM Kit

• Endless robotic creations
• Kid-tested, parent-approved
• Intro to engineering kit

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A Place of Fun

Skillmatics Card Game

• 50 cards
• Great for learning and bonding
• Screen-free play

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Skate Up a Storm

RipStik Ripster Board

• Slip-resistant concave deck platforms
• Rubber padded steel torsion bar
• High-grade urethane wheels

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Cute and Creative

Cozmo

• Real-life robot
• Perfect educational robot
• Tested for durability and security

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Best Books

Diary of a Wimpy Kid

• Books 1-10
• Lighthearted and fun
• Award-winning author

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Build-a-Robot

LEGO Boost Robot

• 840 Lego pieces
• 5 multifunctional models
• Over 60 exciting activities included

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Minecraft Favorite

LEGO Minecraft – The Farm

• Includes a Steve minifigure
• 262 assorted Lego pieces
• For LEGO and Minecraft fans

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Take Cover

Nerf N-Strike Blaster

• Includes 6 official Nerf Elite darts
• Easy dart loading
• No batteries required

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Marble Maze

Gravity Maze Logic Game

• 60 beginner to expert challenges
• Easy to learn
• High quality components

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Best for Young Scientists

JuniorScope Microscope

• Premium-grade glass objective
• Gives crystal clear images
• Solid and well-built

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Table of Contents

• Our Top Picks
• How to Choose Gifts for 9-Year-Old Boys
• Best Toys and Gifts for 9-Year-Old Boys of 2022

How to Choose Gifts for 9-Year-Old Boys

Nine-year-old boys are starting out on the stage of adolescence. Some will develop earlier than others and, as we all know, no two kids are the same.

In general, your boys at this age will start to become aware of their relationships with others outside the family. You might have to let them go for their first sleepover with friends, which is never easy for a mom. It’s a sign that your baby is growing up.

Their attention span will be improving and they’re more likely to want to see something through to a conclusion. On the other hand, their interests can change quite rapidly. They’ll also be more adept at sports and outdoor activities ⁽¹⁾.

Good toys for boys at this age will test their brains and physical capabilities. It could be anything from reading a book that interests them, exploring the world of science and technology, or simply shooting some hoops. They’ll also enjoy age-appropriate board games and toys.

Best Toys and Gifts for 9-Year-Old Boys of 2022

To make your choices easier, we’ve categorized the products we think are the best gifts for 9-year-old boys. Let’s take a look at our top 25 picks.

Technical and Electronic Gifts

Boys love to explore technology and electronics. At this age, they’re starting to discover and master new things all the time. Learning about robots, engineering, and electronics will be exciting and interesting.

Exploring these experiences in a fun way will hold their attention and give them hours of enjoyment.

1. Tinkering Labs Electric Motors Catalyst STEM Kit

Motoring Magic

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Let your child’s imagination run riot with this kit, which lets them power electric model cars, build doodling robots, add motors to Legos, and more.

This introduction to electronics comes with challenge cards to give your tweenager ideas of what to build.

2. LEGO Boost Creative Fun Robot Building Set

Build-a-Robot

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Boys of all ages enjoy creating with Lego. This kit lets them use it to enter the world of coding by creating fun robots.

Instructions for five different robots are included in the free app, suitable for iOS or Android. Because of this, the set does need access to a tablet or smartphone.

3. K’NEX Swing Ride Building Set

Fairground Fun

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This educational set from the world of K’NEX introduces kids to basic engineering and technology skills by creating a fully functioning fairground ride. There are three amusement park ride models to choose from and build.

It comes complete with all the pieces you need, plus a battery-operated motor.

4. Wonder Workshop Coding Robot

Clever Coding

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Wonder Workshop brings us this robot, which can be coded to follow mazes or race around a track. Once basic coding on paper or a tablet has been mastered, then block-based coding can be done with the free Blockly app.

The great thing about this toy is that it has been recognized by several institutions for its award-winning specifications.

5. Engino Levers, Linkages & Structures Building Kit

Building Mechanics

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This is one of many kits from Engino, which helps your child discover the world of technology and mechanics. Using it, you can create 16 different working models while learning how levers and linkages work.

As well as a full instruction booklet, there’s also online support via the company website or a free app.

Games and Toys

Just because your little boy is growing up doesn’t mean he won’t still enjoy games and toys. All boys, even grown-up ones, love cars and similar toys, and who doesn’t like the challenge of a good board game?

Some of the games and puzzles might be more advanced, but are still suitable for this age group and will provide lots of fun.

6. Skillmatics Guess in 10 States of America Card Game

A Place of Fun

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This guessing card game lets you and your kids enter the exciting world of city exploration within the United States. It’s suitable for two to six players, aged 8 years old and over.

I particularly like that this game gives parents a chance to interact with kids, away from today’s technology. It’s getting back to basics. Plus, you get to teach your child about geography in a subtle and fun way without them noticing it!

7. LEGO Minecraft – The Farm

Minecraft Favorite

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Is your 9-year-old son a fan of the latest video game phenomenon, Minecraft? Are they also still into their Lego kits? If so, this is the ideal gift.

They can build a Minecraft-based farm and use their imagination to help Steve maintain it, and fight off the skeleton and his bow.

8. Perplexus Epic Interactive Maze Game

Amazing Puzzle

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Hone your skills by navigating a ball around this 3D maze enclosed in a clear plastic sphere. There are 22 feet of track and 125 obstacles to keep your child focused for hours.

This puzzle game will develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills, while enhancing hand-eye coordination.

9. Ideal Magic Spectacular Magic Suitcase

Showstopper

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Release your boy’s inner Criss Angel with this 56-piece magic kit. There are instructions for 100 easy to learn tricks that they can use to wow family and friends.

There’s even their own top hat and wand included, to add to the theatrics of their own magic show.

10. Maisto Rock Crawler Radio Control Vehicle

Cars Are Fun

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It’s time to leave the kiddie cars behind and enter the world of battery operated, radio controlled action. This car has three motors (1 steering, 2 driving), front and rear suspension, and a 3-channel transmitter.

It can be used indoors or outdoors and is rugged and tough enough for all terrains.

Sports and Outdoors

Outdoor activities are a must for a 9-year-old boy, to burn off some of that excess energy. This could be playing ball games, chasing friends around with Nerf guns, or riding a bike or scooter.

Any toys that enhance an outdoor experience for your kids will be a bonus.

11. Razor RipStik Ripster Caster Board

Skate Up a Storm

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This lightweight skateboard has been crafted with kids in mind. The shorter wheelbase is good for their smaller size, but it still performs at the skatepark.

It has 360-degree inclined casters, with high-grade urethane wheels. The board has a concave deck for increased control when carving turns.

12. Nerf N-Strike Elite Strongarm Blaster

Take Cover

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Cowboys and Indians have morphed into the world of Nerf guns. With six darts that can be fired in quick action, this gun will satisfy any Nerf war addict. It’s quick and easy to load.

If six darts aren’t enough, then extras can be purchased separately.

13. Marky Sparky Blast Pad Rocket Launcher

Reach for the Stars

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Keep active, jumping on this blast pad to send the rocket flying into the air. Your boy can play with friends to see who can launch a rocket the highest.

Once the kids have finished having fun with this outdoor toy, everything packs neatly into the base. Good for storage and keeping everything together for the next playtime.

14. Franklin Sports Electronic Baseball Pitching Machine

Pitch Perfect

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If you have a boy who likes baseball but you aren’t always around to pitch for him to practice, go electronic. This battery-operated pitching machine will launch one of the six plastic balls every 20 seconds.

I like that this is height adjustable, so you can set it just right for your kid’s swing.

15. Razor Electric Scooter

Scooting Around

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Your 9-year-old will be whizzing off to the store for you on this battery-powered scooter. It’s one way to get them to volunteer to run an errand.

This best electric scooter for kids has a throttle in the handle and a hand-operated front brake. Just push off to kick start it and get to a thrilling speed of up to 10 miles per hour.

Educational and STEM Gifts

There are so many good toys now on the market that teach our kids at the same time. They don’t even realize they’re learning as they play. STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) toys are designed to fit in with a child’s curriculum.

These types of toys are great for developing a child’s interest and enthusiasm for the world around them.

16. Anki Cozmo

Cute and Creative

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Cozmo is the ideal robot buddy for a 9-year-old boy. Apart from all the games he can play straight out of the box, some simple programming with a free app lets him control Cozmo to do his bidding.

I like that the simple drag and drop method of coding is quick for new users of code to use and see results.

17. Think Fun Gravity Maze Marble Run Logic Game

Marble Maze

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Enjoy 60 different challenges that get progressively harder to create a maze that carries a marble from the starting point to a target tower.

This game combines building and engineering and comes with clear and easy to follow instructions.

18. University Games The Game of Science

Slimy Games

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This game for two to four players over the age of 8 covers all sorts of science subjects. Kids can learn about chemistry, biology, astronomy, anatomy, biology, zoology, and physics.

It’s learning made fun and is family-friendly. Just stretch your line of gross slime to the end of the board to win.

19. Mattel Build Your Own Video Game

Gaming for Beginners

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Kids love video games. This gift lets them create their own game, test it, and then play it. They can even share it with friends, which is really cool.

The free app that enables this game can be downloaded to a compatible device, which will have to be available for use.

20. Playz Edible Candy! Food Science Chemistry Kit

Succulent Science

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Anyone for candy? This kit has a complete instruction book for 40 different experiments your kids can follow to make different types of candy. They can learn about food science and then eat the end results.

While the kit includes 27 tools and ingredients, you’ll need to add some pantry staples for some experiments.

The Best of the Rest

There are gifts which either don’t fall into the categories we’ve covered or which we feel are worth a mention. After all, arts and crafts, books, and exploration of the world are still of interest to many 9-year-old boys.

21. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box Set

Best Books

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Lighthearted and fun, this box set of books, from award-winning author Jeff Kinney, are favorites with kids worldwide. Easy to pick up and put down, they’ll provide lots of laughs and encourage your 9-year-old to read.

You might even find yourself sneaking one out of the box to read yourself.

22. Omano JuniorScope Microscope for Kids

Best for Young Scientists

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This microscope is ready to be used out of the box and will enchant boys who love looking into what things are made up of. There are three different magnification levels and easy-to-use focus knobs.

They can examine the wings of a fly, see its eye in close up, or grow bacteria and examine it. A book explaining how to use the microscope is included.

23. Crayola Light Up Tracing Pad

For the Young Artist

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This lightweight tracing pad has LED lights, making it easy to trace through. It’s really thin and portable. A graphite pencil and 12 colored pencils are included, along with 10 tracing sheets.

24. Fun Creative DIY Arts and Crafts Kit

Arts and Crafts

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Arts and crafts are a great way for a tweenager to unwind and relax. This kit comes with four designs and 20 coloring markers. Your child can assemble a train, helicopter, and airplane, as well as a house, and then get creative coloring them in.

You’ll probably be asking them to share with you; these look like a good stress reliever.

25. SKLZ Mini Basketball Hoop

Shoot for the Hoop

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No review of boys’ toys would be complete without a basketball hoop. This mini version fits over a door and comes complete with a mini-basketball. The shatter-resistant backboard has foam backing to prevent damage.

This is great for kids to let off steam on rainy days indoors, or just for practicing their skills whenever they want.

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Activities for When Kids Say They’re Bored

No time for TV!

Nasty weather can sometimes keep kids stuck inside. Being cooped up inside can be frustrating for kids and parents. Often children spend more time using screens like TV and tablets than they normally would because of their limited play options.

But rainy day activities don’t need to be a bummer! When kids say they are bored, there are many different rainy day activities and games children can try instead of using screens. From easy crafting to fun learning activities, there are so many rainy day games that can keep kids on the move and entertained. Next time your child is stuck inside on a rainy day, offer some of these fun activities when they tell you they’re bored. These also make for great indoor winter activities, when it’s more challenging to get and stay outside!

Boredom Jar

One creative parent told us she made a “boredom” jar for her house. She cuts scraps of paper and writes a different activity for kids on each one. Each scrap contains suggestions like: “make paper boats”; “make friendship bracelets”, “play a ball toss game”, and other crafts and activities. Whenever her kids say they’re bored, instead of watching TV, she lets them choose three papers from the boredom jar and they can choose an activity to complete. It’s a great way to collect and store rainy day activities!

So which fun indoor activities are best to add for a day when you’re stuck at home? Anything fun and easy, such as crafts and activities that use household items, are best for rainy days and kids of all age. Any of the activities for kids below would be a great to add to your jar.

Build a Fort

Who doesn’t love a fort on a stormy day? It’s a great indoor activity for kids that can also exercise their motor skills. Let your child gather blankets, pillows, cardboard boxes, and chairs. Use them to make a pillow fort they can climb inside. Bring a flashlight and some stuffed animals and make it a party!

Indoor Obstacle Course

Obstacle courses can be a fun activity both outdoors and indoors! They also get kids moving, which works their gross motor skills, and help them to burn energy.

Kids might need help setting them up depending on their age. Try moving over and under things, rolling around, hopping on one foot or both. These moves help your child practice essential motor milestones. Be sure to let your child think of changes to make to the course as well to get their imagination going. Have a race and get involved. Remember to be safe and make sure sharp corners and breakable objects are put away or kept in a safe place.

Write a Letter

Did you know that handwriting, coloring, and cutting are a great way for children to practice fine motor skills? Get out fun stationary or plain paper and envelopes and let your children decorate the paper. Help them write a letter to a distant relative or old friend. Writing a letter can also help with their communication skills. If they’re too young to write, have them make a card with illustrations. Teach them how to address the letter and explain the how postage and stamps work.

Sock Puppets

Here’s an easy crafting activity that will last a while. Do you have any lonely, single socks lying around that just can’t seem to find a partner? Have some fun making them into sock puppets with your child. Use markers to draw faces and scissor to cut a mouth. You can then put on a puppet show with your sock puppets!

Dress Up

Start a costume bin in your house. Fill it with your clothes from past decades, old Halloween costumes, and goofy finds from thrift stores. Whenever your little one is looking for something fun to do, pull out the costume bin and let them step into character!

Imaginary Creatures

Let your child invent an imaginary pet. It can be a pet they wish they had or it doesn’t even have to be a real animal. Sometimes the mythical, made-up animals are more fun. Does it have the body of an eagle and the tusks of an elephant? Can it fly? Can it swim, but only in pools? Have your child come up with a name and story for their creature. Your child can draw pictures to tell the story of how their creature came to be.

Tea Party

Let your child don their fancy clothes and gather all their stuffed animal buddies. Perhaps you can play the butler and serve “tea” as your child leads conversations with his/her friends. We tend to think of communication milestones and language development when our children are learning their first words, but language development doesn’t end there. Did you know your child is learning to hold conversations and communicate socially when they play?

Have a Family Game Night

Looking for family activities kids of all ages can take part in? Then look no further than a family game night! Can’t find the right game to play? Check out this list of family-approved games, including everything from card games to games that will get everyone moving and working their motor skills.

Close your Eyes and Guess Game

This is a fun game to play to help with your child’s sensory development. Just like the name suggests, you take turns closing your eyes for this game. Brush a mystery object on your child’s hand and let them describe how the object feels and then guess what it might be. Try a feather, piece of fruit, or book. This game makes children use their sense of touch in place of vision relying on sensory integration skills to do so.

Scavenger Hunt for Kids

Who says scavenger hunts are just an outdoor activity? You can set up a scavenger hunt indoors by placing clues around the house and having your little one look for household products for the next clue (they can be simple objects, such as a toilet paper roll, a paper plate, a blue sock, etc.). Once they have found everything on the hunt, there can be a fun game or prize at the end; possibly some ice cream, or a fun craft to make. And hey, if the clouds part, then turn it into a nature scavenger hunt! There are many developmental benefits of outdoor activities for kids and playing in nature.

There are countless other fun activities you can add to your family’s boredom jar! Check out this kids activities blog where we have endless suggestions of indoor and outdoor activities that can be done at home. These can be fun activities for the entire family or open-ended activities for your child to complete on his or her own.

87 Energy-Busting Indoor Games & Activities For Kids (Because Cabin Fever Is No Joke)

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Wondering what to do if you’re stuck inside with your kids all day? Our huge list of active indoor activities will keep your kids – from toddlers to teens – busy and burning energy!

It doesn’t matter where you’re located, or what the weather is like outside your window, there are always times when you have to be inside. And as Moms, I think we all understand that Kids + Energy + Inside is an equation that can equal chaos and inevitable disaster.

That’s why we teamed up with one of our favorite brands of all time, Tea Collection, to test out their all-new active wear line, and bring you an epic list of active indoor games and activities that will get your kids up and moving, even on the gloomiest of days. 

These activities will not only fight boredom (which equals less whining, woohoo!) but will also challenge their minds and muscles – strengthening their bodies and releasing all that pent-up energy – ultimately leaving you with stronger kids (albeit a little sweaty), that won’t fight you when it comes to hitting the hay. A worthy outcome indeed.

Please note: this post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see our disclosure policy.

Pin so you have this life-saving list at hand when snow or rain strikes:

TAPE GAMES

A simple roll of low-tack Painter’s tape (like this one for delicate surfaces) will be your new best friend once you try these genius ideas that get kids exerting their energy in all sorts of creative ways.

(editor’s note: just bringing out the roll of tape got Ooos and Ahhs from my kids – these activities were extremely well received and have now been added to my Boredom Buster bag of tricks!)

Tape Shape Game: Use this tape to put a variety of shapes, letters and/or numbers on your floor. Have your child stand on their favorite one then give them instructions to follow that will lead them to their next destination (for example: “bear crawl to the square”, “hop like a Frog to the T”, “Run to the rectangle”). We love that this game from Toddler Approved keeps your child moving, but also helps them learn their shapes, letters and numbers!

Tape Lines: Make 5-10 separate lines of tape, each about a foot apart, on your floor or carpet. Label the first one the “start” line and then give your kids simple instructions:

• Long Jump: See how many lines they can jump over. Have them try and beat their best score each time. Experiment with arm swinging vs. arms behind their backs.
• Run ‘n’ Jump: Now let them take a running start and see if they can jump even further!
• Long Jump Backwards: Increase the difficulty by performing the tasks jumping backwards.
• Hop: How far can they jump on one leg?
• Reach ‘n’ Stretch: How far can their leg reach with one foot on the “start” line?

Create a Race-Car Track: Use your painter’s tape (or opt for this super cool race-track tape) to make a huge road system for your kids’ matchbox cars. Think outside the box and have the track scale furniture and other obstacles (just make sure it’s something you don’t mind toy vehicles being “driven” over). The key to making it active is to make it large-scale, so they are engaging their core muscles while crawling all over. (Pic via PopSugar and Pinterest – source unknown)

You can even make it super-sized for ride-on vehicles like the pics here from Hands On As We Grow.  

RELATED: For our top tested picks for indoor ride-on toys see The Best Indoor Gross Motor Toys For Active Kids (To Get That Energy Out!)

Hopscotch: Make a simple hopscotch “board” and your kids will think it’s just the coolest thing that it’s inside! (pic via Brit+co) Number Squares: Make a large square with your tape and then divide it into 9 or more small squares, marking random numbers in each one. Now ask your child to perform a specific movement to get to the next number like “jump to 10”, “zoom to 3”, “slither to 67”. (via DreamGYM)

BALLOON GAMES

Has your child ever received a balloon at a birthday party and been totally enamored by it? Take that fascination to the next level by adding in a few “rules” and they’ll be happily moving around developing their gross motor skills while burning off some of that rambunctious energy.

Try some of our favorite balloon games and always keep a few handy to pull out when the going gets tough.

**Just a reminder that pieces of burst balloons can be a serious choking hazard, so if you have younger kids, make sure they are supervised during these activities at all times**Don’t Let The Balloon Touch The Ground: This is the classic game that kids fall for every time. The rules are simple – hit the balloon up in the air but don’t let it touch the ground. To make it more challenging for older kids, have them juggle more than 1 balloon, or tie one hand behind their back. Time them to see how long they can do it for, or if you have multiple kids, have them count how many times they can hit it back and forth…then see if they can beat their time or score! This game is great for improving arm strength and hand-eye coordination.

Try adding stuffed animals to the mix for extra fun. Have your child pick their favorite stuffy and hold it in their hand so it is essentially the one hitting the balloon. You’d be surprised how this one simple variation can boost their engagement even further!

Penguin Waddle: Place a balloon between your child’s knees and have them waddle across the room without dropping it. Make it more challenging for older kids by having them go around a few obstacles. If they drop it, they have to go back to the start.

For multiple kids, have them play as a team with the balloon placed between their hips. Once they get the hang of it, get out your timer to see how fast they can do it.

Balloon Taps: Hang a balloon by a string from your doorway so it is a few inches higher than your child’s arm reach. Then challenge them to try and tap it with their hand. Count how many they can do in a row without missing (this gets tiring very quickly!). Up the ante by seeing if they can jump and touch the balloon with the top of their head!

Balloon Blow: Set up a “course” and see if your child can blow a balloon all the way to the finish line. They’ll have to do lots of army crawls working their upper body and core strength along the way.

Backhand Balloon Balance: Challenge your kids to balance a balloon on the back of their hand, and see how long they can do it before it falls to the ground. You’d be surprised how much they will move around with this one!Balloon Paddle Ball: Use a fly swatter, tennis/badminton racket or make your own paddle using a paper plate and over-sized popsicle stick (or use a paint stir stick or plastic spoon), then use it to play the games above.

These paddles are also fun for balancing your balloon. Have your kids try to keep their balloon on the paddle as they navigate through obstacles or run around the house. Not as easy as it sounds!Balloon Foot Balance: For a real challenge, have your kids lie on the ground with their legs up in the air and try and balance the balloon on their feet. It’s not an easy task and requires a lot of concentration. It’s also a great core workout!

Balloon Volleyball: Make a “net” by tying a piece of string between 2 chairs and then have your child hit the balloon back and forth by running from one side to the other, trying to keep it off the floor. If you have 2 or more kids, have them hit it over the net as many times as they can without it falling.Balloon Hockey: Use a small kiddy hockey stick or make your own out of cardboard (see full tutorial on Creative Connections For Kids) to navigate a balloon into a net (use a laundry basket or box on its side if you don’t have any smaller ones to bring indoors).

FUN/SILLY MOVING GAMES

Just a warning – you’re going to have a hard time deciding which of these fun (and often giggle-fit-inducing) games to play first. They’re so entertaining that you’ll be wanting to join in too!

Sticky Spider Web: Use painter’s tape to make a web-like design on a doorway opening (idea via Hands On As We Grow). Give your kids some newspaper to scrunch up and throw up at the web. Or get creative and use other light-weight objects like balloons. Have them count how many objects stick versus how many don’t for extra learning points.

Sticky Note Wall Bop: Attach 26 sticky notes to the back of a door and write a different letter on each one (in random order). Make a “start” line a few feet away from the door (more if you have older kids), and have your child stand behind it with a soft ball, bean bag, stuffed animal or pair of rolled up socks. Now instruct them to throw their object to try and hit the “A” or the “T”. Players with more advanced aim and spelling skills can try and hit all the letters in specific words (to make it even tougher, if they miss one of the letters, have them start all over again!).

Alternatively, write different point values on each sticky and give your child 10 throws. For each target they hit, mark down the number of points. At the end of the round, tally up to crown a winner (or if playing solo, have them try and beat their previous score). (editor’s note: make sure your kids are retrieving their throwing object themselves…running and bending down to pick it up over and over again is all part of the exercise!)

Floor Bop: Take Wall Bop to the floor. Instead of aiming up high, your kids will now have to toss an object to land on pieces of paper on the floor. The same rules as above can apply.

Color Toss: Similar to Floor Bop, but with this game you’ll tape colored pieces of construction paper to the floor. Create your own point system where you get 1 point if you land a bean bag on any paper, but 5 points if you land on a paper that matches the bean bag color.

You can also use these colored “mats” to instruct your child to do fun tasks such as “bounce like a bunny to green”, “tiptoe to yellow” and “high knees to red”.

Ping Pong Ball Catch: Get out those plastic red Solo cups and a few ping pong balls (or any small object that will fit in the cup) and have your kids toss the ball to a partner and try and catch it in the cup. Start out close together and then keep taking a step backwards to increase the challenge. For a single-player, they can simply throw the ball in the air and try and catch it.Alligator Alley: One of our favorite go-to inside games of all time. Simply scatter some “islands” or “boats” across the floor (use pillows, stuffed animals, books, etc) and then have your kids jump from one to the next without falling into the “water” and risk being eaten by a hungry alligator. Bonus points if Mom plays said hungry alligator and chomps after them when they stumble!

Crab Walk: Teach your child how to do the crab walk, then see how fast they can scurry across the room. Have races with siblings (or yourself!) and then increase the level of difficulty by having them balance a stuffed animal on their stomach. If it falls, they have to scramble back to the beginning and start again!

Cotton-Ball Crawl: This Cotton-Ball Crawl game (via Parenting) is tons of fun and involves moving a pile of cotton balls from one room to another using a spoon. The feather-weight cotton balls make it easy to fly off if they don’t balance it just right!

ABC Exercise Cards: Download these fun printable cards from Home School Share which outline an active task for each letter of the alphabet. Have your child do all the ones that make up their name, or simply pick at random. In addition to getting in some healthy physical movement, they’ll also be learning their letters!

Indoor Croquet: Make your own indoor croquet course using toilet paper rolls or pieces of construction paper (via Toddler Approved). Amp up the activity by writing active tasks on each “tunnel” that need to be completed once your ball makes it through like “do 15 jumping jacks as fast as you can” or “go run up and down the stairs 2 times”. 

Movement Chain: You need at least 2 players for this interactive game where the first person starts by performing a certain movement – this could be something simple like jumping 2 times, or more complex like holding a plank for 30 seconds. The next person has to perform the first movement, and then add on another, forming a chain. The following person does the previous 2 movements, plus adds their own. You continue in this fashion until the chain sequence is broken (usually forgotten!) and then that person is out. The last one standing is the winner.

Potato Drop: The Potato Drop (via Parenting) is another one of our favorites because kids think it is good ol’ silly fun (we do too). Have all participants place a potato between their knees and race to a finish line where they have to drop it into a designated bowl or bucket. If the potato is dropped, or if hands touch it, they have to go back to the start and try again. (editor’s note: this is actually a great party game for big groups of kids – split them up into 2 teams and relay race to see which one can get all their potatoes into the bucket first!)

Mirror, Mirror: Stand face to face with your child, about a foot apart, and have them attempt to copy all your movements. Reach up and stretch to the sky. Do 10 jumping jacks. Run in place. Act like a monkey. Make it fun and you’ll both be working up a sweat in no time. Then switch roles and copy your child – they won’t be able to hold back the laughter (and neither will you!).

Airplane Landing: Make paper airplanes and throw them. The catch? You have to collect it and bring it back to the start line without walking – this could be running, hopping, skipping, twirling, crawling…let them get creative!

Crib Mattress Slide: This is another one of our go-to activities when we’re stuck inside – it’s super simple but kids think it is a riot! Take a crib mattress and prop it up on a bed or soft chair so it creates a slide to the ground. Now your kids can climb on up and slide down over and over again (just make sure you keep a hand on it at the top so it doesn’t slip down).

Pillow Case Race: On hardwood or tile floors, sit on a pillow case (or a t-shirt) and use your arms and legs to scoot around a “race” course.

Target Practice: Set up some targets (empty water bottles or paper towel rolls work great) and have your kids try and knock them down with Nerf guns or throwing soft objects. The exercise comes in when they have to keep going back and forth between retrieving their objects and the start line.

Wiggle Jar: Print out these inventive activity cards from Home School Share and place them in a jar for whenever your child needs to let the “wiggles” out. These cards are packed with great movements and silly actions like “pretend you’re in a band for 2 minutes: play the instrument of your choice” and “push the wall (hold it up) for 30 seconds”. Discard the few cards that have outdoor activities for when you’re truly stuck inside!

HUNTS

Although we may hunt for things all the time (hello keys, wallet, phone!), your kids don’t always get the same chance at discovery. So set them up with a hunt all their own with these incredibly creative ideas:

Lego Color Hunt: You have to try this one, it is a kid-favorite and super easy to execute. Select 4 pieces of colored construction paper and then collect 10 Lego pieces that match each one (ie. 10 yellow Lego pieces for a yellow piece of paper). Now hide all of the Lego pieces in one room/area of your house and lay out the colored paper on a table or the floor nearby. Start the clock and have your kid(s) start hunting.

Once they’ve found a Lego, they need to return it to the piece of paper that matches in color. See how long it takes them to find them all (tell them there’s 10 of each color so they can count to see if they’re missing any themselves), and then re-hide so they can try and get a lower time. (editor’s note: for my 2 older kids I hid 5 Duplo Legos and 5 regular Legos of each color and then assigned them a size – that way they each had the opportunity to find the same amount…and big brother couldn’t sweep them all up leaving little sis with nothing!)

Once they’ve had enough of the game, challenge them to have a little quiet time and make a cool rainbow structure out of the Legos (while Mom drinks a cup of coffee…score!)

Puzzle Piece Hunt: This is a genius idea courtesy of No Time For Flash Cards.  Hide all the pieces of a wooden board puzzle and have your child search for them – returning each piece to the board as they go. This game gets them moving, and their brain working at the same time, and kids love having a goal to complete. They’ll beg you to hide them again! 

Paint Chip Color Hunt: Pick up some brightly colored paint chips from your local hardware store and ask your kids to find items that match each color as closely as possible (again, keep a timer going so they quicken their pace). Don’t have Paint Chips? Use colored construction paper instead like Simple Play Ideas! ABC Hunt: Have your kids go around the house with a basket, collecting items that start with each letter of the alphabet (A for apple, B for Barbie, C for Crayola, etc) – give them a checklist to mark off each one as they go. Time them so they run!Scavenger Hunt: Use this Scavenger Hunt Printable from Living and Life Designed to send your kids on a fun hunt around the house collecting various items that you’ve listed. Make it fun by including specific things like “your favorite bath toy” or “a pink sock” to more general categories like “something that begins with the letter T”. And yes, set that timer!

Flash Light Scavenger Hunt: If you have a room that can get sufficiently dark by turning off the lights and closing the blinds, send your kids on a Flash Light Scavenger Hunt where they have to find certain hidden items in the dark using a flashlight. Kids go crazy for this one! (via Hands On As We Grow)

MAZE + OBSTACLE COURSE

These incredible ideas for making your own DIY maze or obstacle course will test your child’s strategic skills while getting their heart pumping.

Mission Impossible Obstacle Maze: Using either Crepe Paper  or Flag Tape (held in place with Painter’s Tape), create an intricate maze in a hallway for your kids to navigate their bodies through. Put the tape up high and down low, forcing them to step over and crawl under at various points. The only problem with this one is that once you make it, your kids will constantly be begging you to make another! (Idea via Brassy Apple)Life-size Book Maze: This creative idea from Preschool Powol Packets uses books (but other household items: clothing, brooms, and sports equipment like bats and sticks would all work well) to create a large scale maze that will challenge your kids to find their way out. Once they have the hang of it, have them crawl, hop, or walk backwards through it! This one is great for preschoolers to work on their spatial awareness and problem solving skills – in addition to getting them up and moving.

Obstacle Course: This tried-and-true idea is always a huge hit with kids, and can be made different every time so it never gets old. Make sure to create an engaging course that includes a variety of motions (jumping, crawling, balancing, etc.) and uses a large area. Have your kids help make the course (which is half the fun!) using some of these creative ideas:

• Hula hoops to jump through
• Line of tape to balance on
• Couch cushions to hop between
• Table to crawl under
• Blanket over 2 chairs to crab walk through
• Tupperware containers to hurdle over
• Stuffed animals to roll over
• Plastic cups to run around

We love that obstacle courses are great for kids of all ages to participate in – the younger tots enjoy just being able to complete all the obstacles, while older kids can race against each other or the clock. You could even have them attempt it balancing a bean bag or stuffed animal on their head, or with 1 hand behind their back.

Take 10 minutes to set-up a super engaging course, and you’ll benefit from happy, worn-out kids.

USE YOUR GARAGE

Sometimes the most obvious ideas don’t dawn on you until it’s too late. If you have a garage, why not move out your car and let your kids go wild in the open (but covered) space. Depending on its size, they could use their scooters, bikes and other outdoor ride-on toys, or play a game of tag, catch, soccer or street hockey. The best part about this is that your kids really feel like they’re getting outdoor play time, and are getting some fresh (well, fresh-er) air at the same time.

BRING OUTDOOR TOYS INSIDE

If using your garage isn’t a viable option (where are all the hoarders at?!), then consider bringing some of your child’s outdoor toys inside. These can be smaller items like jump ropes and soft balls, or larger items like scooters, ride-ons and our all-time favorite fold-up slide (editor’s note: this slide has been in and out of my house for years – it fits in our playroom in the winter and is used with a stuffed animal landing pit and in obstacle courses. It then goes outside in the summer as a fun slide into our blow-up pool!)

SPORTS GAMES

Another way to bring the outdoors in, is to adapt your child’s favorite outdoor sports games to be indoor friendly. Try out these variations for plenty of sweaty fun:

Basketball: If you have a Little Tikes basketball hoop or an over-the-door one, then you’re all set to play with a soft foam ball. But no worries if you don’t, just grab some laundry baskets or beach buckets and place them on the floor, stairs or hang from a door handle or hook. Make-shift your own balls with a wad of newspaper, bean bags, soft toys or rolled-up socks.

Play a game of HORSE or see who can make the farthest shot. Set-up lines of tape to see how many shots they can make from each one. Or set a timer for 1 minute and challenge them to make as many baskets as they can (running to retrieve the ball after each missed shot!).

Figure Skating: Clear an area on your floor (you can even “rope” off an actual “rink” if you’d like), grab you hat and mittens, and pretend you’re gliding across the ice. There’s several fun ways to make it feel as real as possible:

• Use dryer sheets – they provide just the right amount of slide and won’t scratch your floors!
• Paper Plate Skating from Hands On As We Grow: Simply grab 2 paper plates, step on them with bare feet (they’ll “stick” better) and then slide away. 
• Put a pair of wool-like mittens on your feet (kids think this is pretty silly which adds to the fun)
• Construct wax paper booties using string or tape
• Save old tissue boxes and kids can simply place their feet through the opening!

Lacrosse: Lacosse is a tough sport to safely practice inside, unless you have this genius training device. The CradleBaby is a regulation Lacrosse ball with a tether strap that attaches to the head of a Lacrosse stick. So your child can practice their stick skills all over the house without creating any damage!

Bowling: Set up your bowling “lane” with some painter’s tape and use plastic bottles or cups for pins. Use any type of ball to bowl, attempting to knock down as many pins as possible. Keep track of the score, or simply aim to knock them all down in one turn. Create a plastic cup pyramid to up the fun-factor even more.Soccer: Bring outdoor nets inside, or set up a goal using 2 cones (or plastic cups), a chair (score by getting it through the legs) or a simple piece of tape. Use any soft ball, or a super fun gliding ball like this one!

Mini Golf: If you already have mini-golf putters, all you’ll need are a few “holes” to start your round of golf. Tape some plastic cups lying on their side to the ground, or create tunnels with pieces of construction paper. If you don’t have putters, use long rolls of wrapping paper, hockey sticks, or pool noodles!   

Hockey: Create your own version of indoor hockey using balloons and pool noodles for young kids, or a knee hockey set like this one featured in our Gift Guide: The Best Indoor Gross Motor Toys For Active Kids

Dress the Part

If you’re stuck indoors for the long haul, pick several of the activities from our list and announce to your kids that you have some fun indoor activities planned. Instruct them to put on their favorite active wear and meet back at a designated spot in a few minutes. Just the act of getting into “special clothing” will snap them out of boredom and get them excited about what’s to come!

A big thank-you to our incredible partner, Tea Collection, for providing us with samples of their new Active collection to test. We’ve been avid fans of Tea’s globally inspired clothing for years, and their latest endeavor did not disappoint. Our kid-testers stayed cool in their colorful tanks, shorts and leggings thanks to the moisture wicking, made-to-move fabrics.

We love that you can mix and match pieces from Tea Active with their everyday collection, and bonus: they’re made with UPF 40 protection, so they’ll keep your kids comfy and protected both indoors and out.

Check out Tea Active and all their latest arrivals here.

CLASSIC GAMES + ACTIVITIES

Some games are classics for a reason: they’re just simple good ol’ fun. These ones are our favorites, updated for modern indoor play:

Egg ‘n’ Spoon Race: Grab a spoon and any small round object that will fit on top (or if you’re brave and have easy-to-clean floors, go ahead and use a real egg!). Create a course for your child to navigate through and see if they can do it without dropping it off the spoon. Once they’ve got the hang of it, go for speed!

“Potato Sack” Race: Update this classic by using pillow cases! Have your kids step in and hold it up around their waist, then hop to the finish. So simple, but they will be laughing like crazy and getting crazy tired all at once.

3-Legged Race: Tie your kids’ outside ankles together with something soft and stretchy like a long ski sock, PJ pants or bandage wrap. Now they’ll have to work as a team to coordinate their movements to get from point A to point B. This is one of our favorites because it not only builds gross motor coordination, but is great for sibling bonding too!

Wheelbarrow Puzzle Walk: Take your average Wheelbarrow race to the next level by having your child complete a puzzle in this brilliant idea from Stir The Wonder. Set-up a wooden puzzle board and scatter the pieces around a room. Grab your child’s ankles (or hips to make it a bit easier for little ones) and hold them up so they can walk on their hands to collect them. They have to bring each piece back 1-by-1 and fit it into the board until the puzzle is complete. (editor’s note: this is one of my kids’ favorites and is great for upper body strengthening!)Hula Hoop: If you have a Hula Hoop, now is the perfect time to dust it off and bring it back to life. Make it fresh by turning it into a game like who can do the most circles around their waist, arm or ankle. Try rolling it back and forth between 2 people, or see if your child can put some backspin on it and make it return to themselves. For little ones, put it on the floor and practice jumping in/out, side-to-side or have them pick it up and use it as a steering wheel to drive an imaginary car all around the house!

Jumping Limbo: Do the Limbo in reverse: instead of going under, have your kids jump over! Using something flexible like a stretchy exercise band, crepe paper or jump rope, have 2 people hold it (or attach it to something on one side) and start it on the ground. Have your kids run in a circle and then jump over it. After a few successful jumps, raise it an inch or two. Keep raising it until they can’t jump any higher!

Red-Light, Green-Light (Purple Light?!) Do your kids go nutty for this game every single time like ours? We like to add in a few different colored lights as the game goes on to keep it interesting:

• Yellow Light: Slow crawl on the ground
• Green Light: Jump like a frog
• Blue Light: Try and touch the sky
• Purple Light: Do a silly dance

Hide-and-Seek: Make it more active by having them hide on different levels of your house every time, that way they’re going up and down stairs every few minutes. Or, have the player that is found first perform a “penalty” that can include classic exercises like jumping jacks, burpees or sit-ups!

Simon Says: Get your child on board to play a game of Simon Says and they’ll do whatever active motions you dream up. But make sure you still make them a little silly – think animal movements, dramatic actions and anything on one foot.

Twister: Get in a good stretch by playing a game of twister. Don’t have the game? Make your own by taping construction paper circles on the floor. 

Bubbles! We’ve never met a child that doesn’t get excited about bubbles. Blow some with a wand and challenge your kids to pop them all before they touch the ground, prompting lots of jumping and diving. Better yet, create your own Bubble Machine with a fan! (via Kids Activities Blog)

Parachute: Grab a bed sheet and get your whole family involved – everyone taking a side and rapidly moving your arms up and down. Put some small balls or balloons on top and try and fling them off. Kids love this one!

ACTIVITY DICE

We love these fun, interactive games where your assign a get-up-and-move task to each side of a cube. Kids simply roll the cube to see what activity they need to perform, and for how long. You can create different themes like animal movements (think “run like a Cheetah”, or “Hop like a Frog”) or go for classic exercises (jumping jacks, sit-ups or planks anyone?) and scale them appropriately for your child’s age and ability.

Kids really love these simple yet silly games, and you can easily change them up with new tasks to keep it fresh. A few of our favorite variations include:

(1)  Lego Super Hero Action Dice: We love this free printable from Life Over C’s and so will any Super Hero loving kids. Simply print and roll and they’ll be soaring like superman, zooming like the Batmobile and Running like Flash!

(2)  Get the Kids Moving Game: Just print, cut and glue these colorful printable die (via Paperelli for iheartnaptime) and your kids will be performing silly (but strengthening) tasks like “Bunny Hops for 15 seconds” or “One-Leg Flamingo Balance for 45 seconds” in no time.

(3)  Animal Action Dice: This adorable printable dice from Playdoh to Plato features creative animal movements like “Wander like a moose” and “Scurry like a squirrel”.  

(4)  Movement Dice: Alternatively, use these printable movement dice from Pink Oatmeal which include classic movements and animals.

(5)  Animal Movement Activity Dice: Simply print and stick these engaging animal movements from Silhouette Blog onto a wooden block. This one is perfect for pre-schoolers who won’t be able to hold back the giggles whenever they roll “Waddle like a penguin”.

(6)  Move Like An Insect Gross Motor Dice: This printable dice from Life Over C’s features bugs and their movements. Your kids will be having a blast crawling like caterpillars and flapping like butterflies while burning off tons of energy! 

(7)  Moving My Body Gross Motor Dice: Another great printable from Life Over C’s features 2 dice – 1 with body parts and 1 with motions. Roll them both and put them together to do active motions like “wiggle your head” and “bend your elbow”. 

(8)  Snowy Winter Gross Motor Dice: For this game from 3 Dinosaurs there are two dice: 1 for winter-themed movements (think snow angel, skiing and shoveling) and 1 for speed (fast, slow and normal). A great active boredom buster for your next snow day! 

(9)  Animal Dice Game: Another fun option for animal movements are these free printable dice from Twitchetts which combine instructions on 1 die like “act like…” and “run like…” with different animals on another die. 

(10)  Gross Motor Action Dice: This easy printable from I Can Teach My Child will have your child hop, skip and jumping their energy away. 

BONUS IDEAS!

These may not be printable, but they’re super easy to execute and are still extremely engaging.

Assign-a-Dice: On a piece of paper assign each number from 1-6 a movement or action. Have your child roll a dice and perform the task assigned to the corresponding number. Make it active yet silly for best results. A few fun ones to try:

• Do 10 burpees…blindfolded!
• Crab Crawl backwards around the edge of the room
• Fly like a bird to the bathroom and back
• Army crawl for 20 seconds

For extra fun, use 2 dice and assign movements to one die (running, jumping, etc), and animals to the other. Roll them both and your kids will be “slithering like a monkey”, “hopping like a fish” or “skipping like an elephant” amidst fits of laugher.

Uno Movement Game: OK, so this Uno Movement game from Still Playing School isn’t technically an activity dice game, but it works in a very similar manner. Grab a deck of Uno Cards and assign actions to each number. Flip a card over and everyone gets up and completes the task.

GET DRAMATIC

This won’t be a problem for most kids, as drama is often a skill that is practiced daily (whether they realize it or not!). Have your kids channel that drama in these exciting activities that will also reduce their restless energy.

Movement Charades: Pretend to be your favorite animal, superhero or sports player by imitating their signature moves (no sounds allowed!). The rest of the players try and guess who they are – the first one to do so correctly, gets a point. If your kids have trouble thinking on the spot, write down some suggestions and place them in a hat to draw from when it’s their turn

Create a Show: Invite your kids to create their very own play (you’ll provide the audience!). The only catch is that they have to create it around an active prompt you give them – this could be a sport, activity (karate, dance, gymnastics) or our personal favorite, a Circus Show full of juggling (attempts at least) and jumping through hoops. Once they’re ready to perform, video tape it so it feels like a real production (plus kids love to watch themselves on tape so you’ll get a moment of rest while the replay airs).

Put on a Fashion Show: Kids love to dress-up, and this idea brings that love to the next level. Create a long runway out of tape or kraft paper and invite your fashionistas to perform their best walk while you pump the music. You can play the judge awarding points for style, creativity and their overall strut.

Choreograph a Routine: If your child is into dance, theatre or just loves to be the star of the show, challenge them to choreograph a one minute solo routine that they’ll have to perform in front of their loyal fans (ahem, you). Not only does this get kids thinking creatively and working independently (aka Mom gets a break), it also gets their blood flowing as they practice over and over again until it’s just right.

IMAGINATIVE PLAY

Exercise your child’s body and mind with these active imaginative games.

Snowball Fight: Create an indoor snow fight by creating your own snowballs with scrunched up pieces of newspaper, or buy a fun indoor snowball fight kit like this one. Make your own fort to take cover in between throws. This is a kid-favorite and they burn a ton of energy ducking and darting out of the way of incoming blizzards.

We’re Going On A Bear Hunt: Hide a bear (or other stuffed animal) somewhere in your house and have your child find it (use “hot” or “cold” for younger kids who may need a bit of direction). Bonus points if you read the book first. 

Make Elephant Feet: Stomp around the house with these inventive DIY Elephant Feet from Martha Stewart. Click here for the full tutorial. 

MUSICAL + DANCE

Time to pull out your best ‘90s dance moves and crank up the music. With these games your kids will forget all about the rain or snow outside, and instead they’ll dance up a storm of their very own.

Dance Party! Turn on the high-energy music and have a dance off! Make sure you have a large open space (clear of toys to trip on) and twirl, twist and shimmy your way around the room. Add in musical instruments or turn off the lights and break out some glow-sticks to prolong the party.

Freeze Dance: Add-in a game to your dance party where one person stops the music and everyone else must instantly freeze. If you catch someone moving, they’re out. The last one standing (or dancing in this case), wins.

Musical Letters: Make pieces of paper with big letters on them and spread them around the room. Play some music while they dance and then stop it and call out one of the letters. They have to immediately find the letter and sit down on it. If they pick the wrong one, have them do 15 jumping jacks (or whatever age appropriate movement you decide). Scale this activity to fit the level of your child – use colors, numbers or sight words to make it easier or harder. (Idea via Let Kids Be Kids)

EXERCISE VIDEOS!

Let’s face it, most kids would love to sit in front of their iPad on a rainy day for hours on end, but an explosion of pent-up energy at bedtime is not exactly our idea of fun. Instead, turn their “device” time into exercising fun by turning on some kid-friendly YouTube Exercise Videos.

Some of our favorite YouTube channels and videos for getting your kids up and moving include:

GoNoodle: This channel provides the greatest variety of get-you-moving videos for kids. Do a little exploring and you’re bound to find the perfect one for your kids (editor’s note: a current favorite in our household is this one from Trolls)

Whip/Nae Nae Elementary Cardio Workout: This genius cardio version of the popular Whip/Nae Nae moves performed by elementary school kids incorporates jumping jacks, lunges and push-ups in a workout that’s so fun, kids won’t even realize they’re working out.

Koo Koo Kanga Roo: If you can get past the kitchy mustache and fanny pack on this dynamic duo, you kids will be totally intrigued by Koo Koo Kanga Roo’s dance-a-long songs, including our favorite Dinosaur Stomp. 

Learning Station: This channel boasts “healthy music for a child’s heart, body and mind”, offering educational videos with lots of active participation geared towards toddlers, preschoolers and elementary aged kids. Some of our top selections: “Move and Freeze” and “Shake Your Sillies Out“. 

Jack Hartmann Kids Music Channel: Jack Hartmann is another great channel with lots of videos to explore, and features educational themes (learn counting, numbers and more!) with dance and movement. Check out the short Brain Breaks and Physical Education songs, plus our favorites “Animals in Action” and “Top Dog”. 

Move To Learn Channel: Pair educational songs with easy-to-follow exercise moves, and you’ve got engaged kids burning tons of energy. We love “King Shapes” for youngers kids and “Football Fractions” for slightly older kids (especially those sports-obsessed!). 

Saskia’s Dansschool: This incredible dance school in The Netherlands films their talented dancers performing high-energy dances to popular songs. Head to their “Kids Dances” section for choreographed routines danced by a group of skilled kids to hits from the likes of Justin Bieber, Justin Timberlake and Meghan Trainer. These videos have millions of likes on YoutTube and your kids will love playing them over and over again to pick up all the moves (plus many of them even have their own choreography step-by-step tutorial videos!).

GROOV3Dance Channel: Professional dancer/choreographer Benjamin Allen leads this series of “how to dance” videos, and we think their mini workouts that last 3-5 minutes are perfect for kids – they feature hit songs and are all high-energy and super engaging. These are perfect for grade schoolers and tweens who want to learn some killer dance moves!

Make sure you check out the “Forget You” CeeLo choregraphed dance which features child dancers.  

Just Dance Kids: Simply search for “Just Dance Kids” on YouTube and it will pull up a whole selection of video routines pulled from the Wii U games. They feature great music that will make you want to jump in there and try to perform all the moves alongside your kids!

Cosmic Kids Yoga: This channel includes a huge collection of videos that focus on yoga and mindfulness wrapped in fun, interactive adventures – building kids’ strength, balance and confidence.

Steve Songs “Let’s Move”: You can’t go wrong with anything from Steve Songs, and this song (as cheesy as it may be) prompts kids to “get up, get up” and certainly has the right message with its “let’s move” chorus. It’s super catchy (just try and get it out of your head!) and kids think it’s silly fun.

Fit Factor Kids Exercise: Kids seem to love this fun 5-minute exercise routine led by a teenage girl who demonstrates a variety of different animal movements. Try it with yours!

CLEAN

Vacuum, Sweep or Swiffer: Open up your cleaning closet and have your child pick their favorite tool. The Swiffer always seems to be a highly coveted item, and having them work their push/pull muscles while cleaning the house is a winning combination for all.

PLAY WITH ACTIVE TOYS

Head over to our Gift Guide: The Best Indoor Gross Motor Toys For Active Kids (To Get That Energy Out!) for our kid-tested recommendations for the best ride-on, balance, swinging, climbing and jumping toys, plus active “board” games.

Armed with this list of indoor activities, we hope you’ll now be prepared for any type of weather or situation that forces you and your brood inside. What’s your go-to activity for a rainy or snowy day? We’d love to hear about it – let us know in the comments section below.Found this helpful? We’d love to continue to make your life (with kids en tow) easier and have you join our What Moms Love community. We’ll hook you up with all of our exclusive resources, including our popular 10 Screen-Free Toys For Guaranteed Quiet Time, our fun Holiday/Birthday Coupon Book for Kids and the inspiring 35 Food Subs & Swaps for Healthy Family Meals.

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14 Fun Things To Do At Home With Your 8-Year-Old

I’ve seen toddler activity lists being circulated out the wazoo and I get it; toddlers need a lot of hands-on and constant stimuli (bless you mama, I remember those days). Flashback to Hailey at 20 months old.

But there are also a lot of us with slightly older kids that feel stuck somewhere between the pasta sensory bin and them being too cool to hang out with us.

The 6-10 year old crowd needs some love too, which is why I’ve compiled this list of things we’ve enjoyed doing together over the past few weeks while hanging out more at home. I’d love for you to share in the comments your favorite way to play and bond with your big kid, too!

Craft Crates. We’ve used Kiwi Crate for years. I did a partnership with them a while back and you can still get a free crate to try. They never fail to be fun, and I love that all the pieces needed come in the box, so I don’t have to worry about our at-home art and craft supplies. I’ve also been eyeballing Green Kid Crafts to try, and just ordered a Kid Stir kit as well.

Obstacle courses in the yard or living room. We have this ninja slack line and set it up in the backyard to help create obstacle courses. We use chalk to draw hopscotch or ladders on the driveway, then chase each other through the course, over obstacles and more. Stuck inside? Take all the pillow off the couch and do the same thing. We’ll also add in that you have to “hop like a frog” between this one and that one, or crab walk backwards. Anything to switch it up!

Scavenger hunts through the neighborhood or house. Outside hunts can include things like a four leaf clover, a purple flower, a lady bug, etc. Inside options can be a 1984 penny, a yellow lego, a dust bunny (what, just me?)

Learn a new hobby together, like knitting. David’s mom taught Hailey to knit and she loves it. She’ll sit on the couch and knit while listening to Stories Podcast on Pandora. You can order knitting needles for kids and yarn online, then learn through YouTube (so many great tutorials!), or buy a circle loom all-in-one kit so they can make something they can really wear right off the bat!

Create a book club or start a weekly poetry tea time. You can do a book club different ways. Read aloud, then discuss, then watch the movie OR have them read the same book as a friend then do a Friday Zoom virtual book club where they can discuss. We also have taken our monthly poetry tea time virtual, where once a month we all zoom with our own tea, and take turns reading or reciting poetry to each other.

Write letters and mail them. We also paint pictures and mail them. Bonus! We’ve learned how to weigh our letters to determine how many stamps we need to mail it. Math and creativity all in one!

Work on a new skill. Hailey has learned to email her grandparents and friends, so our new skill to work on is typing. But there are so many skills to learn at home- how to make scrambled eggs, start a friction fire (parental supervision needed of course), learn to sew a button, etc, etc.

Play board games that don’t make you want to rip your hair out. Our current two favorites are Ticket to Ride and Parcheesi.  

Let them create the menu and take the lead. This can be done for a real meal, or an afternoon snack. My girls love creating “Sister’s Restaurant,” complete with menu, forks rolled in napkins, background music, and some super crazy food options. My only rule is that is has to be truly edible so we don’t waste food, and we stick to that most of the time.

Geocaching. Ok, we haven’t done this yet, but it’s on my list! Have you tried it? Thoughts?

Building challenges! You can use legos, Magnatiles or Goobi, or heck, toothpicks and mini marshmallows! Creating different challenges is a blast. Who can build the tallest? The strongest? The best bridge? The coolest castle? Etc, etc.

Work on phone and Facetime skills. Hailey loves Facetiming with her friends and family, and it’s been great practice at learning to effectively communicate. I’ve been coaching her through etiquette of how to ask questions, hold the camera still, etc.     

Watch old family videos and look through albums. Hailey and I LOVE family albums, so she’s actually been helping me finish up our 2019 album. We use Mixbook and they always turn out excellent. Here are the other ways we turn family memories into keepsakes.

Have a slumber party. Whether it’s in a tent in the backroom, a mattress on the back porch, or a pile on blankets on the floor of the bedroom, nothing excites my kids more than mom joining in on a slumber party. It doesn’t have it often, which only adds to the excitement, but painting nails, telling jokes, and reading books all piled into the same space is the ultimate bonding experience.

All in all, what matters most that I’ve noticed in intentional time. It doesn’t have to even be an extended amount of time, but setting aside an hour that is solely focused on being together does wonders.

Plus, I’ve noticed it forces me to reconnect with my inner kid and forget about the outside world for a while. Being silly is good for the soul!

What do you love doing with your big kid at home?

Middle Childhood (9-11 years old)

Developmental Milestones

Your child’s growing independence from the family and interest in friends might be obvious by now. Healthy friendships are very important to your child’s development, but peer pressure can become strong during this time. Children who feel good about themselves are more able to resist negative peer pressure and make better choices for themselves. This is an important time for children to gain a sense of responsibility along with their growing independence. Also, physical changes of puberty might be showing by now, especially for girls. Another big change children need to prepare for during this time is starting middle or junior high school.

Here is some information on how children develop during middle childhood:

Emotional/Social Changes

Children in this age group might:

• Start to form stronger, more complex friendships and peer relationships. It becomes more emotionally important to have friends, especially of the same sex.
• Experience more peer pressure.
• Become more aware of his or her body as puberty approaches. Body image and eating problems sometimes start around this age.

Thinking and Learning

Children in this age group might:

• Face more academic challenges at school.
• Become more independent from the family.
• Begin to see the point of view of others more clearly.
• Have an increased attention span.

New, easy-to-use, interactive web tools for children and teens to deal with thoughts and feelings in a healthy way.

Positive Parenting Tips

Following are some things you, as a parent, can do to help your child during this time:

• Spend time with your child. Talk with her about her friends, her accomplishments, and what challenges she will face.
• Be involved with your child’s school. Go to school events; meet your child’s teachers.
• Encourage your child to join school and community groups, such as a sports team, or to be a volunteer for a charity.
• Help your child develop his own sense of right and wrong. Talk with him about risky things friends might pressure him to do, like smoking or dangerous physical dares.
• Help your child develop a sense of responsibility—involve your child in household tasks like cleaning and cooking. Talk with your child about saving and spending money wisely.
• Meet the families of your child’s friends.
• Talk with your child about respecting others. Encourage her to help people in need. Talk with her about what to do when others are not kind or are disrespectful.
• Help your child set his own goals. Encourage him to think about skills and abilities he would like to have and about how to develop them.
• Make clear rules and stick to them. Talk with your child about what you expect from her (behavior) when no adults are present. If you provide reasons for rules, it will help her to know what to do in most situations.
• Use discipline to guide and protect your child, instead of punishment to make him feel badly about himself.
• When using praise, help your child think about her own accomplishments. Saying “you must be proud of yourself” rather than simply “I’m proud of you” can encourage your child to make good choices when nobody is around to praise her.
• Talk with your child about the normal physical and emotional changes of puberty.
• Encourage your child to read every day. Talk with him about his homework.
• Be affectionate and honest with your child, and do things together as a family.

Middle Childhood (9-11 years of age) pdf icon[PDF – 688K]

Child Safety First

More independence and less adult supervision can put children at risk for injuries from falls and other accidents. Here are a few tips to help protect your child:

• Protect your child in the car. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration pdf icon[1.15 MB / 1 page]external icon recommends that you keep your child in a booster seat until he is big enough to fit in a seat belt properly. Remember: your child should still ride in the back seat until he or she is 12 years of age because it’s safer there. Motor vehicle crashes are the most common cause of death from unintentional injury among children of this age.
• Know where your child is and whether a responsible adult is present. Make plans with your child for when he will call you, where you can find him, and what time you expect him home.
• Make sure your child wears a helmet when riding a bike or a skateboard or using inline skates; riding on a motorcycle, snowmobile, or all-terrain vehicle; or playing contact sports.
• Many children get home from school before their parents get home from work. It is important to have clear rules and plans for your child when she is home alone.

Healthy Bodies

• Provide plenty of fruits and vegetables; limit foods high in solid fats, added sugars, or salt, and prepare healthier foods for family meals.
• Keep television sets out of your child’s bedroom. Set limits for screen time and develop a media use plan for your family.external icon
• Encourage your child to participate in an hour a day of physical activities that are age appropriate and enjoyable and that offer variety! Just make sure your child is doing three types of activity: aerobic activity like running, muscle strengthening like climbing, and bone strengthening – like jumping rope – at least three days per week.
• Make sure your child gets the recommended amount of sleep each night: For school-age children 6-12 years, 9–12 hours per 24 hours (including naps)

For More Information

• Infants and toddlers
• Preschool
• Middle childhood
• Adolescence

CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” Campaign
For more details on developmental milestones, warning signs of possible developmental delays, and information on how to help your child’s development, visit the “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” campaign website.

CDC’s Parent Information (Children 0―3 years)
This site has information to help you learn how to give your child a healthy start in life.

CDC’s Essentials for Parenting Toddlers and Preschoolers
Learn ways you can help build a safe, stable, and nurturing relationship with your child.

CDC’s Breastfeeding Information
This site has answers to frequently asked questions about breastfeeding.

CDC’s Information on Infant and Toddler Nutrition
Tips for Parents – Ideas to help children maintain a healthy weight.

CDC’s Protect the Ones You Love
CDC’s Injury Center has information on how you can protect your child from drowning and other common causes of injury.

CDC’s Information on Vaccinations
View the immunization schedule for infants and children and find out if your child’s vaccinations are up to date.

My Plate – Infantsexternal icon
The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides information on health and nutrition for 2 through 5 years of age.

My Plate – Toddlersexternal icon
The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides information on health and nutrition for toddlers

HealthyChildren.orgexternal icon
AAP’s Healthy Children website provides information on feeding, nutrition, and fitness for all developmental stages from infancy to young adulthood.

Just in Time Parentingexternal icon (JITP)
Quality, research-based information to families at the time it can be most useful.

Healthy Kids Healthy Futureexternal icon
You will find information on physical activity for young children and on ways to keep them moving.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationexternal icon (NHTSA)
NHTSA has information on safety recalls and safety tips for children riding in motor vehicles, walking, biking, playing outside, waiting at school bus stops, and more.

National Institute of Child Health and Human Development.external icon (NICHD)
Visit NICHD to learn how to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and about safe sleep environments.

World Health Organization information on infant nutritionexternal icon
This site has information to promote proper feeding for infants and young children.

CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” Campaign
For more details on developmental milestones, warning signs of possible developmental delays, and information on how to help your child’s development, visit the “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” campaign website.

CDC’s Parent Information (Children 4−11 years)
This site has information to help you guide your child in leading a healthier life.

CDC’s Essentials for Parenting Toddlers and Preschoolers
Learn ways you can help build a safe, stable, and nurturing relationship with your child.

CDC’s Healthy Weight Information.
Tips for parents – Ideas to help children maintain a healthy weight.

CDC’s Youth Physical Activity Guidelines
This site has information on how to help children be active and play.

My Plate- Preschoolersexternal icon
The U. S. Department of Agriculture provides information on health and nutrition for preschoolers.

HealthyChildren.orgexternal icon
AAP’s Healthy Children website provides information on feeding, nutrition, and fitness for all developmental stages from infancy to young adulthood.

Just in Time Parentingexternal icon (JITP)
Quality, research-based information to families at the time it can be most useful.

Healthy Kids Healthy Futureexternal icon
You will find information on physical activity for young children and on ways to keep them moving.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationexternal icon (NHTSA)
NHTSA has information on safety recalls and safety tips for children riding in motor vehicles, walking, biking, playing outside, waiting at school bus stops, and more.

CDC’s Parent Information (Children 4 — 11 years)
This site has information to help you guide your child in leading a healthier life.

CDC’s Healthy Weight Information.
Tips for parents – Ideas to help children maintain a healthy weight.

CDC’s Youth Physical Activity Basics
This site has information on how to help children be active and play.

CDC’s Kids Quest
Kids Quest is a CDC website designed for students in fourth, fifth, and sixth grades, to get them to think about people with disabilities and some of the issues related to daily activities, health, and accessibility.

CDC’s BAM! Body and Mind
CDC’s BAM! Body and Mind is a website designed for kids 9 through 13 years of age to give them the information they need to make healthy lifestyle choices. The site focuses on topics that kids told us are important to them—such as stress and physical fitness—using kid-friendly lingo, games, quizzes, and other interactive features.

My Plate – Kidsexternal icon.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides information on health and nutrition for children over 5 years of age.

HealthyChildren.orgexternal icon
AAP’s Healthy Children website provides information on feeding, nutrition, and fitness for all developmental stages from infancy to young adulthood. Visit this website to learn more about emotional problemsexternal icon, learning disabilitiesexternal icon and other health and development concerns.

Just in Time Parentingexternal icon (JITP)
Quality, research-based information to families at the time it can be most useful.

Let’s Move-Kidsexternal icon
Five simple steps for parents towards creating a healthy environment at home.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationexternal icon (NHTSA)
NHTSA has information on safety recalls and safety tips for children riding in motor vehicles, walking, biking, playing outside, waiting at school bus stops, and more.

StopBullying.govexternal icon
StopBullying.gov provides information from various government agencies on how children, parents, educators and others in the community can prevent or stop bullying.

SAMHSA’s KnowBullying appexternal icon
A free app for parents to help prevent bullying, created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Agency (SAMHSA).

Teens Healthexternal icon
Visit this site for information on healthy eating and exerciseexternal icon for children and teenagers, safety tips for your child at homeexternal icon when you can’t be there, and other important health and safety topics.

CDC’s Adolescent and School Mental Health
Learn how connection is key to good adolescent mental health.

CDC’s Parent Information (Teens 12— 19)
This site has information to help you learn how to guide your teen to be safe and become a healthy and productive adult.

CDC’s Healthy Weight Information.
Tips for parents – Ideas to help children maintain a healthy weight.

CDC’s Youth Physical Activity Guidelines
This site has information on how to help children be active and play.

CDC’s Pregnancy Prevention for Teens.
Tips and information especially for teens and designed with input from teens.

CDC’s BAM! Body and Mind
CDC’s BAM! Body and Mind is a website designed for kids 9 through 13 years of age, to give them the information they need to make healthy lifestyle choices. The site focuses on topics that kids told us are important to them—such as stress and physical fitness—using kid-friendly lingo, games, quizzes, and other interactive features.

CDC’s Information on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Youth Health
Learn about the physical and mental health of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender youth

American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatryexternal icon
The American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry has many fact sheets for parents on child and adolescent health and development.

My Plate – Teenexternal icon
The U.S. Department of Agriculture provides information on health and nutrition for teens.

HealthyChildren.orgexternal icon
AAP’s Healthy Children website provides information on feeding, nutrition, and fitness for all developmental stages from infancy to young adulthood.

Just in Time Parentingexternal icon (JITP)
Quality, research-based information to families at the time it can be most useful.

National Highway Traffic Safety Administrationexternal icon (NHTSA)
NHTSA has information on safety recalls and safety tips for children riding in motor vehicles, walking, biking, playing outside, waiting at school bus stops, and more.

National Institute of Mental Healthexternal icon
The National Institute of Mental Health has information on mental disorders affecting children and adolescents, including anxiety and depression.

StopBullying.govexternal icon
StopBullying.gov provides information from various government agencies on how children, parents, educators, and others in the community can prevent or stop bullying.

SAMHSA’s KnowBullying appexternal icon
A free app for parents to help prevent bullying, created by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Agency (SAMHSA).

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)external icon
SAMHSA works to improve the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, alcohol and drug addiction treatment, and mental health services.

Teens Healthexternal icon
Visit this site for information on healthy eating and exercise for children and teenagers.

Raising a child 8-9 years old: advice from a psychologist

children’s center and

youth

Development

Phones

+7(495)135-15-45+7(901)388-61-35

Author: Elizaveta Lomilina

Table of contents:

• Psychological characteristics of children at the age of 8-9
• Raising a boy and a girl of eight years
• Advice from psychologists: what parents of children aged 8 need to know
• What to do if the child does not want to go to school?
• What if the child has no friends.
• Psychologist’s help and courses for children aged 8-9 at the K.O.T.

Each child’s age is special, it has its own psychology. As their child grows older, parents have to deal with new issues. In order to make it easier to raise a child, help him and maintain harmony in the family, it is important to know the features of his age.

Psychological characteristics of children at the age of 8-9

1. There is an active formation of one’s own point of view, worldview. Now he can quite clearly express his own opinion on many issues..
2. Younger students begin to check the information that comes to them, analyze it and draw their own conclusions. The words of parents are no longer perceived as 100% true.
3. Children of this age have a pronounced need for communication and friendship, they no longer want to spend time with their parents.
4. Still, the praise and approval of adults is very important. Moreover, it is valuable for a student to be talked about specifically, to focus on his personal characteristics and to be praised for his work.
5. It is important to have a hobby, if the child does not yet have a hobby, it is worth paying attention to this issue and finding suitable additional activities.
6. Despite the fact that by the age of 8 most children are already well adapted to school, they have a fairly high level of fatigue. They get tired quickly and need enough rest.
7. Most children have already formed the concepts of “social norms” and discipline. They know how to behave both in the classroom and in other public places.

Features of the development of boys and girls at the age of 8

Children are already well aware of the differences between boys and girls. The difference is noticeable in everything – in appearance, features of character and behavior, duties that children perform at home and at school.

Girls 8 years old

Young schoolgirls are usually more obedient and reserved, responsive, better than boys behave in class.

They are actively interested in their appearance and show interest in clothing. Already at this young age, it is important for a girl to look beautiful.

Schoolgirls of 8 years old like to take care of the little ones, to fulfill the instructions of their parents regarding their younger brothers and sisters. And boys tend to have a hard time with it.

Among the hobbies of girls, creative activities are most often found – music and singing, dancing, needlework.

Boys at eight years old

Boys tend to restrain their emotions less and have more impulsive behavior.

Boys are very physically active, it is difficult for boys to sit in one place for a long time. They are close and interested in active sports, team outdoor games.

If a boy at the age of eight does not find it difficult to do his homework, he is successful in his studies, rejoices at encouragement from adults and teachers. However, in the case when he has difficulties with some kind of discipline, there may be problems with academic performance – because it is difficult for him to concentrate and spend a lot of time on tasks.

In the upbringing of boys, one should pay attention to this feature – it is difficult for them to maintain attention for a long time and stay in one place.

Sports sections are an excellent choice of additional activities for a boy. This is an opportunity to actively move, communicate and splash out energy.

It is important for a girl of eight years to be praised as a PERSON, and for a boy it is important that the result of his ACTIVITIES be positively evaluated.

Psychologist’s advice: what parents of children need to know at the age of eight

1. Play is important

   At this age, games are important for a child as a way of learning about society and themselves. Give your child time to play and develop. Free time from clubs and homework.

   At this age, the leading activity is still play, it gradually gives way to educational activity, but now the child needs it.

   Consider this feature when raising eight-year-old boys and girls. Learning is more effective when it is built in the form of a game. This makes it easier for children to absorb information. Games with classmates, joint events and leisure activities teach children to communicate and resolve conflicts.

2. Learning Freedom

   The child wants to feel free to make decisions. Where it is possible to give the student the opportunity to make his own choice, it is worth doing so.

   Now is a good time to prepare for independence.

   Of course, parents of boys and girls should control it in order to ensure safety. But it is worth gradually reducing the degree of control of his actions.

3. Daily routine

   For boys and girls at this age, a clear schedule is essential. Only in this way will you be able to provide the necessary amount of sleep and rest during the school year, correctly allocate time for visiting circles, doing homework. In addition, a clear schedule is also convenient for the child – so he understands what he needs to do and what requirements are placed on him. So it is necessary to deal with the education of the ability to comply with the regime and schedule.

4. Discipline and independence

   It is worth monitoring the performance of homework, compliance with other important rules and duties. Especially for boys. Now you can still influence the child and instill the habit of doing everything right. Later, it will be more and more difficult. However, don’t use hard and fast guidelines. Try to let your child do everything on their own.

5. The teacher matters

   Sometimes for children in the 2nd or 3rd grade, the teacher’s opinion becomes more important than the parent’s.

   The teacher has great authority – it is important that the expectations of the student come true.

   He helps the student to adapt in the classroom, establish relationships with peers, serves as a “guide” to a new, more mature society. Be very attentive to how the first school teacher communicates with his wards, what values ​​he instills in them.

What should I do if my child does not want to go to school?

Not wanting to go to school is an important wake-up call that should not be ignored.

Possible reasons:

1. The school is far away.

   The child does not get enough sleep, he needs to get up early, spend a lot of energy on the road.

   It is worth adjusting the daily routine. A student should sleep at least eight to nine hours a day. At this age, it is still important to follow the “rituals” of falling asleep. Even if it seems to you that your baby has already matured, he will need a regimen for a long time.

   Before going to bed, you should have at least 1 hour of free time to rest.

   Of course, if possible, it is better to choose a school that is easy to get to and as close to home as possible. But the regimen of the day is required.

2. Studying and extra classes take a lot of time.

   It is important for a schoolchild to rest. A tired child will not be able to study effectively, in addition, in this way you risk raising a dislike for school in principle.

   Have you noticed that the boy or girl is very tired? Analyze the schedule, pay attention to the time for rest.

   Remove the excess – you do not have the task to do everything right now. Learning should be fun.

3. Boring.

   Not so often, but it does happen. More often in boys. Try to understand – the reason for boredom is in the way the learning process takes place at school, or in the child himself. If it is the teacher, then you are unlikely to be able to influence the teaching methodology. The choice is yours whether to change schools or not. If the matter is in the student himself, you can introduce additional methods of motivation – discuss the material covered, ask them to talk about what they studied today.

   For good grades and academic success, you can arrange surprises – joint trips to the cinema and parks, in general, what the child loves, what brings him joy.

4. Bad attitude of classmates and teachers.

   Be sure to talk to the teacher if you feel negative attitudes towards your child.

   Bad attitudes from peers or teachers cannot be ignored!

   If classmates bully him, talk to their parents. But this is only part of the solution.

   It is worth teaching a child to behave correctly in such situations – to ignore or respond to offenders.

   Pay attention to what is being laughed at. If this is a name or appearance, teach how to correctly respond to such words. And if the reason for ridicule is neatness or unpreparedness for the lesson, then you can try to fix it.

What if the child has no friends?

The ability to communicate is a key skill for a person in modern society.

Several reasons why communication problems may arise:

It is worth supporting the student, visiting different companies and introducing different children.

Don’t push your child to meet new people – provide an opportunity to connect.

Provide support, teach him to find common topics for conversation. You can offer him exercises to develop sociability. For example, find out people’s birthdays, ask strangers some simple question.

This can happen because the child is not interested in anything, or vice versa – he is “too” smart, not for his age. And he is bored with his peers. In the first case, it is worth expanding your horizons by reading, watching programs or films. In the second case, you need to teach the child to build relationships and make friends with different people. And, of course, look for a suitable company of interest for the student.

This problem occurs in children who are often ill. It is difficult for them to join the school team every time. Of course, you need to strengthen the immune system. Also try to keep in touch with children when the child is not attending school – you can invite classmates to visit.

The ability to express one’s emotions is an important skill for every person.

Not all children of eight or nine years old are able to correctly express their anger. As a result, they express feelings in the way they can. The best solution to this problem is courses on the development of emotional intelligence.

1. He is shy.
2. No common interests.
3. Little school attendance.
4. He is aggressive or confrontational

Psychologist’s help and courses for children at the K.O.T.

If you have problems with your child, questions about upbringing or difficult situations, you can always contact a child psychologist. A good specialist will tell you about the features of age, answer questions and help you find a way out.

In the center of the K.O.T. You can make an appointment with a child psychologist.

At the age of 8-9 the child is actively growing. It’s time to start developing life skills, such as communication, self-confidence, the ability to understand your emotions.

If you are wondering if a child needs a psychologist, read our article on this topic.

Especially for this in the center of K.O.T. children’s courses have been developed, where, under the guidance of experienced psychologists, children can develop the necessary skills.

• Confidence and Emotion Training
• Communication skills course
• Courses for children 6-8 years old

Good luck, patience and good relationships in the family!

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Leading activity of children in different age periods