Top 10 indoor games parents should try with their kids during the Covid-19 pandemic

The Magic Box is a fantastic idea for parents with preschoolers. Take an old cardboard box and get creative—transform it into a house, airplane, or train for your child. Make sure the box is large enough for your child to comfortably crawl inside. It can become their personal space, where they can unleash their imagination by decorating and painting it. To make it even more fun, you can buy cute stickers for your child to decorate as they wish. To encourage your child’s excitement, consider designing the box so that their head can pop out, or even better, make it easy for them to lift and carry their 'house' to different places in the house.

Basketball is an active game that encourages kids to use both their agility and sharp thinking skills. Typically, basketball is a sport for outdoor play or school courts. However, with a little creativity, you and your child can enjoy this sport indoors. Start by placing an empty basket or plastic container at a distance just right for your child to reach with a throw. For the ball, simply crumple up some old newspaper—it’s light, and it flies far, making it perfect for this game. Your child can even help prepare the supplies. Take turns throwing the crumpled paper into the basket, and your child will definitely love this new, inventive game that you’ve come up with together.

If the usual games with your child have started to feel too repetitive, why not spice things up with a fun Zombie game? Inspired by the popular game “Zombie vs Plant,” this game, despite its spooky name, will have your kids entertained and laughing while playing with you. The game requires at least one parent (with some acting skills) and participation from the kids. If you have more than one child, the fun will only grow! All you need is a light bucket or box for the parent to wear as a headpiece to transform into a zombie, along with some soft items like cotton or lightweight objects to throw without hurting the 'zombie dad.' The game goes like this: the dad plays the zombie monster and approaches the kids, who, along with the mom, throw objects to stop the zombie from attacking. Once the 'zombie dad' is taken down, the laughter will be endless. However, it's best to play this during the day, as some shy kids might get scared if played at night.

This game may not be unfamiliar if parents and children have participated in team-building activities. However, at home, parents can make a few adjustments to play with the kids. You’ll need some cans of drinks arranged in two rows to create an obstacle course, and a basket to hold some toys from around the house. The game begins with parents and children crawling through the obstacle course as quickly as possible to grab a flag or stuffed animal, then returning to the starting point. The mom’s role will be as a referee or cheerleader to encourage the players and enhance the fun atmosphere. On the return trip, instead of crawling, both parent and child can switch things up by running in a zigzag pattern or hopping on one foot, while holding their 'loot.' The winner will be the one who collects the most items.

If parents are too busy to play with their child, this game is a perfect fit. It’s also an excellent opportunity to encourage kids to be active rather than sit around watching TV or fiddling with their phones while parents work. The 'grown-up roleplay' game is not only fun but also helps children build independent life skills. Let your child pretend to be an adult in their late 20s, living alone in an apartment. They can use the washing machine to do laundry and the vacuum to clean the carpets – as long as the tasks are manageable for them. Tell them that parents can’t always be around, so they must try to handle challenges on their own during the game. If they truly need help, they can call you for guidance. Then, you can talk through solutions while still focusing on your own work. This game is a great way for children to learn new skills and understand how to be independent. It’s also an effective solution for busy parents who can't always spend time with their children during work hours.

With just some rolls of masking tape, parents can create colorful lanes for their child’s car racing game. This not only adds a fun new twist to the game, sparking curiosity, but also keeps the toy cars from being randomly tossed or driven around the house. If you have time to play with your child, you can also turn this into a learning opportunity. Instead of making simple lanes, you could arrange the tape into numbers or letters you want to teach your child. Parents can act as traffic police officers and guide the child to drive their cars along the lanes with specific numbers or letters. Praise and encourage the child if they drive their car correctly along the path.

Much like the game of stacking blocks and pulling out pieces, this game is excellent for helping children focus their attention. Parents don't have to spend money on a wooden toy set, as they can use new pieces of foam instead. By cutting foam into long, small pieces, parents can set up a tower-building game for their kids. This activity promotes concentration, creativity, and keeps the child engaged without constantly bothering the parents.

If your child is in elementary school, they are likely old enough to learn and play games such as Chinese Chess, Chess, or Go. These games require mental training, patience, observation, and learning. If your child enjoys playing chess, that is a great sign. Parents can guide their child through the pieces and help them familiarize themselves with the game before teaching the moves. While guiding your child through chess may be a challenge for parents, once they get hooked, it will become a wonderful game.

Your child will be so engaged in the game that they won’t care about the TV or phone, focusing on the chessboard, studying moves, and learning strategies to win. This will give parents the time to clean, cook, or take care of themselves without having to supervise the child every second.

Bowling is an exciting game that can help relieve stress and bring lots of fun to the players. Typically, bowling is not suitable for young children because the ball is quite heavy, making it difficult for them to play. However, during quarantine days at home, parents can easily repurpose unused items to create a bowling game for their kids. Start by using empty plastic bottles and place them in a straight line using tape to guide the bottles.

You can use your child's plastic soccer ball as the bowling ball. Simple and fun, right? This game is much more enjoyable if both parents and kids join in the fun together. So, what are you waiting for? Get your bowling setup ready and have a blast with your little one!

If your little one has a special fondness for food, this is a great opportunity to introduce them to the world of cooking. You can start with kid-friendly kitchen tools like plastic knives, cutting boards, and pots, helping them familiarize themselves with the utensils. Once your child gets comfortable with these plastic tools, you can gradually move on to food and simple preparation techniques.

Show your child how to wash vegetables, crack eggs, beat eggs, and rinse greens properly. While these tasks are simple, they’ll surely spark your child’s interest, and they will be eager to help you in the kitchen. After the pandemic, they will feel more grown-up and capable of preparing dishes with your guidance.