Weโve all had those days when the kids are bouncing off the walls but you canโt leave the house — whether itโs raining, someone has springtime allergies, the carโs in the shop, youโre pinching your pennies (go, you!), or whatever.
Here are 61 fun, cheap things to do as a family when youโre stuck inside the house and the kids — and maybe even you — are getting cabin fever.
Fun things to do when youโre stuck at home (but have a yard)
- Go camping in the backyard.
- Draw with sidewalk chalk.
- Stargaze.
- Have a movie marathon (perfect for rainy days).
- Go to your neighborhood park or playground.
- Make mud pies.
- Splash in puddles.
- Play board games.
- Go on a backyard picnic.
- Hula hoop and jump rope.
- ย Play hopscotch.
- Sing silly songs.
- Find cloud animals.
- Play catch.
- Build an indoor fort.
- Go on a treasure hunt around the house.
- Find a craft (weโve got LOTS of ideas HERE).
- Watch the birds.
- Watch the sunset (or sunrise).
- Read a book (or two or three).
- Learn about a new country.
- Have a video chat with someone far away.
- Play school.
- Make sock puppets and put on a puppet show.
- Play hide and seek.
- Bake cookies.
- Take funny selfies.
- Have a tea party.
- Put together a puzzle.
- Climb a tree.
- Play cards.
- Make a banana split or sundae.
- Have a pillow fight.
- Set up an obstacle course.
- Make homemade ice cream (try this Skittles Ice Cream).
- Play charades.
- Look at baby books.
- Make short videos using a smartphone.
- Play video games (set up a tournament).
- Color in a coloring book.
- Make a birdhouse or birdfeeder.
- Paint a picture.
- Have a lazy jammies day.
- Junkfood breakfast!
- Play dress up / make a fashion show.
- Tie-dye a shirt.
- Make a โcampfireโ (inside with flashlights) and tell ghost stories.
- Wash your car by hand.
- Play bingo.
- Take a bubble bath.
- Have breakfast for dinner.
- Make some homemade soup.
- Blow bubbles.
- Have a dance party.
- Have a paper airplane contest.
- Make play-dough.
- Make goop.
- Make slime.
- Bake bread (or cinnamon rolls!).
- Make up your own holiday and celebrate it.
- Learn a new recipe.