Indoor Activities for Aunts and Uncles: 35 Fun Things to Do With Kids
Sometimes the weather doesn't cooperate. Sometimes everyone wants a cozy day at home. And sometimes you simply need a few ideas for keeping kids entertained indoors.
The good news? You don't need to leave the house to have an adventure.
Indoor activities can be some of the best opportunities for aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews to connect. You can cook together, build something, create a fort, play games, make art, read, or simply get silly.
Here are 35 indoor activities for aunts and uncles to try with the kids you love.
What Are Some Fun Indoor Activities for Aunts and Uncles?
The best indoor activities are easy to set up and encourage kids and grown-ups to participate together.
1. Build a Blanket Fort
Gather blankets, pillows, chairs, and cushions and build a cozy hideaway.
2. Have a Movie Marathon
Choose a theme and watch several movies together.
3. Bake Cookies
Let kids measure ingredients, mix, decorate, and taste-test.
4. Make Homemade Pizza
Set out toppings and let everyone create their own pizza.
5. Have a Board Game Tournament
Choose several games and keep a running score.
6. Make Friendship Bracelets
Create bracelets for each other or other family members.
7. Have a Dance Party
Create a playlist and dance around the living room.
8. Make a Fort Reading Nook
Build a fort and bring books inside.
9. Try an Indoor Scavenger Hunt
Create clues and hide objects around the house.
10. Have a Puzzle Race
Work separately or together to see how quickly you can complete a puzzle.
11. Make a Craft
Try painting, drawing, paper crafts, collages, or recycled-material projects.
12. Have a Science Experiment Day
Choose simple, age-appropriate experiments and learn something together.
13. Cook Breakfast for Dinner
Pancakes, waffles, eggs, fruit, and toast make dinner more fun.
14. Create a Comic Book
Invent characters and create your own story.
15. Have an Indoor Camping Night
Set up a tent or fort, use sleeping bags, tell stories, and pretend you're camping.
16. Make Homemade Play Dough
Choose colors and create sculptures together.
17. Have a Family Talent Show
Everyone gets a chance to perform.
18. Make a Time Capsule
Write letters, draw pictures, and add small objects.
19. Have a Karaoke Party
Pick favorite songs and take turns performing.
20. Make a Family Cookbook
Write down favorite family recipes and add drawings or photographs.
21. Play Card Games
Try age-appropriate classics or learn something new.
22. Have a Lego Challenge
Choose a theme and give everyone a limited amount of time to build.
23. Create a Treasure Hunt
Hide clues around the house leading to a final surprise.
24. Have a Drawing Challenge
Choose a subject and see how differently everyone draws it.
25. Make Homemade Ice Cream
Experiment with flavors and toppings.
26. Have a Spa Day
Paint nails, make simple face masks, play relaxing music, and have a cozy afternoon.
27. Create a Family Movie
Write a story, assign characters, film scenes, and create your own mini movie.
28. Build an Indoor Obstacle Course
Use pillows, tape, cushions, and other safe household objects.
29. Have a Reading Challenge
Choose a number of books to read together during the day.
30. Make a Memory Book
Collect photographs, drawings, notes, and memories.
31. Try Origami
Choose simple projects and work your way up to more challenging designs.
32. Have a Cooking Competition
Pick an ingredient and see what everyone can create.
33. Make Paper Airplanes
Build different designs and see which one flies the farthest.
34. Create a Bucket List
Write down adventures you'd like to have together.
35. Have a Cozy "Nothing Day"
Put away the schedule.
Get snacks.
Watch something.
Play games.
Talk.
Read.
Laugh.
Sometimes that's exactly what everyone needs.
What Can Aunts and Uncles Do With Kids Indoors?
Aunts and uncles can turn an ordinary indoor day into an opportunity for connection.
Try activities that encourage:
Creativity: crafts, drawing, painting, music
Curiosity: science experiments, books, puzzles
Movement: dance parties, obstacle courses, indoor games
Connection: cooking, conversations, board games
Imagination: forts, pretend play, storytelling
The goal isn't to keep children constantly entertained. It's to do something together.
Indoor Activities for Different Ages
Younger Children
Try:
Building forts
Simple crafts
Baking
Storytime
Pretend play
Scavenger hunts
Music and dancing
School-Age Kids
Try:
Board games
Science experiments
Cooking
Art projects
Lego challenges
Treasure hunts
Comic books
Tweens
Try:
Movie marathons
Cooking challenges
Photography
Video games
DIY projects
Karaoke
Baking competitions
Teens
Try:
Cooking together
Watching a favorite series
Playing games
Photography
Craft projects
Talking over snacks
Learning a new skill together
How Do You Make an Indoor Day Special?
You don't need to plan every minute.
Pick one or two activities.
Let the kids help decide.
Make snacks.
Put phones away for a while.
Take pictures.
And leave room for the unexpected.
Some of the best memories aren't the activities you planned. They're the moments that happen in between.
When the Weather Says "Stay Inside"
Rainy days, hot afternoons, cold weekends, sick days, and lazy Sundays all give aunts and uncles an excuse to slow down.
And that's something kids often remember.
The blanket fort.
The ridiculous dance party.
The cookies that came out slightly burnt.
The movie you watched three times.
The secret snack stash.
Those ordinary moments can become extraordinary memories.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are good indoor activities for kids and their aunts or uncles?
Good indoor activities include baking, crafts, board games, blanket forts, movies, science experiments, scavenger hunts, cooking, puzzles, reading, and creative projects.
What can I do with my niece or nephew indoors?
You can bake, build a fort, play games, make crafts, watch movies, cook dinner, create a scavenger hunt, read together, or try a new hobby.
What are free indoor activities for kids?
Try drawing, reading, building forts, playing board or card games you already own, creating scavenger hunts, making paper crafts, dancing, storytelling, or cooking with ingredients already at home.
How can an aunt or uncle make indoor time more meaningful?
Choose activities that allow you to participate together rather than simply entertaining the child. Cooking, creating, playing, reading, and talking all provide opportunities to build a stronger relationship.