60+ Indoor Playdate Games for Every Age (Toddlers to Tweens)

The weather forecast says "nope." Your backyard is a swamp. It's too cold/hot/windy/apocalyptic to go outside. But the playdate must go on.

Good news: Indoor playdates don't have to involve screens or desperation. Whether you're dealing with bouncing toddlers or too-cool tweens, we've got games that'll keep everyone happy (and your house mostly intact).

This isn't just another "try coloring!" list. These are tested, parent-approved games organized by age and energy level. Bookmark this page – future rainy-day you will thank present you.

Quick Navigation

Jump to your age group:

• Toddlers (18 months - 3 years)
• Preschoolers (3-5 years)
• Early Elementary (5-7 years)
• Older Elementary (8-10 years)
• Tweens (11-13 years)
• Games for Mixed Ages

Toddlers (18 months - 3 years)

At this age, "games" are loose concepts. Think activities with simple rules that can be abandoned when attention wanders (approximately every 3 minutes).

High Energy Toddler Games

Dance Freeze ⚡

• Play music, dance wildly
• Stop music = freeze!
• Toddlers love the anticipation
• Supplies: Music source

Balloon Bop ⚡

• Keep balloon in the air
• Count together (great for numbers)
• Use hands, heads, bellies
• Supplies: Balloons (supervise always)

Tunnel Adventure ⚡

• Drape blankets over furniture
• Crawl through "caves"
• Add stuffed animals to find
• Supplies: Blankets, chairs

Ball Roll ⚡

• Sit across from each other
• Roll ball back and forth
• Graduate to gentle catch
• Supplies: Soft balls

Musical Parade ⚡

• Give everyone instruments (or pots)
• March around house
• Follow the leader style
• Supplies: Instruments or noisemakers

Calm Toddler Activities

Block Tower Challenge 🧘

• Build together
• Knock down (the best part)
• Sort by color or size
• Supplies: Blocks

Sensory Bin Exploration 🧘

• Rice, beans, or pasta in container
• Add cups, spoons, toys
• Contains the mess (mostly)
• Supplies: Bin, dry goods, tools

Play Kitchen Magic 🧘

• "Cook" together
• Serve to stuffed animals
• Practice sharing food
• Supplies: Play kitchen or boxes

Sticker Fun 🧘

• Stick on paper (or themselves)
• Make sticker pictures
• Peeling = fine motor practice
• Supplies: Stickers, paper

Reading Fort 🧘

• Make cozy spot with pillows
• Read favorite books
• Take turns choosing
• Supplies: Books, pillows

Preschoolers (3-5 years)

Peak imagination years! These kids can follow multi-step games but still need flexibility when rules become "suggestions."

Active Preschool Games

The Floor is Lava ⚡

• Pillows are safe islands
• Jump island to island
• Add stuffed animals to rescue
• Supplies: Pillows, imagination

Simon Says 2.0 ⚡

• Classic with silly additions
• "Simon says wiggle like jello"
• Let kids take turns being Simon
• Supplies: None

Indoor Obstacle Course ⚡

• Crawl under tables
• Jump over pillows
• Walk line of tape
• Spin 3 times at station
• Supplies: Household items, tape

Hide and Seek ⚡

• Count to 20 (practice!)
• Limit to specific rooms
• Take turns being seeker
• Supplies: None

Animal Movement Game ⚡

• Call out animals
• Kids move like that animal
• Hop like bunny, slither like snake
• Supplies: None

Balloon Volleyball ⚡

• String or imaginary net
• Hit balloon over
• Count successful volleys
• Supplies: Balloon, string optional

Quieter Preschool Games

Board Game Bonanza 🧘

• Candy Land
• Chutes and Ladders
• Hi Ho Cherry-O
• Don't Break the Ice
• Supplies: Age-appropriate games

Memory Match 🧘

• Use cards or make your own
• Start with 6 pairs, add more
• Take turns flipping
• Supplies: Memory cards

Play Dough Creations 🧘

• Make snakes, balls, pizzas
• Use cookie cutters
• "Restaurant" play
• Supplies: Play dough, tools

Puzzle Partners 🧘

• 24-48 piece puzzles
• Work together
• Race against timer (optional)
• Supplies: Age-appropriate puzzles

Dress-Up Freeze Dance 🧘

• Dance in costumes
• Freeze in character
• Act out frozen poses
• Supplies: Dress-up clothes, music

Early Elementary (5-7 years)

Rule followers who love competition but still need reminders about being good sports.

High Energy Elementary Games

Charades Jr. ⚡

• Act out animals first
• Graduate to simple activities
• No words allowed!
• Supplies: Idea cards optional

Indoor Bowling ⚡

• Water bottles as pins
• Soft ball to roll
• Keep score (math practice!)
• Supplies: Bottles, soft ball

Scavenger Hunt ⚡

• List of household items
• Race to find them
• Picture clues for non-readers
• Supplies: List, items to find

Hallway Races ⚡

• Crab walk races
• Bear crawl contests
• Hop on one foot
• Backward running
• Supplies: Clear hallway

Minute to Win It ⚡

• Stack cups in 60 seconds
• Move cotton balls with spoons
• Keep balloon up for minute
• Supplies: Varies by challenge

Calmer Elementary Games

Card Games Galore 🧘

• Go Fish
• Crazy 8s
• Old Maid
• War
• Supplies: Card deck

Board Game Champions 🧘

• Connect 4
• Guess Who
• Trouble
• Sorry
• Supplies: Board games

LEGO Challenges 🧘

• Build tallest tower
• Create specific item
• Use only certain colors
• Supplies: LEGO bricks

Art Game 🧘

• Draw and guess
• Collaborative drawing
• Draw with eyes closed
• Supplies: Paper, crayons

Story Chain 🧘

• Each person adds sentence
• Silly stories emerge
• Can illustrate after
• Supplies: None (paper optional)

Older Elementary (8-10 years)

Strategic thinkers who can handle complex rules and longer games.

Active Older Elementary Games

Advanced Charades ⚡

• Movies, books, songs
• Team competition
• Timer adds pressure
• Supplies: Category cards, timer

Nerf Battle ⚡ (if allowed)

• Set boundaries
• No face shooting
• Create bases
• Supplies: Nerf equipment

Dance Competition ⚡

• Judge each other's moves
• Dance battles
• Learn TikTok dances together
• Supplies: Music, space

Indoor Soccer ⚡

• Soft ball only
• Hallway goals
• No kicking above knees
• Supplies: Soft ball

Strategic Games for Older Elementary

Classic Strategy 🧘

• Chess
• Checkers
• Battleship
• Mastermind
• Supplies: Game boards

Card Game Tournament 🧘

• Rummy
• Hearts
• Spades (simplified)
• Slapjack
• Supplies: Cards

Building Challenges 🧘

• Tallest paper tower
• Strongest bridge (books)
• Marble runs
• Supplies: Building materials

Trivia Time 🧘

• Make up questions
• Use trivia cards
• Theme rounds (animals, movies)
• Supplies: Trivia source

Tweens (11-13 years)

Too cool for "baby games" but still want to have fun. Focus on games that feel sophisticated.

Active Tween Games

Video Game Tournament ⚡

• Mario Kart races
• Just Dance battles
• Sports games
• Supplies: Gaming system

Karaoke Battle ⚡

• Score performances
• Duet challenges
• Lip sync option
• Supplies: Karaoke app/system

Room Escape Challenge ⚡

• Create puzzles
• Set timer
• Work together to "escape"
• Supplies: Puzzles, locks, clues

Cooking Competition ⚡

• Decorate cookies
• Make-your-own pizza
• Smoothie creations
• Supplies: Kitchen access, ingredients

Chill Tween Games

Advanced Board Games 🧘

• Settlers of Catan
• Ticket to Ride
• Pandemic
• Clue
• Supplies: Games

Card Games 🧘

• Poker (with chips, not money)
• Egyptian Rat Screw
• Spoons
• Phase 10
• Supplies: Cards

Creative Challenges 🧘

• Drawing competitions
• Write and perform skits
• Make stop-motion videos
• Supplies: Art supplies, phone

Games That Work Across All Ages

Some activities transcend age groups. Adjust complexity as needed:

Fort Building

• Every age loves a good fort
• Older kids design, younger help
• Collaborative and creative

Baking Together

• Toddlers stir
• Elementary measure
• Tweens lead

Dance Party

• Music spans generations
• Everyone has moves
• Energy burner

Arts & Crafts

• Adapt project to age
• Work side by side
• Display creations

Scavenger Hunts

• Picture clues for little ones
• Riddles for older kids
• Teams mix ages

The Energy Balance Formula

Reading the Room

Signs it's time for active games:

• Bouncing off furniture
• Conflicts brewing
• Volume increasing
• Can't sit still

Signs it's time to calm down:

• Getting too wild
• Someone's overwhelmed
• Approaching meal/nap time
• Parents need a break

Perfect Playdate Flow

1. Arrival (10 min): Free play while everyone arrives
2. Active (20 min): Burn initial energy
3. Snack (10 min): Refuel and hydrate
4. Calm (20 min): Board game or craft
5. Choice (15 min): Kids pick activity
6. Wind down (15 min): Quiet activity before pickup

Zero Supply Games

Stuck with nothing prepared? These need absolutely nothing:

20 Questions - One person thinks, others guess I Spy - Classic observation game Would You Rather - Silly choices Story Building - Collaborative storytelling Mirror Game - Copy movements Rhyme Time - Find rhyming words Categories - Name things in category Freeze Dance - Just need music Simon Says - Follow the leader Hide and Seek - The eternal favorite

Quick Reference Chart

Age	High Energy Favorite	Calm Favorite	No Supplies Needed
Toddler	Dance Freeze	Block Building	Balloon Bop*
Preschool	Floor is Lava	Play Dough	Simon Says
Early Elementary	Scavenger Hunt	Board Games	Charades
Older Elementary	Minute to Win It	Card Games	20 Questions
Tween	Dance Battle	Video Games	Would You Rather

*Balloon required

Pro Tips for Indoor Playdate Success

Space Management:

• Clear fragile items first
• Define play zones
• Close doors to off-limit rooms

Conflict Prevention:

• Have duplicate supplies when possible
• Plan more activities than needed
• Let kids help choose

Mess Control:

• Contain messy activities
• Clean as you go
• Kids help before leaving

Emergency Playdate Kit

Keep these on hand for spontaneous indoor fun:

• Balloons
• Deck of cards
• Play dough
• Crayons and paper
• Masking tape
• Bubbles (yes, inside with towels down)

The Bottom Line

Indoor playdates don't have to be screen time or chaos. With the right games for the right ages, you can create memorable fun without leaving the house. Mix active and calm, follow the kids' lead, and remember – the mess is temporary, the memories last.

Need more rainy day inspiration? Check out our 50+ Rainy Day Activities post. Looking for age-specific ideas? Our Playdate Ideas by Age guide has you covered.

Ready to plan your next indoor adventure? TryPlayday makes it easy to organize playdates, share game ideas, and coordinate with other parents. Because the best playdates happen when everyone knows the plan – even if that plan is "wing it with 60+ backup games."