Fun Games to Play @ Home

Ten Fun, Brain-boosting Activities to do with Your Child Today!

By Brian Keith Shrewsbury

• Story Chain Game - Start a silly story (“Once upon a time, a dinosaur wore roller skates…”), then take turns adding one sentence. Boosts creativity, memory, and language skills.
• Indoor Obstacle Course - Use pillows, chairs, and blankets to build a crawl-under, jump-over adventure. Enhances spatial reasoning, motor planning, and problem-solving.
• “I Spy” with a Twist - Play “I Spy something that starts with B” instead of colors. Strengthens phonemic awareness (key for reading).
• Kitchen Science: Sink or Float? - Grab random objects (coin, cork, spoon, grape) and predict + test in water. Sparks scientific thinking and hypothesis testing.
• Mirror Drawing - Draw simple shapes while looking only in a mirror. Builds visual-motor integration and focus.
• 20 Questions (Animal Edition) - Think of an animal; they guess with yes/no questions. Teaches logic, categorization, and deductive reasoning.
• Dance Freeze Math - Play music. When it stops, shout a math fact (“3 + 4 = ?”). They freeze in that many fingers. Combines movement + math fluency.
• Shadow Puppet Theater - Use a flashlight and wall to make animals with hands. Encourages imagination, storytelling, and light physics.
• Grocery Store Memory Game - List 5 items you “need” from the pantry. They repeat back in order. Levels up working memory.
• Emotion Charades - Act out feelings (excited, frustrated, proud). They guess and explain a time they felt that way. Grows emotional intelligence and empathy.

These easy, interactive activities can spark conversations, learning, and laughter for all ages!