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Many children use outdoor activities to relieve excess energy and have fun. In a perfect world, kids would be able to play outside on any given day, but that is not always a viable option due to weather and other factors.
Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) tend to have high energy levels, making time indoors even more challenging. Furthermore, it is often difficult not to let kids turn to computer screens on a rainy day. So, what are some of the best indoor activities for children with ADHD?
In this article, we'll go over fun indoor activities for children with ADHD that carry the same benefits as their outdoor activities.
Indoor Sports
If you have a high-energy child, indoor sports are an excellent option. For kids with ADHD especially, physical activity may help curb feelings of depression or anxiety, inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior.
Some indoor sports are group activities, which promote social skills and physical activity in addition to having fun. However, there are also options for children who require independent activities.
Here are some indoor sport ideas for kids:
- "Balloon volleyball" (volleyball with balloons).
- Jumping rope.
- Portable table tennis.
- Indoor basketball.
- Gymnastics.
Some indoor sports will require more planning and financial resources than others. Look for group or individual sports games designed for kids to play with indoors. In addition to options like indoor basketball or table tennis, you might try games based on other sports or arcade games that get kids moving.
Children may also enjoy playing with sporting goods. For example, some kids like balancing or stretching with an exercise ball.
The cost of sports games can vary substantially based on the unique activity.
Build Indoor Tents
Building indoor tents is a fun way to spend time together without spending any money. It is also an opportunity to create a space with calming sensory input for kids with ADHD. Use blankets and pillows to create a "tent" or fort.
Scavenger Hunt
Scavenger hunts are a great way to shift your child's mental focus and keep kids occupied.
To create an indoor scavenger hunt or treasure hunt, hide household items and challenge kids to find them. You can make this as easy or complex as you want. If there are other players, you can turn it into a competition.
When possible, a scavenger hunt can be a fun activity for the whole family. Otherwise, kids can play with siblings, friends, or even on their own.
Joon ADHD App
Looking for a fun and engaging indoor activity for your ADHD child? Try Joon, the ADHD app designed to improve focus and concentration. With interactive games and exercises, Joon can provide your child with an entertaining and educational experience that helps them manage their symptoms. Say goodbye to boring indoor activities and hello to Joon, the best indoor activity for ADHD kids. Try it now and see the results for yourself!
Play With A Balance Board
Traditionally, balance boarding is an exercise where you stand on an unstable surface (called a balance board) to improve balance and strengthen the muscles around your ankle. There are balance boards created for kids, too, and they can be an ideal gift for kids with ADHD.
Colorful balance boards for kids can be found for anywhere from around $15-75.
Games With Household Items
Most of us have fun memories of playing with household items or using them to make games as kids. Items like bubble wrap, cardboard boxes, chairs, blankets, and pillows, work to create various makeshift games. It's a great way to keep things interesting and encourage imagination!
Here are some ideas:
- An indoor obstacle course.
- Bubble wrap popping contests.
- Musical chairs.
- An indoor snowball fight with fake snow.
"The floor is lava" is another classic game that is unlikely to require parents to make a purchase. Place pillows on the floor and tell kids that the floor is "lava," instructing them to stay out of the lava by stepping from pillow to pillow.
Like other activities, some games with household items will sustain a child's attention for longer than others. Though many of these are group activities, some can be modified if there aren't enough people at home.
Note: Joon is an app designed for children with ADHD and their parents. With Joon, parents create a list of tasks and household chores (also called quests) for their child to complete. Once children finish their assigned quests, they get rewards that allow them to care for a virtual pet called a Doter.
90% of kids who use Joon complete all of their tasks. Joon promotes independence, self-esteem, and motivation in kids with ADHD. Even better, it's backed by professionals such as occupational therapists and child psychologists.
Click here to try Joon for free.
Twister
Twister is a fantastic option for kids with ADHD because it lets children move around, but in a contained space. Most of us have played Twister at some point in our lives. After all, it's been around since 1966.
Though it doesn't require a ton of room, Twister promotes balancing skills and focus. Twister is an easily accessible game, and it's one that you can set up in nearly any home.
You can purchase Twister online or in person for around $15.
Card Games
In the mood for a more relaxed activity? Card games have a range of different benefits that can help kids with ADHD, and they double as a way to have fun at home.
Many card games require mental focus and cognitive skills. Since kids with ADHD often struggle with working memory and executive function, professionals such as occupational therapists who work with ADHD kids frequently use card games to help children in these areas. Examples of card games to try include but aren't limited to Solitaire, Go Fish, Uno, and Memory.
Different card games may be more suitable than others based on a child's age (e.g., younger kids may need to play simple games, whereas older children might gravitate to more complex games).
Basic card games usually cost no more than around $15.
Board Games
Much like card games, board games can help kids with ADHD improve focus and other areas they might struggle in, like working memory. Board games also make for classic indoor games. Board games to try for kids with ADHD can include but aren't limited to Clue, Chutes and Ladders, Catan Junior, and Rory's Story Cubes.
That said, the best option for most ADHD kids will be the board game they gravitate toward most. Pick a game that your child's interested in so that they're more inclined to play.
Most board games for kids are $30 or less.
Dance Party
It's safe to say that most children enjoy dancing. Having a DIY dance party is a fun opportunity for a child to burn energy, and it's suitable for kids in virtually any age group. Feel free to join in with your child and dance together if you want to.
Martial Arts
Like dancing and sports games, martial arts are a great idea for kids with excess energy, whether they do or do not have ADHD. Martial arts have a major advantage, too, in aiding self-confidence for many children.
You can enroll your child in a martial arts class, but instructional martial arts videos can also be found online. If you're stuck at home without warning and need a new activity, this is a fun way to change things up.
Supervise younger children, and ensure that your child is in a safe space with plenty of room when they follow video instructions.
Creative Activities
Arts and crafts can add a ton of benefit to a child's life. Creative hobbies keep kids busy and tend to support mental health, motor skills, and more. For younger kids, creative activities like finger painting might be preferable. Older kids can engage in a wider range of creative hobbies.
Ideas include but aren't limited to:
- Drawing and painting
- Sand art
- Jewelry making
- Soap or candle making
- Tie-dye
Again, be mindful of creating the right space for certain activities. Supervise kids (especially younger children) during any activities with the potential to be dangerous, such as those like soap or candle making that require heat.
Yoga
Yoga is both a relaxing activity and an active hobby, which makes it a fantastic idea for kids with ADHD. As mentioned earlier, it is relatively easy to find instructional videos for activities like martial arts and yoga online.
Look for instructional yoga videos that are designed for children. Often, yoga videos are available free of cost and state the age group they're appropriate for. You can complete the video with your child if you'd like. In many cases, having another person there will help a child focus on what they're doing.
Takeaway
There are a ton of fun ideas to keep your child with ADHD entertained and busy, even when you're stuck indoors. In this article, we have included a range of fun activities for kids with ADHD that have a variety of benefits. You can try a calming activity for kids, or you can pick an activity that lets kids relieve excess energy and utilizes fine motor skills. Some of these activities are suitable for independent play, whereas serve as opportunities for quality time and can involve the whole family. If you have a question as to whether your child can engage in a specific activity, contact their healthcare provider.
About
Dr. Carrie Jackson, PhD
