Top Indoor Games for Elementary Students to Keep Them entertained and Active
Indoor games are great when you need to entertain your elementary students in a way that also encourages them to get some exercise and burn off any extra energy they might have built up over the day. Whether you’re looking for games to play during indoor recess or just looking for something new to do on those days when you can’t go outside, here are the top indoor games for elementary students we recommend!
Indoor games for elementary students
Connect Four
The first player places one chip per turn into one of the slots on their columns. If they are able to create a row of four in either up, down, left or right direction, they win that column and get to place another chip in any slot on their board. When there are no more chips available for play, the game is over.
Tic Tac Toe
The Tic Tac Toe game is typically a game played by two players. Players take turns marking the spaces in a 3×3 grid, either with an X or O. The player who succeeds in placing three marks in a horizontal, vertical, or diagonal row wins the game.
Playground Olympics
Silly games are one of the most entertaining ways for elementary students to pass the time. Our favorite: The Playground Olympics. These games are great for 4th-6th graders, or any number of children, who need something to do before or after school in order to burn off energy. For those short on time, they can also serve as excellent activities while waiting in lines at the grocery store, amusement parks, etc.
What You’ll Need:
5 different colored ribbons
Ball Tossing
At first, it sounds like a really easy game, but when you actually start playing ball tossing, it’s quite tough. You have to be able to accurately throw the ball in order for it not to bounce off the floor. It’s hard enough trying to predict where your opponent will stand so that you can hit them on their way back.
Bean Bag Toss
This is an extremely easy game to set up. All you need are two straight lines on the ground (typically chalk) and three bean bags per line. The children throw their bags in the air at the line behind their own back, trying to land them on their partner’s line. They then count up how many they are on each other’s lines until one person has more bags than their opponent.
Bocce Ball
This game is played on a court that includes pits, with each player taking turn throwing the ball. Points are scored when the ball rests in one of the other team’s pit, or if a team member throws it into the opponent’s pit. A bocce game is not over until at least one member of each team has thrown all eight balls.
Musical Chairs (or Twister!)
Have the students line up single file, then have them run in a circle around the room until music stops. Ask each student to choose a number, and if their number comes up, they are out of the game. The winner is the last person standing in the game!
Hula Hoops
There is no better activity for kids on those rainy days than hula hoops. They are inexpensive, can be used indoors or outdoors, and are entertaining. The key is in the following: One player stands in the middle of a circle formed by other players who need to lie down with their arms stretched out.
Parachute Play
The game is typically played outside, but it can be modified indoors by making a parachute out of bed sheets. The sheets are pinned securely to the ceiling using hooks or some type of attachment. The goal is to see how long you can use one sheet before it falls down on you or another player.
Handheld Video Games / Tablets / iPads / Smartphones / Other!
The top indoor games for elementary students are handheld video games, tablets, iPads, smartphones or any other form of digital media that will keep them entertained without running away. Parents should set limits on how much screen time the child can spend each day because too much screen time can lead to behavioral problems such as ADHD and increase their risk of obesity.
The more active students are with these indoor games for elementary students, the better they will be at focusing in school.
