7 Screen-free, fun family games to play with kids inside or out

Games help children to learn turn-taking and other important social skills. They help siblings bond and strengthen the relationship with parents. Games are a fun playful way to say "Yes!" to your child. They help direct the energy and create a safe environment for fun. Games or activities are a good way to reset after a tantrum or difficult behaviour. The best part is, games are free!

For an indoor variation, draw a hopscotch with washi tape or regular tape on the floor. With younger children you can have them walk/ hop to the numbers and call out the number they are on. Instead of a stone, you can place a toy on a square that they need to avoid (or collect). For older siblings, have them do simple maths and jump on the answers. This game is great for gross motor skills and number awareness.

If you find the person, you have to squeeze into their hiding place (like sardines in a can) and hide with them. The last person to find everyone is first person to hide on the next round. For older children you can discuss different perspectives. "Could mummy see you from here? Can Jack see you? Why not?" With toddlers you may pair them up with an older sibling or parent. With babies, you can play peek-a boo!

Only the blindfolded person is allowed to move. Other players may move their upper body to twist away, but can't move their feet. Pick a room that is safe (from sharp edged and tripping hazards). You can place cushions or pillows around furniture.

Mr Wolf answers with different times and the children then take the number of steps for every hour Mr Wolf mentions. So if Mr Wolf says it is two o’clock,the children take two steps towards Mr Wolf’s back, etc. This repeats with different times until Mr Wolf shouts out ‘Dinner time!”. At this point Mr Wolf turns around and runs to chase the children. Any children tagged continue the game as ‘wolves. Any children who reach the start line without being tagged get to play in the next round. The new wolves join Mr Wolf and also take part in the dinner time chase when it is called. The last player to be tagged is the new Mr Wolf, and then the game begins again.

This game is excellent for building team work, gross motor and our strengthening kinesthetic and vestibular systems

Other variations could be: “I spy something that sounds like ……. (eg. Mooo); I spy something that feels …….. (eg. soft, velvety, rough); I spy something …… (shape).

Start with less of the sleeping part and lots of hopping and then gradually increase the time (by singing slower or repeating the slow verse) to increase the quiet time. This game is great for burning off extra energy and transitioning to a quieter activity that requires focus. The Sleeping Bunnies song lyrics: [Slow, sleepy, sing-song tone]: “See the little bunnies sleeping til it’s nearly noon/ Shall we wake them with a merry tune?/ They're so still, are they ill?/ No! Wake up bunnies!” [Fast, excited tone]: “Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop/ Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop/ Hop little bunnies, hop, hop, hop/ Hop little bunnies, hop and stop!”