Best Indoor Games for 6 12 Year Olds to Play at Home

The fun does not necessarily end when children are energetic and are home because of their lockdown.

Games that children of 6 12 years of age can play indoors are a great method of keeping kids amused, active, and educated even when they are on large spaces and do not have expensive playthings. 

These easy indoor games are creative and may be played in a classroom during breaks or with a parent during rainy days to add great amounts of laughter and cooperation. The best part? 

What Are the Best Indoor Games for 6 12 Year Olds?

The most suitable indoor games between 6-12 year olds would be those that would combine fun, creativity and light set up.

Such games as Freeze Dance, Charades, Balloon Volleyball, and Treasure Hunt are ideal as they make kids active, social, and entertained even in small places.

You do not need the special toys, the large rooms, you only require few simple ideas, the household objects and lots of imagination.

These games aid in enhancing concentration, cooperation, and problem-solving as children purely entertain at their place of residence or school.

Why Indoor Games Are Important for 6 -12 Year Olds

Indoor play helps kids grow in more ways than we think.  It fosters the imagination, problem-solving, and bodily skills - even as they are kept busy in the safe environment.

Teamwork and patience are also learnt through fun indoor games and they make a very nice substitute to screen time.

Children will spend more time in activities that improve imaginary and movement as opposed to watching TV or scrolling on the devices. 

15 Fun and Easy Indoor Games for 6–12 Year Olds

These concepts are not complicated, exciting, and do not need much or no installation. Great fun to play with at home or school!

Indoor Games Without Equipment

These games need nothing but energy and imagination!

1. Freeze Dance – Play music and let kids dance around. When the music stops, everyone must “freeze.” The last one to stop moving is out!
2. Simon Says - It is a classic that improves the ability to listen. Include fun twists, such as, hop like a frog!
3. Charades - Children pretend to be a word or phrase and other children do the guessing. It is possible to create such categories as animals, movies, or actions.
4. 20 Questions - In this game, one child thinks of an object, and the others make up to 20 yes/no questions to guess what it is. 
5. Alphabet Chain - The players alternate with naming words in the end of the last word.

They are non-toy indoor games that are perfect in maintaining children occupied anywhere even when there is a power outage or traveling! 

Indoor Games With Simple Household Items

Most things can become playtime objects.

1. Spoon and Ping pong Race - Place a ping pong ball (or lemon) on a spoon and race without falling off.
2. Paper Toss - Take the paper balls and crumble them and toss them into the bucket. Simple yet addictive! 
3. Balloon Volleyball - Volleyball with a balloon using a string or ribbon, as the net! - there is no danger of breaking anything!
4. Treasure Hunt - Hide things and provide hints to locate the items. Children can go turn-taking to make the hunt.
5. Cup Stack Challenge Stack and unstack cups as fast as you can — how fast can you be?

Brain Games for Kids (Quiet Play Ideas)

Not all games need to be physical. Some can sharpen minds and focus.

1. Crossword or Word Search - Excellent in creating vocabulary and spelling.
2. Memory Match – Flip over cards or paper slips and match pairs.
3. Story Builder - One child begins a story, and the rest are also allowed to add a sentence at a time. 
4. Board Games - Classics such as Ludo, Monopoly or Snakes and Ladders never get old!

5. Trivia Time - Have quiz questions of your age group and find out who wins the most! 

These are the indoor fun games to play when you want to have a fun relaxing day.

Creative DIY Indoor Games for Kids

A bit of imagination will make the playtime more interesting!

1. Home Carnival - Build mini games, such as ring toss or paper cup stacking. Children are able to get points or gifts.
2. DIY Obstacle Course – Use pillows, chairs, and ropes to make a fun obstacle challenge.
3. Indoor Scavenger Hunt – Give kids a list of things to find around the house (like “something red” or “something that makes noise”).

You can rotate themes weekly to keep these new indoor games fresh and fun.

Outdoor Game Alternatives for 6–12 Year Olds

If the weather’s nice, step outside for a change of scene.

1. Tag Variations – Try freeze tag, shadow tag, or color tag.
2. Hopscotch – A chalk and a bit of balance — that’s all you need.
3. Hide and Seek Twist – Add rules like hiding with an object or finding clues.
4. Relay Races – Great for birthday parties or group fun outdoors.

These fun outdoor games build coordination and team spirit.

Indoor Games for Different Age Groups

As children grow, they prefer more challenging games.

• For 6–8 year olds: Balloon volleyball, Simon Says, Treasure Hunt.
• For 9–10 year olds: Word games, storytelling games, DIY carnival.
• For 11–12 year olds: Charades, obstacle course, trivia quizzes.

Tune the difficulty to their energy and interests — that's the key to holding their attention.

Free Indoor Game Resources and Printables

Wouldn't it be even easier? Develop or use downloadable printable activity pages. You can have:

• Game scorecards
• Treasure hunt clue lists
• Printable word games
• "10 Indoor Games" checklist

Providing free downloadable resources adds fun and structure to kids' activity time.

Tips for Hosting Indoor Game Time

1. Keep Space Safe: Clear out breakables and ensure children have space to move.
2. Set Rules: Teach how to win and play fairly.
3. Encourage Teamwork: Match older and younger children to level skills.
4. Limit Screen Time: Let these games replace TV or phone use for an hour daily.
5. Rotate Games Weekly: Keeps things exciting and prevents boredom.

Even if you have just 3 players, many games to play with no equipment can keep them active and entertained.

Final Thoughts

Indoor playtime doesn’t have to be dull or repetitive. With these indoor games for 6–12 year olds, you can bring happy moments into their lives that will make them learn, laugh, and be active — in your very living room.

Experiment with a combination of playthings indoors and outdoor play to get the energy and imagination sorted.

And the simplest thing is the one that puts a smile on your child's face!