Stuck inside with some stir crazy kids during social distancing? These toys are some of our favorites for active kids to help kids burn off some energy indoors.
This post may contain affiliate links. You can read my disclosure policy here.
With the local weather forecast of daily rain and a social distancing/quarantine policy in affect across most of the country my kids have been bouncing off the walls of my house. Since we’re not going to be going anywhere for the foreseeable future I’ve had to make they’re getting enough physical activity inside every day. I have two extremely active kids and toys that help them burn off some energy saves me my sanity during the day and is also super beneficial for them.
My active kids
I have a 4 and 6 year old and with that age group comes a level of energy that’s sometimes hard to keep up with. They happily play for hours during the summer in our DIY sandbox and on our DIY swing set. But when the temps start to drop down into the 40s and it’s too cold to play outside or when it’s raining we have to bust out some of the big guns indoors.
My oldest is also a sensory seeker and will happily jump off and crash into everything we own in this house. It’s important for all kids to get regular play and it’s especially important for kiddos with sensory processing differences to receive the sensory input they are craving to regulate their systems. So I try to make sure I provide as many activities as I can that involve pushing, pulling, balance, and opportunities to crash in a safe way.
If this sounds a lot like your child these are some really great resources that helped me discover the types of input my kiddo craved (and some that he avoids). Fantastic blogs along with working with an OT have helped so much in our house.
But regardless of whether you have a sensory seeker in your house, all kids can benefit with physical indoor activity to get all that pent up winter energy out.
We personally own nearly every item on this list and chances are it’s a well-loved item.
Best toys for active kids
Little Tikes Mini Trampoline
We have had our mini trampoline for 3 years now and it is well loved. The kids jump on it every single day in our bonus room and I love that it’s a quick and easy way for them to get out a lot of their energy.
hover soccer ball
My kids are always trying to kick a ball around in the house and inevitably knocking something over. I really like that this soccer set has a hover ball that floats along the floor. This way they can run and play soccer without breaking things.
scooter board
Our scooter boards are probably some of the simplest yet most used toys we have in our house. The kids love to spin in circles, chase one another and slide on their bellies down our hallway. These remind me so much of PE from when I was a kid.
hopper ball
My kids hop on these things all over the place. When they are literally bouncing of the walls it’s nice to have an option that gets some of that energy out. These hopper balls come in various sizes so they could work for a small toddler all the way up to big kids.
Little Tikes Easy Store Slide
A slide is one of the easiest ways to knock some of that indoor energy out. The kids can slide down it or use it as a massive ramp for their Hot Wheels (ask me how I know this) I love the fact that this one is easily foldable and can be stored in a closet when you’re not using it.
little tikes blow up jumpy
The ultimate way to bounce out energy. We got this for our oldest for his second birthday 4 years ago and it was probably the best investment we’ve ever made. It has been used for nearly every cookout and birthday party we’ve ever had at our house. In the winter I push all of the living room furniture out of the way and pop this sucker up. It would be great to use in a garage as well.
back of the door basketball hoop
This is on our wish list this year. It’s an easy indoor activity that’s affordable and will keep them entertained for a while.
Pogo Stick
This pogo stick is very similar to the hopper ball. I love that it helps kids get that nervous hopping energy out.
gymnastics mat
Probably the most used item in our house. My 4-year-old is in gymnastics class and is constantly practicing her “tricks and skills” She can practice cartwheels and somersaults with some cushion to break her fall.
crash pad
Do you have a kid who just loves jumping off of everything? My 6 year old loves to jump and crash into things. This means that my couch frequently becomes a jump area. I love that this crash pad gives kids a soft place to land and can be used for jumping or crashing.
See anything I’m missing? What toys are your favorites to help your active kids burn off some indoor energy?
Leave a Reply