In good weather, an athletic field or school playground is the prime spot for kids to make noise, play games and get a workout. When it's raining or snowing, a gym offers the same opportunities. You can use the gym equipment--such as a basketball hoop--or engage youngsters in a variety of creative, cooperative games.
Blanket Games
You only need old blankets to play Drag the Body, according to Kids Activities. Form two teams and give each one a blanket. In the simplest version of the game, one player lies down on the team blanket at the starting line. When the whistle blows, her teammates drag the blanket with the body on board to the finish line. The first team to arrive wins.
You also can try variations of the game. Put two or more kids on the blanket if you have enough children to do the dragging, or have everyone lie down and wiggle and scoot the blanket to the finish line.
Relay Races
Relay races provide entertainment for large or small groups of children, says Fun-Attic. For the Chimp Relay, line up the teams, one child behind the next. The first player on each team bends over and grabs his ankles. At the whistle, he makes his way to the finish line and returns to the team, always holding his ankles. When he gets back, he goes to the end of the line and the next player takes off.
A variation of the game is the Crab Walk, in which players get on their hands and feet with their stomachs turned up. The race proceeds in the same way, with the upside down "crabs" getting to the finish and back to the team.
Balloon Games
Use inflated balloons for a variety of games, suggests Family Fun. In Balloon Sandwich, partners line up with a balloon between their backs. At the sound of "Go," they maneuver their way to the finish line. If the balloon drops, they have to go back to the start. If it pops, they return to the starting line to get a new one.
Indoor Foot Volleyball is a balloon volleyball game played close to the ground. String a 10-foot long string about 1 foot up from the floor. Ask all the kids to take off their shoes. Teams form on both sides of the string with players in crab position on hands and feet with stomachs up. The players on each team kick the ball to keep it in play, trying to get it over the string without letting it fall to the ground. If it hits the ground, the other team gets a point. The first side to reach 15 points wins.
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