Sometimes it's not practical to go outside, but children still need to get the wiggles out. One way to solve this problem is to engage the kids in some indoor games that require some gross motor movement. Active indoor games are good for birthday parties, play dates, snow days and any other time the children are squirmy and need to expend some of the energy.
Mini Sumo
This game needs a large area, so you may have to move some furniture. Mark off a circle in the middle of the floor, using string or masking tape. Have two children at a time get in the middle of the ring, with the rest of the children on the outside of the ring. The children in the ring are the Sumo players. They must keep their hands on their ankles at all times while playing. The object of the game is to force the other person out of the ring or on the floor, but they may never move their hands from their ankles. Keeping their hands on their ankles will prevent them from wrestling. The children waiting their turn to play the winner of the match can cheer the players along.
Army Course
Create an obstacle course in a large room by using whatever you have on hand. They can leapfrog over pillows, crawl under chairs and walk on a thin line created with masking tape or rolled up towels. To challenge the children even more, give them something soft to balance on their heads or hold between their chin and chest while doing the maneuvers.
Left Out
Have enough chairs for all the children, except one. Arrange the chairs in a circle, facing the center of the circle. The first child to be "it" starts out in the middle. You may want to select the host to be the first "it." The child in the middle calls out a category, such as a birth month, hair color, shoe color or other common theme. Everyone that category applies to must get out of her chair and switch with another child it applies to. "It" tries to grab one of the chairs during the switch. Whoever is left without a chair gets to be the next "it."
Music Freeze
Play lively music and tell the children to wiggle and dance until the music stops. As soon as you stop the music, everyone must freeze. Anyone who is still moving is out. The last one standing is the winner.
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