Introduction
Summer holidays mean lots of free time and endless energy for kids. While outdoor play is great for fresh air and movement, indoor games are just as important to keep kids busy and happy during hot afternoons or rainy days. With a little creativity and some simple things, you already have at home, you can keep your child active, entertained and smiling all summer long.
You don’t need expensive toys or gadgets. Everyday things like potatoes, onions, bananas, lemons and even pulses like moong or chana can become part of fun games. Whether it’s balancing a potato on a spoon during an outdoor race or using moong dal for an indoor art challenge, simple ingredients can lead to big fun.
These games not only keep kids physically engaged but also help develop important skills like balance, teamwork, creativity and problem solving. Some games encourage healthy competition; some offer quiet moments of focus — both are important for your child’s growth.
Outdoor and Indoor Summer Games to Keep Kids Active and Happy
Summer holidays are the perfect time to let your child relax, play, and learn in joyful ways. With the right mix of indoor and outdoor games, you can help them stay physically active, mentally sharp, and emotionally content — all while making use of items you already have at home.
Outdoor Games
Lemon Spoon Race
Give each child a spoon and a lemon. Ask them to walk or run to a fixed point while balancing the lemon. As per a study published in, Bioinformation 2022, it’s a classic game that improves coordination, balance, and focus. Use real lemons from your kitchen — they’re light, round, and perfect for this challenge.
Vegetable Treasure Hunt
Hide common vegetables like carrots, cucumbers, and tomatoes around your garden or balcony. Give your child clues or a small list to find them all. As per a study published in, Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021 this game builds observation, problem-solving, and introduces children to healthy foods in a playful way.
Potato Relay Challenge
Divide kids into two teams. Each child carries a potato from one point to another and hands it to the next teammate. The team that finishes first wins. Potatoes are easy to hold, available in every home, and add a quirky twist to relay races.
Watermelon Toss
Use small-sized watermelons or round plastic fruits to play catch or toss in teams. You can even cut a watermelon and enjoy it as a reward after the game. As per a study published in, Bioinformation 2022, it’s a simple way to combine physical activity with a delicious seasonal fruit.
Coriander Leaf Tag
Before the game begins, give each player a coriander leaf to tuck into their pocket. The aim is to protect your leaf while trying to grab someone else’s. As per a study published in, Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021, This game improves reflexes, running skills, and teaches kids about one of the most-used herbs in Indian homes.
Indoor Games
Moong Dal Art Time
Give your child a sheet of paper, glue, and a bowl of moong dal or chana dal. Ask them to create simple pictures or designs by sticking the dal on paper. According to ministry of youth affair and sports, this improves focus, fine motor skills, and introduces kids to pulses in a fun, hands-on way.
Spice Guessing Game
Blindfold your child and hand them common Indian spices like haldi (turmeric), elaichi (cardamom), or jeera (cumin). Let them smell or feel the spice and guess its name. According to ministry of youth affair and sports, this fun sensory game improves memory and connects them to ingredients they see in everyday cooking.
Fruit Memory Match
Create small cards with pictures or drawings of fruits like banana, mango, guava, and papaya. Place them face down. Your child flips two cards at a time to find a match. According to ministry of youth affair and sports, this classic memory game boosts concentration and helps them learn fruit names easily.
Chana Toss in a Cup
Give your child some roasted chana and a few cups. Place the cups at different distances and ask them to toss chana into the cups. Score each cup differently. It’s a quiet yet engaging game that sharpens aim and keeps little hands busy.
Vegetable Shadow Match
Cut out black paper silhouettes of vegetables like brinjal, onion, and capsicum. Mix them up with the actual vegetables and ask your child to match each one with its shadow. It’s a creative way to teach recognition and shape-matching indoors.
Conclusion
Whether your child is playing outside in the fresh air or inside during the hot afternoons, summer games can be full of joy, learning, and gentle movement. Using easily available Indian ingredients like pulses, fruits, vegetables, and spices makes the experience more relatable, fun, and educational. These activities not only keep your child active and happy but also help them appreciate the beauty in simple things — from a slice of watermelon to a handful of moong dal.
References
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7967628/
https://www.ijrrjournal.com/IJRR_Vol.11_Issue.3_March2024/IJRR41.pdf
Tarishi Shrivastava is a young writer who has covered a range of topics on children's health, including nutrition, fitness, sleep, and parent-child bonding. With a keen interest in simplifying wellness for parents, she brings a practical and engaging approach to her writing. Beyond work, she enjoys exploring new ideas, staying curious, and creating meaningful content.
The views expressed are that of the expert alone.
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