Fun Challenges for Kids at Home (Sibling Games!)

Doing fun challenges for kids at home can help them mature into great team players. They can practice winning graciously, loosing with a good attitude, and being friendly competition through fun activities at home.

---

I saw someone mention recently that they like to create challenges for their kids.

I sat on this a while because… well… I don’t feel I’m that competitive really. But, honestly, my kids are! I was an only child and maybe that has something to do with it. I was always the winner!

If you have a child who hates to lose or is a sore loser, maybe creating some challenges amongst siblings could help them learn to win and lose graciously.

Here are some fun challenge for kids that mom can plan at home:

Fun challenges for kids at home can help teach kids how to practice friendly competition, show grace when winning, and lose with the right attitude.

Stacking Challenges

Kids love stacking things. Why not make it a challenge game?

See who can stack the highest…

• cup castle,
• marshmallow/spaghetti tower,
• apple slice/toothpick castle,
• card stack,
• lego house,
• paper cups/paper plates stack, or
• mountain of blocks.

Have fun with it by adding in extra challenges like, “include a lego man somewhere in your tower” or “build your stack on top of a pillow.”

You could also set a time limit for the build to add in an extra element of competition.

Strength Challenges

Remember building the strongest bridge out of toothpicks in your sixth grade science class? Or seeing who can pop the balloon first at that friends birthday party? So much fun!

You can do simple challenges like this at home – with supplies you have.

• strongest paper clip chain
• strongest bridge made of toothpicks, clothes pins, pipe cleaners, popsicle sticks, or fallen tree branches
• pop the ballon competition on a chair or on the ground
• tie balloon to foot and try to pop each others balloon
• hat made of straws and play-dough
• strongest bridge made of rolled newspapers and tape
• best raft made of paper, sticks, popsicle sticks, pipe cleaners, toilet paper rolls, etc.

Active Challenges

Some kids really love to compete in active challenges. And, it may just blow enough steam off to keep your sanity.

• racing- this can be running, skipping, hopping, or even crab walking
• make a back yard or indoor obstacle course
• how many push ups, sit ups, or burpees can you do in a minute?
• tag – color tag, animal tag, or whatever you’re calling out to get off freeze tag
• red rover, red rover
• egg really race or potato drop race (hold potato between legs while running)
• kick the can
• capture the flag
• relay races
• hide and seek
• red light/green light
• holding breath under water in pool
• musical chairs

Target Challenges

Target challenges can be a fun way to grow some competitive spirit. You can play target games as teams or individually. And, kids love throwing things.

An easy DIY target game is to make your own bean bag toss. You can create bean bags out of anything really (old socks filled with beans, etc.) Set some cans up and have fun with it.

• yard golf
• corn hole
• bean bag games
• Nurf gun target practice
• bowling with kick ball and cans/bottles
• darts
• mini gulf
• sling shot challenges

Target challenges are just one type of fun challenge for kids to do at home.

Read: How to keep kids active during winter even when it’s cold

Brainy Challenges

For the children who love to use their cognitive skills in challenges- these games may really help teach some core values.

• sorting a bowl of misc. items for a time
• give sequences (numbers, items, names, etc.) and have them memorize/recall as much as they can
• card games
• dominos
• rock, paper, scissors
• board games
• music note reading challenge
• memorization of scriptures, poems, or lyrics

Is your kid the brainy type? Would he/she enjoy brainy fun challenges for kids at home?

Here are some benefits to having fun challenges for kids at home:

• Competition helps kids grow athletically and in fine motor skills.
• Kids learn that competition can be fun.
• It can improve self-confidence.
• They can practice feeling the pressure of a competition in the safety of their home.
• Competitions help teach kids how to handle defeat graciously.
• Kids learn how to set goals and reach for them (working together or individually).
• It can give kids something to do other than play on their devices.
• Kids learn self-discipline, goal setting, and perseverance.
• Challenges can be fun times spent with the family.