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During the dark winter days when kids are stuck inside, boredom can set in quickly. Fortunately, true play — play that is spontaneous, inventive and active — is a real boredom buster. Try these ideas and get your family or holiday guests busy.
Try these back-to-basics games from Lise O’Haire, author and activity expert. They require only the players, their imaginations, their minds and a little humour.

Mysterious Mugs (Middle School)

The object of this game is to test your ability to find hidden objects.

Number of Players: Two or more
Location: Indoors or outdoors
Equipment: Three identical mugs, cups or shells; and one small soft object (such as a marshmallow or rubber ball)
Type of Game: Guessing
Energy Level: Calm

Can you guess which upside-down mug is hiding the treasure? Play with a partner or in teams. Find three identical mugs, cups (paper is fine) or shells plus one small soft object to hide, such as a marshmallow, piece of cereal or rubber ball (something that does not make much noise when shuffled on a tabletop).

If you’re playing with one other person, have your partner turn the mugs upside down and place the marshmallow under one of them. As your partner watches, shuffle the mugs around, constantly rearranging their order. Talk or sing the whole time to distract your partner. Then line up the three mugs in a row.

See if your partner can guess which mug conceals the marshmallow. If her guess is correct, it’s her turn to move the mugs; if not, you do it again. Each correct guess earns one point. The first person to 10 points wins. For group play, divide into teams and play the same way.

Backward to Basics (Elementary School)

The object of this game is to do everything backward.

Number of Players: One or more
Location: Indoors
Equipment: Paper, pencil and a cup
Type of Game: Backward
Energy Level: Calm

Everything seems so simple until you do it backward. This is a great activity to try by yourself or with your friends. The object is to do everything backward. Start by saying the alphabet backward. If you think you are good, time yourself. Now, try writing your first and last name backward.

Ready for something more advanced? Sit on the floor and put the paper behind you. Try drawing a star. Next draw a person. Can you write your name behind your back, backward?

Parading Pennies (Pre-K and Kindergarten)

The object of this game is to move around while balancing pennies on the fingertips of one hand.

Number of Players: One or more
Location: Indoors or outdoors
Equipment: Five pennies for each player
Type of Game: Balancing
Energy Level: Calm

Can you parade pennies perfectly on your fingers? To start, find five pennies for each player. Choose a hand to use. Palm up, place a penny on each fingertip. See if you can walk without dropping any. Feeling confident? Try hopping.

Once you’ve mastered that, try to transfer the pennies from one hand to the other. Slowly touch the unused hand, palm facedown, to the hand with the pennies, matching fingertip to fingertip. Now flip both hands over and remove the penniless hand. If you drop any, try again.

Reprinted with permission from the author. Please see the author for reprint rights.

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