5 Games for Restless Kids

Restless kids need to learn self-control, and the best way to achieve this is through games - here are some ideas!

Reviewed and approved by the psychopedagogue María José Roldán.

Written by María José Roldán

Last update: 27 December, 2022

Not all children are calm and quiet, and this doesn’t have to be a bad thing – far from it! When children are fidgety or antsy, it means they’re happy and excited to explore their environment. Still, restless kids can get on parents’ nerves and that’s why we’re going to recommend some games that are ideal for them.

It’s important not to generalize all restless kids and to know what the cause of such behavior is. There are children who are this way by their own nature and live happily, while others become this way when something disturbs them and they don’t know how to express it in any other way.

In this sense, it’s essential that parents, who know their children best, are able to discover what’s happening with their children. One way to achieve this is through games, and we’ll tell you how to use this strategy to your advantage.

Games to entertain restless kids

It’s normal for the parents of restless kids to feel emotionally overwhelmed. Sometimes, it’s difficult for parents to accept that this is one of the idiosyncrasies of their little ones and that it’s not the consequence of having done something wrong in their upbringing. This guilt is even stronger when compared to the calm children of other close families.

In reality, there’s no one to blame for this type of temperament. It’s simply that some children are this way and you have to adapt to them when certain activities arise. Here are some games that may be attractive for your restless kids. Take note!

1- Balloon games

Balloons are always a good idea for children to play with and have fun for a while. So, don’t hesitate to use them with nervous kids. You’ll get them to have a great time and also calm down almost without realizing it.

Balloons attract a lot of attention because of their colors and different shapes. Kids can play in a calmer way than with a ball and they can even use them inside the house.

Some ways to take advantage of this element are the following:

• Play soccer or basketball.
• See how long they can keep it in the air without it touching the ground.
• Run a penguin race carrying the balloon between their legs.
• Blowing the balloon as high as possible.

2- Jumping games

Jumping games are also a great idea because restless kids burn their energy in a fun way and without upsetting others.

You can draw lines on the floor with some spaces and make a jumping race or make a sack challenge and see who gets to a specific point first.

Another idea is to simply play music and start jumping as long as they can stand it.

And for the bravest of little ones, you can have a competition to see who can reach the highest number of objects hanging from a great height. As the kids catch the items, shorten the rope more and more to increase the challenge.

3- Soap bubbles

Bubbles are always a great idea for restless kids to play and have a great time.

All you need is one or several wands of different sizes and the desire to blow lots of bubbles! Children can play by exploding them or practice blowing them themselves. You’ll see how they’ll calm down almost without noticing.

Another idea is to play statues. You can play music, and while the music is playing, the children can pop the bubbles in the air. But when the melody stops, they’ll have to turn into statues and resist the urge to explode them until the next song. It’s a great game to exercise and encourage self-control!

4- Eggs on spoons

Eggs on spoons is a super simple activity. Simply put a spoon in your mouth, holding it by the handle, and place a boiled egg in the spoon.

Wherever you are, you have to define a path to follow to take the egg from the starting point to the finish line. Whoever gets there first without dropping the food wins.

Even though it’s a race, this game doesn’t require speed or endurance to see who can run the fastest. Rather, it encourages the development of balance, patience, and perseverance. If you drop the egg, you have to start all over again! You can also play this game with cotton balls or pom-poms instead of eggs.

5- Hide and seek

Hide and seek is a classic game that kids always love. It requires a certain amount of self-discipline and self-control, which is a challenge for restless kids. However, when they manage to master it, they have a great time.

While one counts, the others hide and then the counter has to find them. But those how are hiding can’t make any noise from their hiding places and they can’t move from one place to another. Being unnoticed is the most important thing, which isn’t always easy for restless kids.

Restless kids also need to play and have fun

We know that it’s not easy to raise a restless and antsy child. But you should know that, in general, these attitudes are typical of childhood. Because children are eager to explore absolutely everything around them.

However, there are certain conditions in which these qualities are extreme and parents are quite worn out on a daily basis. For this reason, it’s important to consult your pediatrician if your child’s behavior arouses concern in order to determine whether it’s an aspect of their personality or a health problem.

Finally, we must emphasize that, no matter what a child is like, they have the right and the need to play and have fun. Because through play, children learn, develop, become part of the society in which they live, manage their emotions, and reached the best state of well-being that they can. Therefore, keep playing with your child and encourage them to stay active. Playing is healthy.