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Indoor Playground Ideas

March 04, 2022 · By Team GG

Does cold or dreary weather have you stuck inside with energetic kids? With these ideas from Courtney at @playroominspo, you’ll be able to set up your very own indoor playground. “We live in Canada, which means we get lots of snow storms and it gets extremely cold – too cold for outdoor playgrounds. I love having active play ideas that are simple to set up to help get their wiggles out!” Whether you're stuck inside because of lingering winter weather or rainy spring days... get ready to say bye-bye zoomies, hello zen (at least for a little while!). Read on for some of Courtney’s favorites for her two-year-old and four-year-old kids.

Activity Set Up: Obstacle Course

Two children play on an obstacle course, complete with climbing triangle, stepping stones, and Nugget Crawl over or jump off the Nugget triangle pillows, balance on stepping stones, climb the Pikler triangle and somersault onto the Nugget cushion. “My 4-year-old is loving somersaults and using the Nugget has made this much safer! He sets up the stepping stones himself and loves moving them around. This obstacle course is great because his little brother is able to have fun too. We are able to practice so many skills in one activity, such as jumping, leaping, climbing and balancing. They play with this for at least an hour, which is amazing!”

Activity Set Up: Sports

Set up Nugget as a backboard, soccer net or bowling lane.

Child out of frame throws a basketball at the net, which is framed with a Nugget couch to roll the ball back to the player like an arcade basketball game. Gametime, anyone? “My two-year-old and four-year-old love physical activities that include catching, throwing and kicking. They have been getting very good with their basketball net! We will even turn out the lights and turn on a projector for some “cosmic” bowling which they absolutely love!”

A Nugget bowling alley, with the pins and ball framed by two vertical Nugget cushions serving as the alley lanes.

Activity Set Up: Playground

An indoor playground, complete with climbing ramp, swing, and Nugget build. A colorful world map is on the background wall. Create a simple playground using a Nugget slide, indoor swing and ramp. “These activities are my kids’ favorites! We have a swing that attaches to the ceiling as well as one that fits in a doorway, which sets up in 5 minutes. It is so fun watching them run from activity to activity, which includes their favorite Nugget slide.”

Activity Set Up: Arcade

Nugget cushions create a ramp, with wooden arch toys set up as Skee-ball targets Create a Skee-Ball game by using the Nugget to create a lane and a “ball-hop” hump that jumps the ball into bullseye rings. “Creating fun games that include tossing balls or beanbags is a must with my kids. That is why this setup is always in rotation. We switch it up by using small baskets or even laundry baskets! I love playing too if they let me.”

Activity Set Up: Maze

Nugget cushions placed vertically to create maze walls. A child walks through the maze towards a bright green tunnel. Use the Nugget to create a maze adding other fun items such as a tunnel. Use simple painter’s tape on the floor to continue the maze for extra fun! “My 2-year-old loves when I create a maze for him and goes through it over and over again. The Nugget is the perfect height for him so that he can’t see out. I also use painter’s tape on the floor for balance practice or to extend the maze which really makes my kid’s eyes light up. It gets used as a road for their vehicles after which makes it a great 2-in-1 activity.”

Looking for more ideas? Check out Courtney’s page @playroominspo and find your next activity!