Indoor bowling is a brilliant way to keep kids active and entertained—especially on days when going out isn’t an option.
With just a few empty bottles and a soft ball, you can transform a hallway or lounge into a mini bowling alley. It’s great for hand-eye coordination, motor skills, turn-taking, and a healthy dose of cheering each other on.
There’s no need for special equipment, and it can be scaled up or down depending on the space you’ve got. Plus, it’s the kind of game that keeps little ones coming back for “just one more go”.
Materials Needed
- 6–10 empty plastic bottles or soft toy pins
- Soft ball (e.g. foam, rolled-up socks, or small plush ball)
- Optional: masking tape to mark lanes or starting lines
- Paper and pencil for scoring (optional)
Tools Needed
- None
Steps
- Set Up the Pins
Arrange your bottles in a triangle formation at one end of a hallway or open space. - Mark a Start Line
Use masking tape or a cushion to show where to bowl from. - Take Turns
Each player rolls or gently throws the ball to try to knock over as many pins as they can. - Keep Score (Optional)
Score one point per pin, or just play for fun and see who gets a strike! - Reset and Repeat
Set the pins back up after each round. Take turns or play in teams.
Variations
- Glow Bowling: Add glow sticks inside bottles and dim the lights for a night-time version.
- Themed Pins: Decorate bottles as monsters, animals, or favourite characters.
- Obstacle Challenge: Add soft objects in the “lane” to roll around or bounce off.
- Target Practice: Use fewer pins and challenge kids to hit specific ones for extra points.
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