Best indoor games (and more!) for the sport-loving kid - Yahoo Sports

Winter is a great time to get outside and enjoy the outdoors, but some days, that’s just not possible. Luckily, Canadian Tire and Yahoo are here to help. From family-friendly recipes to make when you’re snowed in to games to keep kids of all ages entertained indoors, we’re bringing you everything you need for the season.

The past several months have been filled with new challenges and changes to many people’s schedules — especially children. Play is children’s language, and they’ve had to deal with plenty of cancellations when it comes to youth sports and activities.

Luckily, there are plenty of ways to bring that team spirit to your own house — even when you’re spending a lot of it indoors during the cold Canadian winter. Not only will these games and activities put a smile on their face, but they’ll will keep your immediate family entertained all winter long.

Bring the game back into your household this season with these toys and games, including air hockey and ping pong.

For the hockey fan

If your child is used to spending the winter months at the arena playing ice hockey with their friends, an air hockey table is a great way to continue to build on that skillset. This addictive game will bring out a healthy competitive spirit in your youngest and oldest family members. It’s a safe game for everyone, and a great way to engage family members who don’t love skating.

You’ll also need to make sure you have some air hockey-friendly pucks, like these ones. These pucks have a slick design for the ultimate fast-paced rebound action and come in 3 different sizes, making them user-friendly for any air hockey table.

If your home doesn’t have a lot of extra space for a traditional air hockey table, try bringing the fun and excitement to any room in your home with the Tabletop Air Hockey Table. It’s crucial to select an air hockey table with less assembly time so you can have optimal playing time with your family.

An air hockey tournament sounds like the perfect idea to make great memories for your family this winter. Whether you’re playing one on one or a family round robin, the EastPoint Sports Sombrero Hover Hockey Pushers are a must have. The sombrero-style shape makes it easy for holding, and the soft bottoms will allow you to glide smoothly across the tabletop and send the puck right into your opponent’s net.

For the tennis player

Table tennis or ping pong is the perfect game to play with any person in your family, young or old, because it calls for less physical strength and more hand-eye coordination. It also helps keep you mentally sharp because you’re continuously thinking, planning and strategizing during the game. It’s a great challenge, and a fun skill to hone with your family on snowy weekends.

If you’re looking for something with quick and easy setup, the EasyPoint Sports Everywhere Table Tennis is a great options — it can be set up at any table in your house by just simply setting up the retractable net system. The setup takes minutes, but you’ll be playing for hours.

If you’re looking to create more of a designated ping pong area, something like the Swiftflyte Smash Table Tennis Table is a great addition to any rec room for any competitive family. It has an easy rollaway with its trundle system for compact storage, and it has storage cubbies for rackets and balls.

Of course, you’ll want to purchase some table tennis paddles and balls. t’s a good idea to invest in a large quantity of balls so you can let the fun fly and pick them up once the game is done.

Although it sometimes seems like you’re standing in one spot, ping pong can be a great form of exercise because it’s a fast, reflexive sport, no matter the level you’re playing at, so it helps burn calories and improve heart rate. burn calories and improve your heart rate.

For the soccer lover

The soccer-loving kid in your life will fall in love with a foosball table — especially when their usual practice area is covered in two feet of snow.

Foosball is a family game, and there is no age restriction involved, which makes it another great choice for days spent at home. We suggest making it a team event and having a fun tournament — if there’s an odd number of family members, have someone rotate scorekeeper.