If you live in an apartment building or a condo, it's a good idea if you can create some unique activities for your kids that can help keep both of you busy.

For those people who want to keep their energetic kids busy in an apartment, check out some of these fun ideas that will help keep your little ones entertained.

No matter how big or how small an apartment is, it always has a kitchen. Search for some kid-friendly recipes online or look for cookbooks geared towards children at your local library. Not only will the kids learn some cooking skills that can be helpful to them as they get older, but hopefully it will spark an interest in trying and cooking new foods, which may even become a lifelong passion for them.

Try reintroducing quiet time toys that have been set aside and long forgotten by your kids; they are great to play within an apartment, especially nowadays since most kids are only playing with or staying busy using a smartphone or ipad. Keep an eye out for toys like Legos, K'Nex, and Playmobile; they are good examples of great imagination-building toys that can be bought in kits and will make for hours of indoor playtime and creativity inside your apartment. 

Another tip: don't buy many toys at once. Keep the purchase simple so the children aren’t overwhelmed by a decision or with which toy to play with first. Inevitably, too many new toys at once usually means something will get tossed aside and the money will not have been well spent. Instead, make time to go to the toy shop together with the kids and pick out only their first choice for an activity kit.

There are lots of active games that don’t require a lot of space to play. So even if you live in a small apartment, the kids can still have a great time and be happy enjoying a fun game.

When you search this type of game online, you will find tons of active board games for all ages. Some favorites to recommend are: Richard Scarry Airport Game (3+), Angelina Ballerina Dance With Me Game (3+), Jake and the Never Land Pirates Never Land Challenge (3+), Cranium Hullabaloo (4+), Cat in the Hat I Can Do That! (4+), Sturdy Birdy (5+), and Twister (6+).

Let your kids play astonishing games with the balloons. Your kids will find it enjoyable to play games with balloons such as, "Don't Let the Balloon Touch the Floor"; volleyball, balloon soccer, or hockey; make balloon pinatas; balloon waddle races; balloon stomp and so many more that you can search online. It’s easy and inexpensive to start - just buy a pack of balloons from the store, blow them up and let the fun begin!

Try to make an obstacle course that's appropriate for your kids' age and ability in your living room. You can use furniture, pillows, tunnels, ropes, balls, and anything else you've got lying around your house to create obstacles that they can jump over, duck under, roll across, limbo past, and run through. Create some friendly competition and let them race against each other. This will develop their balance, flexibility, and even their confidence in themselves. Plus, they're guaranteed to sleep well as they will be extra tired that night.

Since many parents do their workouts at home, try inviting your children to burn some energy with you. Kids love to imitate the things done by their parents. Let your kids challenge each other to do traditional workout moves such as crunches, planks, squats, burpees, wall sits, jumping jacks, mountain climbers, lunges, and running in place. Considering buying a mini trampoline for them to jump on that will surely tire them out. Play some music that your kids know and dance it out together. As an added bonus, exercising together regularly can help give them a head start for a healthy lifestyle from an early age.

Fort-building is an all-time favorite pastime of most children. Let your kids make a fort out of every blanket and sheet in the house. Once the fort is built, they will sit inside it playing games, eating snacks, or reading books for hours.

It is a simple, fun activity for kids, but it can also help develop problem-solving skills and creativity. Let them use bedding or even cardboard boxes. Move some furniture around and let them find the other supplies they need around the apartment. Let their creativity shine through and try to not worry about the mess, just let them go with it. The giggles you will hear from inside the fort will be well worth it!

Many young families are content to rent a place, instead of buying a house. Although the kids may sometimes miss out on having a yard to play in or a driveway to ride their bike, there’s no reason they can’t have just as much fun. Do your best to find alternative activities that are fun and engaging for them to use as an outlet to exert their energy.

If you are looking for a great space to call home, call Thousand Hills Realty today at 417-337-8081 and let us help you find the Branson area apartment that is right for your family!