If you're stuck indoors with preschoolers, you can still find creative ways to burn off their energy and entertain them at the same time. Try a classic game, like "Duck, Duck, Goose." Have children sit in a circle while one child walks around patting the others on the head. The walking child will say "duck" as he pats each friend, and finally choose one friend to be the "goose." The goose then has to chase the patting child, and the patting child must run around the circle all the way and sit in the goose's spot before being caught. Then the goose becomes the one to pat the heads of his classmates in the next round.
You can also try a musical game. Download or purchase a collection of preschool songs, and you will find that several of them come with game songs. Try "Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes;" kids will enjoy speeding up the song as they point to their body parts. You can also have a lot of fun with a popular preschool favorite, the "Tooty Ta" song. In this song, kids simply have to follow the directions for moving their bodies; by the end of it, they will be on the floor with laughter.
If you can get outside, your preschool children can enjoy a larger space for playtime and fresh air and sunshine as well. Make an obstacle course in your back yard using outdoor toys, chairs, and cardboard boxes. Instruct kids to go over, under, around and through the obstacles you have created. This will help them practice moving in different ways and also learn directional language and prepositional phrases.
Another game, called "What Time Is It, Mr. Fox?" is like a combination of "Red Light/Green Light" and "Simon Says" (both of which also work to entertain outdoors). The adult stands on one side of the yard, with the kids lined up facing him. The kids will say, "What time is it, Mr. Fox?" and you will answer with "It's time to ____________." Fill in the blank with goofy activities, such as hopping on one foot or walking backwards. When the kids come close to you, say "It's midnight!" and chase them back to the beginning.
Almost any activity can become a game for preschool kids. Encourage your children to help around the house by having a toy cleaning race between siblings. Or show your children how to fold laundry or load the dishwasher, and that becomes a game for them as well. Turn regular household working time into an opportunity to ask your child about colors, numbers and sizes; then you can incorporate games into your entire day.