Things to do when your bored as a kid: 28 Fun Things to Do When Kids Are Bored
29 Things to Do With Kids When Bored (That Aren’t on a Screen)
Summer break is a hop, skip, and a flip-flop away and we (admittedly tuckered out) parents now have to wrap our heads around the new title of “social activity directors” for the next three months. After a year of phasing out of virtual school and Zoom playdates, my top priority is to keep technology from becoming my summer sitter. So I need a list of things to do with kids when bored, stat!
If hindsight has taught me anything, it’s that my kids start off their summer school hiatus on a very high and bright note. At first, it’s bike rides, backyard frolics, barely breaking to shove a bite of lunch into their mouths before splashing back into the pool. I smooch their sun-kissed heads as they climb into bed, only to hear them happily giggling into the night with their siblings. That cohesive cacophony lasts about a week.
Then the sounds of boredom begin to bounce off every wall of the house. Toss in some whimper whining and a bit of bickering, plus the sing-song tattletale sound of “moOOmmmm!” and it’s all I can do to not lock myself in the pantry.
This year, preparation will be my sanity. Pulling together a list of activities that will keep the kids occupied, motivated, well-rounded and grounded will help keep the good vibes flowing and make for a balanced summer to remember for the whole family.
Keep reading to discover the 29 ways I’m keeping boredom at bay, then tell us in the comments… how do you keep your kids entertained when they’re home?
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Something Active
1. Family yoga. Invest in yoga mats for the whole family, spread them out in the grass, and encourage each other to bond, move and connect.
2. Dance party. Pump up your Bluetooth speaker and take turns picking songs to rock out to together. Have the kids come up with fun dance routines to then show the whole family at the end of the day. It’s also a great way for adults to shake up their day when working from home.
3. Slip and slide the day away. When the dog days of summer are upon us and there isn’t a pool in sight—your kids will love a slip-n-slide for splashy, cool fun.
Don’t have a slip n slide on hand and no time to run to the store? Encourage your kids to make their own water park using the hose and some tarp.
4. DIY an at-home parkour course. Grab stepping stones (either purchased or from the backyard), boulders, logs, and sturdy furniture to create your own family obstacle course. Activities such as jumping, climbing, and balancing boost confidence and flexibility. Don’t have everything they’ll need right in your own yard? Consider opting for this kit, instead.
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Something Imaginative
5. Make a fort or yard campsite. Ideal for indoor or outdoor fun, break into the linen closet and create an elaborate fort using blankets, sheets, and pillows. Extra points for flashlights and storytelling inside.
6. Take a trip without leaving the house. Inspire kids to think outside our borders by picking a country out of the acclaimed children’s book, Around the World with Mouk: A Trail of Adventure.
Motivate them to learn about their chosen country’s culture, language, currency, and even food.
7. Make magic. Invest in a few magician’s supplies now, and by the end of this summer, they just may be pulling a quarter out of your ears.
8. Host a puppet show. With just a few household items (clean socks, paper, scissors, and glue) you can make your own sock puppets and then host a puppet show at home.
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Something for Others
9. Book exchange. Encourage your kids to start a neighborhood book exchange. It will keep the kids engaged with one another and keep their reading skills from getting dusty.
10. Write a letter. Take a trip to the post office and allow them to pick out their own set of stamps. Then encourage them to mail out actual hand-written letters to help brighten a family or friend’s day.
11. Set up a lemonade stand. Get all the fixings for refreshing lemonade (either store-bought or homemade).
Afterward, donate the proceeds to a local charity of your child’s choice.
12. Whip up lunch for a neighbor. Consider allowing the kids to make brown bag lunches for neighbors using food from your pantry. Nothing fancy. Think sammies, chips, and maybe some homemade brownies (we’re partial to these).
13. Handmade drawings for senior citizens. Especially now, loneliness is happening in quiet corners. Encourage your kids to draw or assemble an art piece for a nearby assisted living facility, drop it off safely and with masks on, and brighten someone’s day.
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Something Creative
14. Make vision boards. Have a future teacher, engineer, or fashion designer on your hands? Allow the kids to rummage through magazines and catalogs and create a collage incorporating all their hopes and dreams for their future selves, whether it’s a month, year, or a decade down the road.
15. Tie-dye time. Grab some old tees and go to town with tie-dye.
16. Make a no-sew blanket. Here are the easy steps to making cozy, fleece blankets.
17. Get creative with butcher paper. Take turns tracing each other on white butcher paper, color and cut them out and tape to the windows.
18. Sharpen your origami skills. Add the works of art to the family dinner table for place settings to be proud of.
19. Press your own flowers. Grab a book, something heavy to place on top, paper, and an array of flowers and leaves… and voila! Your kids will have all they’ll need to make gorgeous pressed flowers at home.
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Something Delicious
20. Host a bake-off. Are your kids as obsessed with Nailed It as mine? Recreate the show in your very own kitchen. Mom Tip: The Milk Bar: Kids Only cookbook teaches older children to bake delicious goodies in an easy-to-follow format without the help of mom and dad.
21. Create a smoothie taste test. Browse recipes and encourage your kids to have a Top Chef-style smoothie-off.
Start with pineapple or chocolate.
22. Whip up homemade popsicles. An easy crowdpleaser that the kids can do all on their own. We love these and these or go the extra mile with chocolate-covered banana popsicles.
23. Hometown food tour. Load up in the car and make a day of seeing the sights that you never have time to do, focusing on a different part of town or park each time. Take note of tasty ice cream and local snack stops along the way and at the end of summer, you’ll have a master list.
24. Learn to make ice cream. Not only does it lead to a delicious treat, but the old-school churning process will also tire kids out.
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Something Productive
25. Wash the car. That’s right. Grab an old, ratty bathing suit, break out the hose and go to town scrubbing down the cars. Make it a splash fest and you’ll keep cool while getting the cars squeaky clean.
26. Tidy up. I know, I know, but try making it fun. A little ‘whistling while they work’ can make all the difference.
Turn up the tunes, gather up clothes and toys they no longer use, put items in their correct storage bins and cubbies, and encourage them to make room in their personal spaces so that creativity can thrive!
27. Neighborhood trash patrol. Put on some gloves, grab some kitchen trash bags for garbage collection, and hit the streets. Parents, you’ll need to be present for this one, unless your kids are older.
28. Plant a garden. Round up gardening gloves, shovels, herbs, and seeds of your choice and go to town in the backyard. Here’s how to start.
29. Plan and prep a meal together. Allow your kids to sift through a cookbook and decide on a meal. Then have them order the ingredients either via Amazon Prime or Instacart, allowing the kids to handle every step of the process. Lastly, when the groceries arrive, they’ll unload, prep, and cook a meal. Added bonus: they’ll never take a home-cooked dinner for granted again.
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100+ Super Fun Activities For Kids And Teens So Bored They Can’t Even
Parenting
by Team Scary Mommy
Updated:
Originally Published:
Blake Barlow/ Burst
Ugh. Few things are as frustrating when a parent hears from their kid those two words: “I’m bored.” No child caregiver want their children to sit around aimlessly for hours without anything to do, especially when watching TV or screen time isn’t an option. Not only because the kids will probably start demanding your attention in order to keep them entertained (and meanwhile you’ve got a million things to do so you don’t even have time to get bored) but mostly because there’s no excuse for boredom. There are so many amazing activities, big and small, to keep kids and teens preoccupied with.
Check out our curated list of over 100 fun activities to keep kids and teens preoccupied with when they’re so bored they can’t even.
- Play a sport outside.
- Go for a bike ride.
- Play a board game.
- Create a movie or video game.
- Journal.
- Paint.
- Create a cartoon or comic strip.
- Make breakfast in bed for their parents.
- Go hiking.
- Try a new water sport.
- Go swimming.
- Learn some key phrases of a new language.
- Make jewelry.
- Make a snack.
- Learn how to do origami.
- Walk your dog, or a neighbor’s friendly pooch.
- Jump rope.
- Meditate.
- Wash mom or dad’s car.
- Create a lemonade stand.
- Go on a picnic.
- Play hide-and-seek.
- Have a dance party.
- Throw a slumber party.
- Make a card for a beloved family member.
- Read a book.
- Have a pool party.
- Learn how to plant vegetables and plants.
- Clean and organize their bedroom.
- Take out the trash and do other light chores.
- Make a fort.
- Volunteer in the community.
- Go to the movies.
- Watch an indoor play or performance.
- Practice a musical instrument.
- Go fishing.
- Brush and bathe the family pet.
- Practice yoga.
- Go to a fitness class.
- Go through your closet and create new outfits.
- Write a story.
- Sketch a favorite animal.
- Sleep underneath the stars.
- Create a stop motion video.
- Create a blog or website on their favorite hobby.
- Research a favorite city or country.
- Watch a documentary.
- Record a song that you know how to play on an instrument or sing.
- Play with clay.
- Put on a performance for family and friends.Related: 40+ Conversation Starters For Teenagers To Make Life Less Awk
- Create a vision board.
- Make a gratitude journal.
- Paint their toenails.
- Babysit.
- Collect rocks.
- Go ice skating or roller skating.
- Go the park.
- Do a puzzle.
- Learn how to cook at least three meals really well.
- Bake cookies or brownies.
- Learn how to braid their own hair.
- Learn how to put on make-up.
- Go for a walk.
- Learn how to skateboard.
- Make your favorite pizza.
- Write a letter to family or friend who lives far away.
- Listen to an audiobook.
- Write an article and submit it to an online publication.
- Play dress up.
- Create your own knock knock jokes.
- Memorize a monologue.
- Learn to play dominoes.
- Go fishing.
- Write poetry.
- Learn how to take good photos.
- Watch the sunrise and/or set.
- Have a cookout.
- Go ziplining.
- Play in the sand and make sandcastles.
- Redecorate your room.
- Clean out your closet.
- Create a music playlist.
- Practice cartwheels.
- Sing karaoke with friends.
- Hold an open comedy mic night with friends.
- Research family history.
- Hold a clothes swap.
- Have a water fight.
- Go geo-caching.
- Clean up a local beach.
- Have a home spa day.
- Host a book club.
- Skip stones at a nearby pond.
- Learn how to play poker or other card games.
- Visit a local animal shelter.
- Visit a local botanical garden.
- Create sidewalk art with chalk.
- Play hop skotch.
- Play mini-golf.
- Go to a concert.
- Write a haiku
Related: 182 Hilarious Jokes For Kids That Adults Find Funny Too
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There comes a time in every person’s life when the usual activities get boring and everything around seems uninteresting.
You should not immediately turn to your phone – we have compiled a list of hobbies that will not let you “die of boredom”. If you don’t know what to do, try our options!
1. Play a musical instrument. And if you don’t know how, it’s time to learn!
2. Write a short story or essay. Or just write down whatever comes to mind.
3. Solve the crossword. You can do it yourself or involve your loved ones and arrange a real intellectual competition. nine0003
4. Make origami. To make it work, follow the instructions from the video tutorials on YouTube.
5. Play a board game. For more fun, invite friends or family members to join. Monopoly, Elias, Overboard or Jenga – choose any option.
6. Assemble the mosaic. This one will not only distract you from boredom, but will also be a great workout for the mind.
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Run a romantic comedy marathon. Or any other films. And don’t forget the popcorn! nine0003
8. Remember your childhood and sing songs from your favorite Disney cartoons.
9. Plan your next vacation. Do not just dream, but look at hotels, save useful links in your notes, make a selection of places you would like to visit, or even make a sightseeing route. So you will not only be distracted, but also save yourself time in the future.
10. Organize your wardrobe, try on clothes, create stylish looks with them. Or go to the store. Even if you did not expect to make purchases, it will definitely not be superfluous to evaluate the range of brands, note current trends for yourself and train your eyesight. nine0003
11. Write a letter. In the era of social networks, we completely forgot about the ability to write by hand. Please your friends or loved ones with an unusual surprise and instead of another message in the messenger, send them a letter in which you express your feelings and thoughts.
12. Watch a sports game. You can turn on the match of your favorite team or watch competitions in a sport that you were not interested in before.
13. Call a friend. If you usually communicate via text messages, a simple phone call or video call can help spice things up a bit. nine0003
14. Watch a play. Instead of sticking to another reality show, turn on an online opera, ballet or classical music concert.
15. Learn a new language. Thanks to online applications, you can do this without leaving your home.
16. Throw a dance party. Turn on your favorite tracks and just dance. If in public you are embarrassed to give yourself free rein, then at home, where no one is looking at you, you can give it your all.
17. Learn the dance moves and try to film your dance on camera. Get inspired by TikTok challenges and take action! nine0003
18.
Play a video game. If you don’t have a set-top box, you can just download a couple of apps to your phone. Trust me, it’s addictive!
19. Draw. If you do not have artistic skills, painting by numbers is a great option.
20. Arrange an evening of remembrance. Print photos from important events for you, sort them out and paste them into a photo album.
21. Do you want to feel like the heroine of the film “Ghost”? Sign up for a pottery course. This is not only a useful skill, but also a very interesting and romantic hobby. And it’s also very nice when there is something made by one’s own hands in the house. nine0003
22. Make your own jewelry. It can be a beaded bracelet or a polymer clay ring. Such accessories are in trend today, in addition, you can easily find step-by-step instructions on how to create them on the Web.
23. Learn a new updo or weave.
24.
Start reading a new book or listen to a podcast on a topic of interest.
25. Change the interior. You can rearrange the furniture a little or add some bright accents to the room. A small update will help bring variety and dilute everyday life. nine0003
26. Learn a new recipe. An excellent opportunity not only to have fun, but also to please yourself with a delicious original dinner.
27. Bake cookies or learn how to decorate a cake.
28. Make a wish list. Study the catalogs of online stores and, based on what you see, make a wish list. It will not only help your friends choose a gift for you on an important date, but will also become a guide and motivation for you for future purchases.
29. Do charity work. This does not necessarily imply monetary donations. Sometimes foundations and shelters need the help of volunteers. You can visit a nursing home and pay attention to lonely old people, walk dogs in a dog shelter or read to children in an orphanage.
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30. Make a list of thanks. The incessant barrage of bad news is easily tiring, but reflecting on all the good things in our lives will help balance the equation.
31. Write down your goals for the future. Write a letter to yourself in 20 years.
32. Try knitting. This not only develops creativity, but also perfectly calms.
33. Get yourself a home spa. Make a face mask, paint your nails, soak in a bubble bath, apply cream. nine0003
34. Take up meditation and yoga. This is the perfect way to achieve harmony between mind and body.
35. Work out. Even if you do not plan to lose weight, a light exercise will benefit the body.
What to do if the child is bored?
“Sit with me, play with me! Mom, I’m bored!” – surely you have heard similar whining when the child is bored and has nothing to do.
Usually we notice these phrases more sharply when we ourselves just have something to do! nine0003
The first reaction, as a rule, is, of course, irritation: “After all, do something! Play, that’s how many toys you have! And we think to ourselves: “Well, why now!? After all, an hour ago I had time, and I offered you to play!” And here the voice of conscience involuntarily wakes up. There is a persistent sense of guilt of the eternally busy mother in front of the “abandoned” child. I want to do something urgently to correct the unbearable situation of the baby. And you “scratch your head” in search of the answer “what would you do with it?”. Sometimes you even quit your job and selflessly go to entertain your offspring. In extreme cases, turn on your computer or give him a tablet (smartphone). nine0003
But wait! Boredom is not your fault! This is just a consequence of the fact that the child still does not know how to take his free time. And this must be learned.
Planning, acting independently, occupying oneself are important acquisitions of preschool age. So boredom is not an enemy at all and not a reason to reproach yourself for the poor organization of a children’s day. Children need boredom to grow up!
Let’s see why do children get bored in general? At what age and in what situation did you first notice it? After all, there are usually so many interesting things around! Children sometimes surprise us by the fact that they can come up with a game literally from nothing, instantly find something to do, quickly make friends with an unfamiliar child on the playground … So where does this boredom come from? nine0003
Children learn to be bored for various reasons.
For example , it can be boring in between activities and activities that we have come up with for the child. We have planned everything in advance (drawing, ballet, modeling, music), but during breaks within such a structured schedule, children feel sad.
They have something like “emptying”, with which they don’t know what to do, because they have no experience – usually their mother or teacher (educator) comes up with an activity. Such kids just need to be alone with themselves and their free time. It is necessary to teach them to look for or invent an occupation for themselves, listen to their interests and desires, choose, independently take responsibility for their personal space and respect the boundaries of other people. Otherwise, the child may grow up dependent on someone else’s opinion, lack of initiative, emotionally passive. nine0003
The second option – children are just fighting for your attention, for the opportunity to be with you. This happens especially often if you are really busy and do not spend much time with your child. Children may lack communication, and their whining is “boring” – a request for love, and it is advisable to dispel the boredom of such children with joint activities: go to the park, read, build something together.
The third option – boredom can be a sign of anxiety or reduced cognitive activity. It is often found in children who are used to ready-made entertainment in the form of computer games or electronic “developers” that are always at hand (on a phone or tablet). nine0003
Psychoanalyst Otto Fenichel has formulated another reason: “Boredom appears when we are not allowed to do what we want to do or have to do what we do not want to do.” Pretty good example, right? Especially if you remember the hated quiet hour in kindergarten or standing in line.
In general, on the one hand, boredom is an inevitable reality that both we and our children periodically face. The only question is what we do with it. We succumb to its viscous influence or resist and teach our children to look for interest and meaning in what is happening around. nine0112
The poet Iosif Brodsky and the philosopher and children’s writer Oscar Brenifier, in solidarity with him, suggest a completely different way.
Unstructured time is often the only way to explore your inner world in this age of speed and instant messaging. Unstructured time is the beginning of creativity. Plunge into your childhood: the entrance door slams shut, and here you are standing in the middle of an empty courtyard in a daze. The heat, the buzzing of flies, even the sun is bored to shine. You poke the asphalt with the toe of your boot, peer at the bricks of the old house, peer into the corners, wander restlessly.
Instead of dispelling boredom, driving it away, you can indulge in boredom when it overcomes you, plunge into it, reach the very bottom, explore it and yourself in it. After all, boredom speaks the language of time, it has to teach our children the most valuable lesson – the lesson of the infinity of time and our insignificance against this background. When a person is bored, inhibition processes predominate in the cerebral cortex. Boredom is a kind of brain reset, a door to meditation, a break from eternal chatter and fuss. nine0003 