When my kids say “I’m bored,” I hand them a list of ideas. If they continue to complain, then I hand them schoolwork or a chore list!
Glow in the Dark Hexbug Tracks
Choosing Activities
-
Make sure that everything on the list is something that you are okay with them doing.
-
Choose activities that do not require your help.
-
Our list only contains things that they can do at home. (Because anything away from home requires ME!)
-
My personal conviction: I don’t put any “screens” on the list. (tv, video games, computer games, Gameboy, I-Pod, etc.) Generally, they don’t need me to give them those ideas!
Geoboards
How to Use My List
-
Copy and paste the items you like into your word processing program.
-
Add in your own ideas.
-
When your kids say they are bored, hand them your list.
-
In my house, they still have to ask permission before they do the activity. I thought they would understand that “playing in the sprinkler” would not be a good option to choose in March. Apparently not.
Burning things with a magnifying glass
Things to Do….When I’m Bored
-
Practice basketball.Wilson NCAA Blacktop Warrior Youth Basketball, Orange
-
Run laps around the backyard.
-
Practice your instrument-piano, drums, guitar, etc.
-
Listen to your MP3 player.
-
Build a tent in the basement and “camp out.”
-
Build a track for your Hot Wheels. (My boys use blocks.)
-
Build a train track.Orbrium Toys Multi-level Deluxe 100 Piece Wooden Train Track Expansion Pack Set Generic Fits Thomas Brio Chuggington
(We like loose train track so that the boys can build their own track)
-
Jump on the trampoline. (We have a mini-trampoline intended for exercising.)
-
Read your Bible.
-
Write or illustrate a book.
-
Read comic books.
-
Write or illustrate a comic strip.
-
Build a marble run. Amaze-N-Marbles 60-Piece Set
(This is my favorite of all the toys my boys own! We bought three sets so that we could build HUGE runs!)
-
Do a color or paint by number. MindWare Color Counts Animals
-
Do a maze. My Book of Mazes: Around the World
-
Draw your own maze.
-
Do a word search.First Word Search: Easy First Words
-
Make your own word search.
-
Do a Mad Lib. Kid Libs (Mad Libs)
-
Read a magazine. Zoobooks
-
Draw a picture, glue it on the cardboard from a cereal box, cut it into a puzzle, and do your puzzle.
-
Make some bowling pins and go bowling.
-
Take a bubble bath.
-
Put on a puppet show for someone.
-
On video, act out a book, play your instrument, or sing a song.
-
Play dominoes. Double 12 Dominoes
-
Build a domino run and knock it down.
-
Make a sticker book.
-
Make a card or write a letter for a friend or family member.
-
Make designs with Geoboards. Learning Resources Ler1513 Geoboard 11 X 11
-
Take pictures.
-
Write a song.
-
Read to yourself, someone else, a stuffed animal, or a pet.
-
Build a robot using leftover “parts” found around the house.
-
Use duct tape to create something new.
-
Use cardboard to create something new.
-
Blow bubbles. Little Kids No Spill Big Bubble Bucket, Colors May Vary
-
Play with play-do or clay. Play-Doh Fun Factory Set
-
Play cards. War, Go Fish, Solitaire, Skip-Bo….. Uno Card Game
-
Stand on your head, walk on your hands, or do somersaults.
-
Call a friend or family member.
-
Go outside and catch a critter. Research it and build it a habitat. Insect Lore Creature Peeper
-
Jump rope.Green Toys Green Toys Jump Rope – Green
-
Fingerprint with shaving cream on colored paper.
-
Design a place mat for your dinner.
-
Design a scavenger hunt or treasure hunt for someone else.
-
Play hide and seek.
-
Build an obstacle course.
-
Play in the sprinkler.
-
Using water guns or Nerf guns, re-inact a famous a battle. NERF N-Strike Barricade RV-10
-
Draw with Sidewalk Chalk. Crayola 52 Ct Chalk Carton
-
Have a picnic.
-
Take the dog for a walk.
-
Take an imaginary pet for a walk. Play fetch with him.
-
Do a puzzle. Melissa & Doug Safari Floor Puzzle 100 pcs
-
Make paper snowflakes.
-
Draw pictures on your body with face paint. Face Painting Kit
-
Practice juggling. Forum Novelties 51838 Professional Juggling Balls with Instructions
-
Play in the rain.
-
Jog backwards.
-
Write a letter to someone telling them all of the reasons you like them.
-
Play hangman.
-
Burn things with a magnifying glass. SE Magnifying Glass – 5X – Chrome
-
Climb a tree.
-
Play with pattern blocks. PATTERN BLOCKS STANDARD 250/PK
-
Draw with drawing books and a sketch book. My Very Favorite Art Book: I Love to Draw!
-
Ask Mom or Dad if you can do an extra chore for money.
-
Ride scooters. Razor A2 Kick Scooter (Red)
-
Ride bikes.
-
Play Jenga. Jenga
-
Play Farkle. Farkle Dice Cup
-
Play Sorry. Sorry
-
Build with legos. LEGO Ultimate Building Set – 405 Pieces (6166)
-
Build with K-Nex. K’NEX Classics 30 Model Building Set
-
Build with castle blocks. Discovery Kids Wood Castle Blocks Set
-
Organize your bedroom.
-
Play catch with a football or baseball.NCAA Youth Composite Football
-
Organize your tackle box.
-
Host wagon rides.
-
Build a target for water guns or nerf guns.
-
Build with your erector set. Orange Erector Motorized Construction Vehicles Set – Builds 20 Different Models – 200+ Parts
-
Build a Hexbug Track. Hexbug Nano Glows in the Dark Habitat Set
-
Play in the Water Rocket.
-
Do a Science Kit. Science Wiz Scw7800 Science Wiz Electricity
-
Do an experiment out of a science experiment book. Mythbusters Science Fair Book
-
Rollerblade, skate, or ride skateboards.
-
Give the dog a bath.
-
Whittle.
-
Make a fort.
-
Water Mom’s flowers.
-
Play Ninja.
-
Play Tag.
-
Have a water balloon fight.
-
Build a backyard carnival.
-
Races…race on one foot, crawling, backwards, slithering…
-
Find treasures outside….shells, bones, old toys, feathers…
-
Build something with a hammer and nails.
-
Have a wrestling match.
-
Make funny faces.
-
Rake leaves and jump in them.
-
At night, play flashlight tag.
-
At night, look at the stars.
-
Design a hot wheel course in the sandbox.
-
Design a boat….can you make it float?
Things That Didn’t Make the List
-
Annoy a brother (my youngest’s idea)
-
Farting/burping contest (unfortunately, we have those everyday.)
-
Clean something (Dad’s idea)
-
Junk-food eating contest (can you tell they like food?)
-
Create a plan to obliterate world hunger. (Dad again)
What did I forget? What else should be on my list?
Great list for grandparents and grandkids as well. Thanks for a terrific resource.
Have a blessed week.
Kaye,
Thanks! I hope it will help cure some of the summer blues!
Jennifer
Love it! Can def relate to the things that didn’t make the list.
Rhonda,
I know you understand!
Jennifer
Thanks for the list. I’ll be modifying it to fit for our ages!
Thanks again for this great list, Jennifer. It really saved the day for me on two fronts yesterday!
Have a blessed week!
Kaye,
Thanks so much to you…..for sharing it with others!
Jennifer
Nice list some things seamed a tad strange eg read the bible and run laps my kids would just complane more to me but still a good list
Thanks soo much for this. Im a 14 year old girl trying to find something to do but don’t have anything at all to do. All my friends are busy so.
Sabrina,
Thanks for stopping by! Glad you could find some ideas!
Jennifer
I had to come up with 100 of these and found your list to be quite helpful. One that might intrigue boys is to make a time capsule. They could also call grandma, make own trail mix, collect 5 toys to give away, and do muscle building exercises for 20 minutes.
Sue,
Great ideas! Thanks for sharing! Grandma would love your phone call idea!
Jennifer
could you craft something
Destiny,
My boys love crafting! I am trying to get more disciplined about taking time in our school day to do that!
Jennifer