When a child complains of boredom, it’s so easy to set them up with technology, but within a few minutes, they will be saying they are bored again, so that is why we are fighting summer boredom with these awesome boredom busters your kids will love.
Ahhh . . . the lazy days of summer coming. School is almost over, and it’s almost time for a more relaxing and peaceful hopefully slow-paced life. With that being said, kids tend to start complaining about being bored. So, how do we help them fight boredom?
We are sharing some of the best boredom busters for kids!
Boredom Busters for Kids this Summer
1. Chores
Chores are actually great boredom busters.
I know kids think chores are more morning than being bored, but there are some fun ones you can assign this summer.
Think about assigning one of your kids to be a sous chef in the kitchen and help them prep and make dinner. Not only will they be learning a life long skill, but they will be having fun learning all at the same time.
If you plant a garden, have someone assigned to watering and picking the vegetables. There is nothing better than seeing kids come running in proclaiming what they picked in the garden each day.
It’s okay to assign age-appropriate chores for the kids to do each day. In fact, what if I told you kids do thrive on structure and chores help with this.
2. Books and AudioBooks
Summer reading is a great way to keep the kids entertained. Sometimes kids don’t feel like reading the actual book so listening to an audiobook is a really great option.
Have your kids read or listen to books for 30 minutes a day and then find a great book that interests the whole family and have family storytime.
Reading aloud teaches voice inflection and a host of other great skills that will get your kids interested in reading more.
3. Movie Making
Kids are never too old to use their imaginations, so encourage them with imaginary play or to make a movie or better yet create their own YouTube channel.
Kids can act out, use dolls and figurines and puppets to create their very own masterpiece.
Then, have your kids take their newly made movie and upload it to the computer and add music and sound effects to create a real masterpiece.
Chances are, they will love creating this and want to create more movies as the summer goes on.
4. Outdoor Play
Outdoor play is the ultimate boredom buster for kids.
Gardening, tag, treasure hunts, playing in the sprinkler, hiding in a tent, building a fort, sandbox, sports, blowing bubbles, outdoor scavenger hunts, catching bugs and making a bug zoo, and more.
When you send your kids outside the sky is the limit. There is so much to explore and to do outside, the tricky part is getting the kids out the door.
5. Crafts, Hobbies, and Collections
Crafts are a great way to entertain kids this summer.
Take a trip to the craft store and pick up some supplies to do easy crafts for kids, Disney Crafts or even sidewalk chalk crafts.
Perhaps your older kids have an interest in painting, scrapbooking, baking, photography, carpentry, building model cars, making circuit boards or another hobby. Get them set up with some basic supplies to explore their passion.
If your kids have an interest in collecting, have them go and start a collection. Perhaps they have an interest in baseball cards. Help them do some work around the house to buy their first pack of baseball cards.
6. Board Games and Building Toys
For the ultimate boredom busters get out the board games and the Legos. Kids can spend hours playing games with another and when you involve building toys they can be occupied for hours.
If they need a little help getting started, make a competition who can build the tallest tower or the best house, etc. Once they get started they won’t want to stop.
7. Friends, Friends and More Friends
Summer is about having fun and kids love to have fun with their friends.
Organize your kids to go to friend’s houses and friends to come to your house.
Help your kids organize pick up games of basketball at the park or swimming together at the neighborhood pool.
Friends really help pass the time and are the ultimate boredom buster for your kids.
8. Family History
Discovering where you came from is one of the best things for kids to do.
There is something about tracing ancestry lines back and finding out their roots.
Perhaps in the process, they can discover stories, old pictures, and more. Who knows they might even find our that they are related to someone famous!
9. The Bored Book
Do you have the bored book in your home, AKA the educational learning book?
The Bored Book is any activity book that you purchase and reserve solely for those moments when your kids can’t seem to amuse themselves. Depending on your child’s age and temperament, it can be a fun book, or something not so fun . . . like pages of mental math. It is an activity book that he can do independently.
Every time your child is bored and can’t think of anything to do and everything you suggest gets an ugh… then they owe you 1-2 pages in the bored book.
This will quickly become a summer boredom buster for your kids because they will discover other fun things to do.
10. Give them YOUR attention
Sometimes beating those boredom busters is giving your kids your attention.
Maybe invite your child to do a project with you or to just talk with you about what is happening in their life.
Kids crave attention and sometimes them saying, “I’m bored” is just a sign that they want to spend time with you.
So put down the laundry and focus on your child. You and your child will both be glad you did!