105 Summer Boredom Busters

Summer has just begun and it won't take long for the little ones to start bugging you with the dreaded…. “Mom!!! I'm bored!!” So what is a mom to do?

We all remember the feeling we had when we were young and boredom sat in. It's a horrible feeling to have as a child and as a mother sometimes it's hard to come up with ideas at the drop of the hat. Being prepared with some awesome boredom busters in advance will help curb the problem before it begins.

1. Play kick the can
2. Write and story, draw pictures to go with it, Use construction paper to make a book with your story and drawings.
3. Make cookies
4. Take a bath in the middle of the day.
5. Paint your nails
6. Play with a cardboard box
7. Go for a walk/hike
8. Make play-doh
9. Play with a box (make a boat, car, beauty shop or Dr's office)
10. Send a letter by “snail mail”
11. Have a make-over.
12. Take a nighttime walk in your pajamas.
13. Make paper bag puppets.
14. Play ball
15. Get dirty and make some mud pies.
16. Start a journal.
17. Finger paint with shaving cream.
18. Go bird watching
19. Have a lemonade stand.
20. Make paper airplanes.
21. Have a spa night.
22. Wash the Car.
23. Make a fort inside.
24. Sort rocks
25. Roll in the grass.
26. Make a fort outside.
27. Make homemade pizza.
28. Take pictures and make a scrapbook
29. Catch bugs.
30. Organize little toys in an egg carton.
31. Play a board game
32. Play Simon Says.
33. Play school.
34. Visit a local landmark.
35. Blow bubbles.
36. Make a leaf rubbing picture.
37. ?Bake cookies.
38. Color in a coloring book.
39. Go on a scavenger hunt.
40. Make a paper plate craft.
41. Drum on pans and bowls.
42. Stamp with potatoes.
43. Make a pet rock
44. Play I spy with my little eye…..something blue, green, squishy, or huge.
45. Make a clubhouse under a tree.
46. Catch fireflies.
47. Help with daily chores.
48. Make a picture with noodles and dried beans.
49. Make people out of pine cones.
50. Paint with colored spaghetti noodles
51. Make a play.
52. Water balloon fight.
53. Have an outdoor movie night.
54. Play dress-up with mom/dad's clothes and jewelry.
55. Go on a treasure hunt.
56. Write your name as an art.
57. Re-arrange your room.
58. Make sock puppets.
59. Rake leaves and jump in them.
60. Paint with Q-tips.
61. Play Frisbee.
62. Find shapes in the clouds.
63. Play in the puddles after a rain.
64. Make pirate hats.
65. Climb a tree.
66. Play checkers.
67. See how high you can make a block tower.
68. Make homemade cards and send them out just to say Hi.
69. Pretend to be a prince or princess.
70. Count cars as they drive by.
71. Make a bracelet.
72. Make a necklace out of noodles, cereal and string.
73. Watch t.v. standing on your head.
74. Make up a new dance.
75. Make a bird house.
76. Act out your favorite book or story.
77. Make a bird feeder with a pine cone, peanut butter and bird seed.
78. Wash the dog.
79. Play flashlight tag.
80. Have a magic show.
81. Practice cutting magazines with scissors.
82. Make a craft with a toilet paper tube.
83. Create an ocean in a bottle.
84. Have a puppet show.
85. Paint a wooden fence or wall with ?water and a paint brush
86. Go to the park
87. Make a craft with pop-cycle sticks.
88. Feed ducks at the park.
89. Create a new song.
90. Go fishing.
91. Dig for treasure in rice or sand.
92. Jump rope.
93. Play with sidewalk chalk.
94. Play hopscotch.
95. Help with the garden.
96. Make a craft with a paper towel tube.
97. Make a snack and eat it.
98. Build a sand castle village.
99. Paint with cotton balls.
100. Make an obstacle course.
101. Make a fairy garden.
102. Have a play date.
103. Play with dominoes.
104. Take the dog for a walk.
105. Write a poem.

There are a few ways that you can share these ideas with your children when they are bored. Having a boredom buster jar with all the ideas written down on scraps of paper is a great idea. When they are bored they can reach their hand in and choose an activity. Another great idea is writing them down on pop-cycle sticks and have them sitting in jar for them to choose from. Why not have them write them out for you and decorate the sticks. That should keep them busy for an afternoon or two!!

Do you have any great boredom busters that are a favorite go to for your family?