Five Summer Boredom Busters for Kids
Summer is the season of sun, sand, swimming, and just all-around fun. But, eventually, regardless of how many carefree and adventurous activities you suggest to your kids, they’ll inevitably complain of boredom. Nip boredom in the bud this summer with these five boredom busters for kids:
- Water
Water is both practical and entertaining. Water in any form is a surefire way to keep kids occupied for hours on end. Buy a sprinkler. Fill a baby pool. Make a pile of water balloons. Go to the pool, or the lake, or the beach. Stick your kids in a bubble bath if that’s what it takes. Water is always readily available, so beat the heat and keep your kids occupied with liquid fun.
- Free Summer Activities
Most towns, and many businesses, offer free or discounted activities for kids throughout the summer. Movie theaters, public parks, libraries, community centers, gyms, and parks and rec programs often provide many options for parents to keep kids busy during the slow summer months. Call around and find out what’s available in your local area.
- Teach a New Skill
Summer’s the perfect time to teach your kids a new skill, such as knitting, sewing, cooking, baking, swimming, or the like. If you’re not able to instruct your child yourself, schedule a series of classes with a pro. Aside from learning a new skill, summer break is a great opportunity for kids to hone skills they already have. Sports camps, extra lessons, tutoring, and organized activities are all excellent boredom busters.
- Confiscate Their Screens
This one might seem counterintuitive, but taking your kids zombie boxes away forces them to use their imaginations. Without that flat rectangle to stare into and distract them from real life, children have to build forts, play outside, read, do a puzzle, color, or create original art and ideas in order to stay busy. They’ll thank you in the long run for preventing them from wasting their lives away on screens.
- Give Them Chores
As a last resort, threaten your kids with chores. They should do chores anyway as a way to learn life skills and contribute as a family member, but nothing keeps a kid from complaining about being bored like giving them a list of chores to do. You can even fill a mason jar with chores written on slips of paper and label the jar as the “Boredom Buster”. Leave it in a prominent place in your home as a constant reminder to kids to keep their complaints to themselves. Works like a charm!
Being bored is part of life, and kids need to learn this hard lesson. The sooner they can self-police their bored feelings, the less you’ll have to hear them moan and gripe about having nothing to do. These five boredom busters will help you in the meantime during these long and lazy months of summer.
I’ve been hearing “I’m bored” since school let out and I’ve been trying some of your suggestions. The chores are going a little better than they were. The kids claim it’s their “vacation” time lol.
Oh, you’ll never go wrong with water. My girls can play with water all day! This is a great list.
I love that you included chores. My kids NEVER tell me that they’re bored. They know I’ll put them to a little extra work.
I found myself giving out chores this summer. It’s so much less work for me and gives them something to do!
I am absolutely loving this post. My boys like to complain about boredom and since we just moved, I am happy to give them some chores to do. Thanks for sharing!
These are such great ideas! Summer is meant to be so much fun and I think there’s so many fun things kids can do even if it means entertaining themselves! We love water around here – the pool is a must every day!
These are all really great ideas for this summer. I will definitely have to use these!
What fun ideas! Summer is so hard to constantly have ideas each day to do with the kids. I love your ideas and how creative they are!
My mom was never one for chores, but I can say that helping out around the house was always expected and eventually I learned to enjoy it. Definitely a good way to keep kids off the boredom train!
These are great! I don’t have kids, but I like when I see parents actively keeping their kids engaged and learning all Summer. My best friend is doing this thing where every week day, when the kids would have been in school, she’s taking them out to do something fun and/or educational. I love watching her document it on FB. So far, she’s taken them to ride trains, milk cows on a real farm, mini golf, see birds at the aviary, see fish at the aquarium, learn at the natural history museum, a lego convention, the arcade, see stars at the planetarium, etc. It’s so cool!
We love playing in water over here. Water balloons, playing with the water hose, but mostly, balloons though. – Yolonda
I love playing in the water with the kids. We do water balloons and have so much fun. We may do it tomorrow since it’s Kay’s birthday.
Water is still my go to boredom buster when I start feeling bored. I either head to one of the local parks to watch the waterfalls or fountains or I head to the beach.
Learning a new skill is a great way to spend the summer. My Son started playing Basketball one summer when he was 8. He is now 21 and still plays on a team.
We have free weekly summer movies, and I *need* to make sure that I hit them. It’s such a bargain and a great way to stay cool in the 100+ degree weather!