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:

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. 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.

4. 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.

5. 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.