If preschoolers are anything, they’re busy. Three and four-year-olds are forever on the move and it can be hard for them to channel all that built up energy. That’s why the best thing you can do as the parent of a preschooler is prepared for their downtime. As much as school does for them, they don’t use up all their energy there. They save plenty for us at home!
Always have activities and ideas on hand to keep those busy little brains and bodies occupied. Because as much as you love spending time with your kids, you can’t be on entertaining duty 24/7. Not only is it important for kids’ development to self entertain, but mama needs a break too.
Boredom busting activities will give you the break you need while occupying the kids. Now I’m not saying preschoolers should do any and all at home activities by themselves. There are plenty of fun ones that require parental involvement. And, frankly, if we schedule enough little “me time” breaks throughout our week, we’re happy to sit down and play with the kids. It’s when we go go go and pay no attention to ourselves that we burn out on playtime!
10 Boredom Busting Activities Kids will Love
Homemade Spray Chalk: I’m all for any excuse to get the kids outside. The magic of running it out is real and this spray chalk is perfect for budding artists. You get creativity and physical activity in one fell swoop. Score!
Ice Cream Play-Dough: It can be hard for kids to let go of summer when a new school year starts. Being that it will be warm for a little bit longer yet, there’s no reason they can’t play summer with this fun DIY! Nothing says summer like ice cream.
Indoor Scavenger Hunt: Every parent knows the pain of trying to entertain a preschooler on a rainy day. It’s like because they can’t go outside they’re even wilder than if they could. These indoor scavenger hunt ideas should keep them busy for a WHILE!
Foil Painting Art: If preschoolers love anything, it’s painting. We, of course, love the imagination they use to create their art, but the mess is another story. This method of painting is fairly contained, and as such, so is the mess!
Pipe Cleaner Bracelets: Working on fine motor skills is a must for preschoolers and stringing beads is a great way to do that. What’s even better, for kids and parents, is using pipe cleaners instead of string. I found there are WAY less dropped projects and WAY less beads all over the floor!
Color Sorting Game: Activities that are both fun and educational kill two birds with one stone. This hungry shark game definitely falls into both categories! And thanks to the free printable you don’t have to worry about your shark and fish shapes not being up to par. Haha!
Nature Activity Printable Pack: Speaking of printables, this free pack is perfect for nature lovers! A simple walk around your neighborhood can turn into an activity that entertains long past the walk, thanks to these fun activities that build on the nature you saw outside!
Shaving Cream Painting: If you really can’t stand any type of mess, this one isn’t for you. But if you don’t mind a little mess in the name of having fun, let those kids at the shaving cream! The tray keeps things somewhat contained FYI, so it’s not TOO messy.
Coffee Bean Sensory Bin: You fellow coffee fanatics might have trouble letting go of your precious beans so kids can play with them, but if you have a bag that you didn’t love or your honey brought home the wrong kind, throw them in the old sensory bin!
Salt Art: This activity might require a little extra supervision as there is glue involved, but the finished products are so lovely, it’s worth the effort. Preschoolers will squeal at the super cool designs salt can make! And I’ll bet you’ll end up with a piece or two for their portfolio!
So, the next time you find yourself with a bored kiddo on hand, which should be any minute now, haha, pull out this list of boredom-busting activities for preschoolers! After one or two of these activities, they’re brains and bodies will be so spent, they just might be game for a nap! Fingers crossed. Bwah!
