“I’m bored!” Two infamous words that make every parent cringe. It’s frustrating to hear our kids complain about having nothing to do. We immediately feel resentful and turn into our own parents hollering the phrases we swore we’d never say ourselves. How can you possibly be bored?! I’ll give you something to do! Anybody else guilty of this?
I’ve rounded up 100 easy ways kids can fight boredom and celebrate childhood. We live in a world where our kids don’t know how to be bored. Having minimal activity is so underwhelming they just give up altogether. I’ve noticed this all or nothing attitude from my own kids and some days it makes me crazy. If our kids aren’t stimulated on a superpower level they don’t feel stimulated at all. Sigh…
Now more than ever our kids are having to learn how to be “bored”. For lack of a better word. As much as I want to throw some chores and school work their way when my kids complain about being bored, I’m trying to respond in a way that gets me the results I really want.
One thing that doesn’t work for me is getting an attitude. Believe me, I know. This is the tactic I’ve used a thousand times, but for some reason, it doesn’t help. Go figure?
They’ve also never willingly taken me up on my offer to have them do chores. Yeah, yeah. They get the point, but they also don’t find anything productive to do.
3 Simple Strategies for Responding to Bored Kids
Humor
“I’m bored.”
“I’m Mom. Nice to meet you.”
They hate it, but they always laugh.
Fantasy
I love responding this way to my youngest. It works every time!
“Wouldn’t it be awesome if we had an activities planner? Like a life coach that keeps us from ever being bored?”
He eats it up.
Time
It’s hard to admit, but when my kids are complaining about being bored, they often crave time with me.
They aren’t going to admit this. Especially older kids! But? It never fails. If I take a few minutes to give them my attention, listen to what’s on their mind, or even offer to watch a short show, it makes a big difference.
It’s not always easy to deal with bored kids, but the next time your kiddos are looking for something to do see what happens if you respond in a new way. And if all else fails, here’s a mega list of chore-free ideas to help give them some direction.
100 Easy and Fun Activities For Bored Homeschooled Kids
Read a book. Look at 5 BEST Books to Create an Around the World Unit Study (and Hands-on Activities)
Go outside.
Make homemade sun catchers.
Draw a self-portrait.
Write a letter to a loved one. Even a short card, most grandparents delight to get.
Learn morse code.
Ride your bike.
Invent an app.
Make a stop motion video.
Go for a walk. Check out this fun Above and Below a Pond Unit Study. Something about exploring in water that most kids of any age can’t resist.
You’ll have to check out these fun and quick file folder games too. Great boredom busters!
Plant a tree.
Go on a scavenger hunt. Check out Hands-On Middle School Math: Everyday Math Scavenger Hunt (Printable) and Geoscavenge – A Rock and Mineral Hunt: Day 6 Hands-on Learning.
Try bird watching.
Do 10 jumping jacks.
Make a friendship bracelet.
Learn how to play chess.
Bake a cake.
Freeze something weird.
Make a homemade cat condo out of cardboard.
Play a game with your brother.
Take the dog for a walk.
Make an indoor fort with pillows and blankets.
Listen to music.
Have a dance party.
Learn to write in Japanese.
Build a Viking Ship.
Do 10 push-ups.
Make slime.
Jump rope.
Record a funny video.
Be sure to check out Ellen McHenry’s Basement Workshop for lots of hands-on activities and free ones too.
Make homemade ice-cream.
Sell old games and figures on eBay.
Paint a picture.
Make a birdfeeder.
Write a story.
Take your fingerprints.
Make a collage of all your favorite pictures.
Rearrange your bedroom.
Make rock candy.
Do 15 squats.
Play a board game.
Watch a movie.
Make a list of things you like about yourself.
Learn to play an instrument.
Do an easy hands-on history activity.
Create a vision board.
Try learning sign language.
Learn to crochet.
Do 5 yoga poses.
Go for a run around the block.
Make edible rocks.
Cook dinner for your family.
Collect garbage around the neighborhood.
Learn to crochet.
Do 20 sit-ups.
Make a timeline of your life.
Find a service project.
Call a grandparent.
Play “I Spy”.
Collect leaves for crafts.
Use a metal detector in your backyard.
Do a handstand.
Look at leaves under a microscope.
Learn a foreign language.
Have a lemonade or hot cocoa stand.
Make a time capsule and bury it in the backyard.
Pack a bag of old toys to donate.
Make a message in a bottle.
Build a tent with bed sheets.
Make a costume. Check out my post Bring History To Life With Historical Costumes: Fun, Fashion and Unforgettable.
Interview a grandparent.
Do 24 lunges (12 on each leg).
Offer to help a neighbor.
Cook a dish from a different country.
Design an outfit.
Make a list of places you want to visit.
Start a journal.
Try origami.
Bake cookies.
Make a flip book.
Learn about the human body.
Take a personality quiz.
Do a science experiment.
Plank for one minute.
Go outside and take some pictures of nature.
Learn how to tie knots.
Write a list of countries you want to visit.
Make a family tree.
Create a sculpture with found objects.
Do 25 jumping jacks.
Create a product.
Research your dream job.
Make oobleck.
Bake bread.
Create a “dream” Amazon wish list.
Make mixed media flower art.
Do a backbend.
Collect canned good to donate to a food pantry.
Memorize the state capitals.
Make a diorama of a scene from your favorite book.
Even though it can be frustrating, sometimes I think our kids just genuinely don’t know what to do with themselves. In our fast-paced, technology-filled society, they are looking for that constant flow of information. I don’t have all the answers, but a fresh list of ideas is always helpful!
You’ll also love these other ideas:
- 24 Borderline Genius Ways To Relieve Language Arts Boredom
- If Your Homeschooled Kids Aren’t Bored, You May Not Be a Homeschooler
- Homeschool Colorful Reading Journal to Motivate Kids
- How to Get Homeschooled Kids to WANT to Learn
How do you deal with bored kids?
Hugs and love ya,
