Activities to Fight Boredom in Kids

If you’ve been a mom for any length of time, you’ve likely heard the dreaded words, “I’m bored!” from your kids. Even though we homeschool mostly year-round, we hear these words often. Rainy days seem to be particularly hard times for our kids.

For years I would just encourage them to “go play,” but I was never specific. Now that they are older, that often translates to a video game or game on their phone. However, we have cut down considerably on their screen times, so I have started being more intentional when they say, “I’m bored!”

With so many families now at home, it’s like the summer boredom hit early. MUCH, much too early! I mean, half the United States isn’t even done with winter yet! And while I believe a certain amount of boredom is a good thing for inspiring their imaginations, I cannot stand the constant whining and nagging.

So we need to help curb the attitudes and whining for the sanity of everyone involved. That’s what I love about boredom buster ideas! They are creative enough to feed their busy little minds, simple enough that they can do many of them on their own, and fun enough to keep them occupied for hours!

If you’re tired of hearing the dreaded, “I’m bored!” phrase, there are plenty of activities your kids can do right at home. And you probably have most of the supplies already!

10 Ways to Use Board Games in Your Homeschool – This is the perfect way to combine fun with learning! Pull out your board games and enjoy some time with the entire family!

Boredom Buster Jar from My Home Based Life – This is a brilliant idea to have on hand any time of year! Sneak in some chores and you’ve got yourself no more bored kids and a clean house!

Simple Living Room Play with Dominoes from Living Life and Learning – Do you have a set of dominoes around your house? This is the perfect time to pull them out and play some domino games together!

Family Night Conversation Starter Cards by In All You Do – With everyone at home together, now is the perfect time to download and print these out! These are fun questions and ideas to get conversations started with the entire family.

Letter a Day Activities by In All You Do – If you’re looking for creative ways to change up the day-to-day activities, this is it! Make each day about a different letter and see what kind of fun things you can come up with together!

 

Writing & Drawing Activities

Write your own poem

Create a graphic novel

Use writing prompts for the season or a holiday

Paint or draw a self-portrait

Create your own Mad Libs or use these! This is perfect for grammar and spelling review too!

23 Ways to Help Your Child Learn to Draw by Kitchen Table Classroom – This is a great way to not only cure boredom but help them work on fine motor skills and their right brain activities!

25 Creative Ideas for Rock Painting

 

Science Experiments

Who says you can’t curb boredom, learn and have fun all at the same time? Check out these fun science experiments with items many of you might have at home already.

Jelly Bean Science Experiment from Natural Beach Living

Quick and Easy Cloud Activity from My Joy-Filled Life

Grow Salt Crystals Overnight from Babble Dabble Do

Rainbow Bubble Snakes from Housing a Forest

Balloon Experiments with Candy from Learn. Play. Imagine.

Cool Magic Milk Experiment You Have to Try from Living Life and Learning

 

Hands-On & Action Activities

Put together a puzzle

Put on a puppet show from puppets they made

Play “Lava” on the floor (this is one of my kids’ favorite games)

Play balloon volleyball

Learn to play chess

Create a “hair salon” and do each other’s hair

Make a stop-motion movie (my kids love to this with their friends!)

Have a hula hoop contest

Go on a “treasure hunt”

Learn a Sign Language with these FREE Printables and Resources

Play charades

Have a dance contest

Put on a concert (singing, instruments, dancing)

We love doing DDPYoga together as a family! 

Have a picnic in the living room or your backyard

Have a bubble-gum bubble blowing contest

Play indoor soccer with a foam ball

Play indoor hockey with a rolled sock and broom (get parents permission first!)

Simple Color Scavenger Hunt for Kids by I Heart Crafty Things

Active Indoor Games with Items You Already Have from What Mom’s Love

Safe Sumo Wrestling for Kids from All for the Boys

Dice Games for Kids from What We Do All Day – Who doesn’t have a stash of dice around the house? Check out all these different dice games you can play together as a family or turn the kids loose for an afternoon!

Jump Rope Songs from Simply Well Balanced – If you have space outside for the kids to jump rope (or use an empty garage), these songs would be fun to add to it.

Glitter Slime Recipe | Living Life and Learning

 

Building Activities

DIY Dollhouse from Molly Moo

Make your own “cars” from cardboard boxes and have a “Drive-In” movie night

Have a LEGO building competition

Make paper airplanes or these, and see whose flies the farthest

Build a fort (with blankets, pillows, under the table, in the backyard – there are so many choices!)

Mini Marshmallow Shooters (or Pom-Pom Poppers) by Come Together Kids

DIY Marble Run Game by One Crafty Place

Here are 31 things you can build with a cardboard box.

Make some DIY Birdfeeders Nature Crafts

 

In the Kitchen

Bake a cake

Create a new dish

Make homemade ice cream

Watch Food Network and try a new cuisine

Have your own “Chopped” family event

Play “Guy’s Grocery Games” in your pantry

“Host” your own cooking show

 

More Boredom Busters

3 Boredom Busters for Kids | Shaping Up to Be A Mom

Boredom Busters for Older Kids (But I think these are good for all ages!) | Paging Supermom

Simple Boredom Buster for Big Kids | Views from a Stepstool

Indoor Activities for Tweens | What We Do All Day

 

Find more homeschool resources on my Pinterest boards!