Whinges of boredom set parents on edge, right? With toys, books and entertainment galore, how is it that our kids can still find themselves without something to occupy them? We’ve picked 100 fantastic activities for kids to get creative and playful with, with a great mix of indoor and outdoor activities to choose from.
Expert advice says that, when your child says “I’m bored”, don’t try to solve the problem immediately for them. Kids who experience a lack of programmed activity are given an opportunity to demonstrate creativity, problem solving, and to develop motivational skills, according to Michael Ungar.
However, sometimes a little help or ideas to get those creative juices flowing may be needed – and that’s where our list comes in useful. We’ve even made it into a handy boredom-busting activities checklist to work through. Don’t forget to let us know which ones are your favourites!
Boredom-Busting Activities for Kids
1. Start a club – design a logo, make the rules and invite other members
2. Use old cardboard tubes and boxes to build a marble run
3. Plant a terrarium
4. Read a book
5. Make a snow globe
6. Memorise and recite a poem
7. Make a stop motion video
8. Paint a miniature picture
9. Make slime
10. Bake a cake or cookies
11. Have an indoor treasure hunt
12. Decorate an old t-shirt with cool buttons and fabric pens
14. Have a water balloon fight (outside!).
15. Learn a magic trick
16. Organise your room.
17. Find 5 toys you want to give away and donate to charity.
18. Listen to a podcast
19. Write a story.
20. Go on a bug hunt
21. Host a teddy bear’s picnic
22. Go on a sound scavenger hunt
23. Design and fly a kite
24. Do a word search
25. Make a superhero mask
26. Make a puppet with an old socks, buttons and markers.
27. Make friendship bracelets
28. Use pipe cleaners to make people and animals.
29. Use paper plates to make an indoor ring toss game.
30. String a necklace out of pasta.
31. Make and fill a bird feeder.
32. Make play dough
33. Paint sea shells or rocks.
34. Make your own bubble mixture and blow bubbles.
35. Build a den with chairs, blankets and pillows.
36. Make a book of jokes.
37. Draw a tree.
38. Measure a tree
39. Do some cloud watching.
40. Learn a tongue twister
41. Make a paper airplane and see how far it will fly.
42. Wash the car.
43. Go on a scavenger hunt.
44. Go for a ride on your bike or scooter
45. Cut out pictures from magazines and make a collage.
46. Visit the library
47. Play LEGO bingo
48. Create a play with costumes.
49. Make pancakes.
50. Make lemonade and set up a stall to sell it.
51. Make your favourite dessert.
52. Create a flip-book
53. Make a zoo for your stuffed animals.
54. Play Tag or Freeze Tag.
55. Do a secret random act of kindness for someone.
56. Learn to juggle.
57. Have a family game night
58. Make a daisy chain.
59. Learn a new card game
60. Make perfume in the garden from lavender and rosemary mixed with water.
61. Write the story of your life.
62. Create an obstacle course.
63. Play Simon Says.
64. Make a time capsule
65. Write a haiku.
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Don’t miss our best family movies checklist to download and work your way through! Did your favourite make the list?
66. Draw a picture of a desert island with all the things you would want on it.
67. Draw your dream house and all the things you would want in it.
68. Play a board game.
69. Create your own board game.
70. Make a fairy house for the garden at the bottom of a tree or in a big pot.
71. Make a crown and decorate it.
72. See if you can draw a picture with your foot.
73. Set up a restaurant and serve pretend meals.
74. Make a smoothie or milkshake.
75. Draw around yourself on a big piece of paper and decorate your paper self.
76. Skip rope
77. Plant some seeds
78. Make a slip and slide on the lawn with a tarp and hose.
79. Paint your nails
80. Build a curving line of dominoes and knock the first one so they fall down in a row.
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Pick your favourite of these Happy Birthday colouring pages, and send or give it to whoever is celebrating!
81. Design a comic book
82. Make a pom pom
83. Write a letter.
84. Do a science experiment
85. Get a ruler and measure 10 things around the house, recording their length.
86. Learn to knit
87. Put on some music and dance.
88. Take the LEGO challenge
89. Brush the dog (or play with your pet).
90. Download a new app
91. See if you can write your name on a piece of paper with your opposite writing hand.
92. Build a new LEGO creation
93. Do a jigsaw
95. Play hopscotch.
96. Have a family movie night
97. Draw some art on the pavement with chalk.
98. Play Capture the Flag
99. Learn a dance routine
100. Make a bug hotel
Don’t forget to download this handy boredom-busting activities checklist to work through!
About the Author: Jill Holtz
