52 Boredom busters

I've mentioned before that I'm a list keeper. A while ago I put together a list of boredom busters for the kids. My plan was to have it at the ready for those inevitable rainy-day moments when there's really nothing to do (insert whine). Luckily, the olders are still on their Tintin kick, and have active imaginations, so I haven't needed to resort to the list these past few weeks.

I've considered printing it out & cutting the list into strips, each activity on it's own piece of paper, but I'm not sure I need to go that extra step just yet (though that might be an activity for them in itself!). Next time they're bored I'll send them to pick a task. M & B are 8 and 6 so the list is geared towards stuff they like. Most of the activities do require adult involvement, and a willingness to participate even if your not particularly feeling up to the challenge.

1. Play ball (soccer, basketball, catch...)
2. Go for a swim -- swim races & games
3. Go for a bike ride
4. Skateboarding/scootering
5. Go fly a kite
6. Play Bocce
7. Make a movie
8. Play a board game
9. Card Game (M&B are particularly fond of Go Fish & War Uno & Poker)
10. Family picnic in the living-room
11. Play with something you haven’t played with in a long time.
12. Make up a song & record it on the computer
13. Kids cook the next meal -- this includes menu planning, shopping, and prep.
14. Bake a cake (doesn't matter if it's from scratch or mix)
15. Work on a jigsaw puzzle
16. Draw a picture that tells a story
17. Make a toy out of whatever is in the recycling bin
18. Paint a portrait of someone who inspires you
19. Draw a picture of someone in your family
20. Draw a self-portrait
21. Make an animated flip-book
22. Paper maché sculpture (I've been dreaming of making aper maché fruits & veggies...)
23. Paper chains using only scraps
24. Dancing: make up a dance routine & teach it to one other person.
25. Square dance
26. Close your eyes, spin three times, draw the first thing you see.
27. Make a ring
28. Make beads
29. Shrinky-dink charms
30. Make a balcony terrarium (plastic salad box, soil, plantlings)
31. Plant some mystery seeds or pits
32. Plan a dream garden
33. Make a jungle diorama (shoe box, paper, glue)
34. Make circus paper puppets (paper, Popsicle sticks)
35. Make a paper flower bouquet (pipe cleaners, colorful tissue paper)
36. Crochet a coaster
37. Sew a pillow
38. Make a doll
39. Make doll furniture
40. Write a letter
41. Write an auto-biography
42. Write a fictional story
43. Write a true story
44. Write a biography
45. Write a poem
46. Write a haiku
47. Make a notebook
48. Create a photo documentary
49. Read to each other, or to the baby
50. Math worksheets ( I like aplusmath.com)
51. Math games with dice
52. Handwriting worksheets (if you've found a good one online, send me the link)

As we get through the list I'll add links to projects as appropriate :-)

Comments

[Melissa R. Garrett]

What an awesome list! We'll definitely have to do a few of those soon - the shrinky dinks, for sure!!

PS - Thanks for the link to the math worksheets. Hannah could definitely use some practice!

[Ken Schafer]

For a few years now I've been responding to "I'm bored" with "Boredom is the moment before inspiration."

Whenever the kids say they're bored I just wait awhile and watch their MINDS kick in!

[Veronique]

Love it! I'm sure this will work with my six-year-old. The eight-year-old has (already!) gotten quite adept at the eye-roll :-)