Summer Boredom Busters??

[JeMarie6]

Best way to fight boredom is with a chore chart! Have them make a list of all kinds of chores that need to be done fairly regularly. Then once the list is made, any time someone says the words "I'm bored", they have to do a chore from the list. After a while they will start to use their imaginations a lot more. I always loved the do it your self craft books to keep myself busy in the summer. Try to get them to put on a play or do a talent show.

Challenge them to them make a long list of fun things to do at the beginning of summer. Pick a couple of the good ones/expensive ones and schedule them, throw the rest in a jar and draw one out anytime they are bored.

 

[My2Qtz0205]

AMF Bowling Lanes are offering free bowling to children 15 and under. You need to register at www.kidsbowlfree.com. They get 2 free games a day. Shoes are not included.

Check out churches that are offering Vacation Bible Schools. Many churches also offer sports camps or day camps. Our church is offering day camps once a week for 6 weeks, starting in July. The cost per camp is $10 or under. There may be other churches, or parks & recs that are doing something similar.

I second the library programs and free movies at Regal. At our neighborhood Regal Cinemas, they are offering both a G and a PG movie each week.

 

[spima3]

Love the "boredom chart"! don't think the kids will be too excited about it though.

The one thing I plan on doing is having them make up their own photo/memory albums.
I have tons of photos I never put into albums, bought quite a few scrapbook papers/stickers, and also purchased 3 albums.

I think they will get a kick out of all their old photos and going through them will spark some fond memories; remind them that at one time they really did enjoy spending time together!

 

[PollyannaMom]

I second the library (if your town is lucky enough to have the funding) and I love the chore idea!!

One year we also made it a point to try out playgrounds in all the different towns around us.

Here are a few more:

Hold an art show. - Have the kids draw/paint/whatever and display the creations around the house. Invite Grandparents or anyone you'd like to come and see.

Marble painting. - Put a sheet of paper in the bottom of a shallow box. (I use the trays a case of cat food comes in.) Goop a few blobs of different colored paint in random spots, and roll a marble around by gently tilting the tray.

If you have a lot of kids in your neighborhood, measure the distance to each other's houses. (They can make a map, too.)

Hide a small object and give each other hot/cold clues.

Sort out books you are done with and invite friends to a book swap.

 

[Kitzka]

Also be on the look out for local farmer's markets or local towns having town festivals/celebrations.


DD loves to see the variety of foods grown and loves to pick out fresh cookies and pies from the amish vendors at ours!

For local town festivals i give DD a set monetary limit. it seems to work well.

Lara

 

[LisaNJ25]

A friend of mine has been telling me about letterboxing. I had never heard of it, but it sounds really fun. Check out www.letterboxing.org

Letter boxing is fun. I have to out and search for more. My daughter is doing it for a girl scout patch.

 

[redshoes]

One of my friends does a jar for her older kids- in the jar she puts slips of paper with some fun ideas and some chores. If her kids do the "I'm bored" thing, she asks them if they want to take a chance at the jar. She says it's only taken a few times drawing a chore slip to rid her of the I'm bored comments. I know it's not really a boredom buster and it wouldn't work with your 2 year old but it might make you're 11 year old become really creative before coming to you .

 

[MSSANDRA]

Get then in the kitchen. Let them make pancake, french toast or muffins for breackfast. Make thier own pizza for lunch, salad or desserts fo dinner.

Have them wash the car or the dog.
Pull out old photo books and pop a bowl of popcorn
Sort out thier old toys. Rediscover lots of "new" stuff.
Make and mail cards for elderly people you know.

For the toddler- Your bathtub is your friend- Change the toy and set up an "theme" and they will play for hours. Bubble and sand bucket and shovel- bowls and wire whisk-barbie dolls- farm animal or whatever.

Stock up on drinks and ice pops and healthy snacks.

Set firm rules about tv. computer/game systems

ENJOY having them home.