I don't know about everyone else but once school lets out, my household gets crazy busy! The kids are going, going, and still going. What I would do for their energy! I enjoy the extra time with my kids but by the end of the first day of summer, you hear that dreaded phrase, "I'm BORED!" If I had a dime for every time I hear that over summer vacation I would be on a tropical island somewhere. :)
I searched and searched around the internet for ideas to keep my littles busy this summer and found some GREAT ideas so I thought I would share.. I did not think up all these ideas myself even though I wish I did, HA! In no special order I present you some ANTI "I'm Bored" activities,most costing little to none.
Visit a farmer's market.
Make a fort out of cardboard boxes.
Bake cookies for ice cream sandwiches.
Have a picnic at a park.
Write and illustrate your own book and have it published into an actual hardcover book using IlluStory.
Forget cooking -- set up an ice cream sundae buffet for dinner.
Have a backyard campfire...or just use the grill! Roast hot dogs on sticks, pop popcorn and finish off with s'mores.
Set up a lemonade stand.
Have a luau in the backyard.
Interview an older relative about what life was like when they were young.
Have a water balloon fight.
Plant a garden of herbs and veggies.
Make a sidewalk chalk mural.
Plant a butterfly garden with flowers.
Make an indoor sandbox using colored rice: mix 4 cups of rice with 3 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol and a few drops of food coloring and let dry overnight.
Make a giant hopscotch or Twister game on the lawn (with spray paint) or driveway (with chalk).
Turn the backyard into a carnival -- set up a face painting area and games like ring toss.
Make a bird house out of Popsicle sticks.
Make your own colored sand and create sand art.
Visit a fire station.
Set up a bike wash and raise money for a local charity.
Bake cupcakes in ice cream cones and then decorate them.
Blend your own smoothie creations.
Make popsicles in Dixie cups using fruit juices.
Stage your own Summer Olympics with races, hurdles and relays.
Visit a retirement home and read stories to residents.
Get a map of your area, mark off all the local parks and attractions -- then visit them, take pictures and vote for your favorite.
Make your own hard-to-pop super bubbles with 1 cup of distilled water, 2 tablespoons of Dawn dish soap and 1 tablespoon of glycerin.
Create unusual s'mores by experimenting with ingredients like cookies, bananas, flavored marshmallows and white chocolate.
Volunteer at an animal adoption organization.
Paint canvas sneakers with fabric paint pens or acrylic paint.
Make a giant slip-n-slide with a painter's tarp and shaving cream.
Go camping in the backyard.
Let kids paint each other with washable tempera paint, then wash it off in the sprinklers.
Take a free kid's workshop at stores like Lowe's, Home Depot or Pottery Barn.
Have a weekly game night with board games for the whole family to enjoy.
Build an indoor tent or fort with couches and some bed sheets.
Make homemade play dough.
String together macaroni for jewelry.
Pull out the dress up box, put on funny clothes and have a photo shoot.
Write letters to soldiers.
Construct an indoor obstacle course.
Make bath fizzies by combining citric acid, baking soda and cornstarch.
Pull out some old socks and draw faces on them to make sock puppets -- then put on a show.
Go on a walk and let kids take pictures of their favorite things around the neighborhood.
Find and write to a pen pal
Make sandwiches and deliver them to a homeless shelter or the local food pantry.
Make a summer tote bag out of a recycled tank top.
So there you have it! That is just SOME of the great ideas we are hoping to try this summer. We are going to write each idea on a slip of paper and then each time they are bored, they pick out a random slip.How can one be "bored" with so much different things to do? Some are giving back, some are learning and some are just FUN!
What activity are you planning to do first? Do you have any to add to the list? How bored are your kids already?
