50 Screen-Free Ideas When Kids Say, “I’m Boooredd”
Those two words aren't so bad when you've got this list. Promise.
I know, I know: Let kids be bored! A parent’s job isn’t to remove boredom! A bored child is an incurious child!
But sometimes you just want a list of really good ideas to combat your child finding ways to increase the syllable count of “I’m bored” every time they say it.
We love and adore our children here, and we also love it when they’re occupied.
I texted 12 other moms in cities and suburbs across the USA. Here’s a list, in no particular order, to help you out as we near the halfway point of summer.
In my experience, kids are school-age once they learn to voice their boredom, so these ideas are geared toward 6+, but there lots of transferable ideas for the toddlers, too.
And without further adieu, 50 Screen-Free Ideas When Kids Say, “I’m Booooredd”
Just add water is a year-round motto around here: bathtub, sprinkler, spray bottle, hose. Fill a plastic bowl with water and dish soap and dump waterproof things in there to “wash.”
Bubbles! The $1 ones work great or these wands for person-sized bubbles are particularly fun and novel. My favorite bubble recipe for “sturdy” bubbles is this one.
The Nugget. (Ed. note: we’ve had this one for 6 years and this one for one year and they’re one of our most played with items)
If they play an instrument…practice time! If they don’t, put on some music and have them figure out which instruments they’re drawn to.
“I have them help prep for whatever the next meal is. Set the table, peel a vegetable, fill a pot with water.” (Side note: This is the best peeler in America)
Depending on their age, give them a jug of white vinegar and box of baking soda for science experiments outside. Especially fun in a non-fancy mini pool like this!
Tell them to run around the house and time them. Make up a time when they come in and ask—it’s fine, you’re working. Then have them try to beat their record.
“I say, ‘It’s good to be bored, figure it out.’ Then suggest reading and Legos. Then: ‘Clean your room!’”
“My 5th grader told me he pretends he’s filming his own YouTube channel, teaching others to play whichever sport he’s playing.”
“I say boring people are bored”
Put all the Legos out where they’re all visible. Use something like this—we have and love.
Same goes for Magnatiles, blocks, anything buildable. Our favorite are the knock-off brand—they “stick” the best.
Give them the largest box you can find from your recycle bin and permission to draw or write all over it.
Have them grab an old tshirt you were planning on donating. Color on it, paint it, glue it.
A deep eye roll? Lol.
Give your kid a legal pad (something about the legal pad is very official!) and a prompt to write a story, comic, or song.
“We had dear friends over one afternoon for a bonfire. The kids were bored immediately and complained for like 25 minutes. Then they came up with a game called “Little Lost Kids.” They made small beds, boats, kitchens, potions, soups out of the nature around them. They colored leaves with chalk and made artwork and jewelry with it. They ended up playing for hours and play it to this day, years later.”
Tell them, “Only boring people get bored” and let that sink in ;)
“Marble maze or Air Toobz that I keep in the attic for moments like this.”
Have them make up a full play with costumes and a script. At the end of the day, pop some popcorn and watch it with whoever’s around.
“My kids (age 5 and 8) said, ‘We get unbored and play together.’”
For kids who have half-finished projects around the house, we have a rule that when they say they’re bored, they have to either finish one of those or throw it away.
Pull out your old jewelry (old Claire’s and Ron Jon Surf Shop, we’re not talking precious or even costume) and let the kids try it on.
I say, “Ooooh, I have something you can do!” And proceed to list off chores. They seem to stop being bored pretty quickly.
Make a time capsule. Have them write a letter to their future self. Collect some things they like (baseball cards, cute erasers), a recent photo. Put it all into a mason jar and hide it somewhere you don’t regularly access. Put a reminder on your phone to find it in 2-5 years, with the location.
Have a roll of butcher paper (the really long kind) and roll a huge sheet on the floor or driveway.
All the sports: basketball, wiffle ball, blitz ball, tag, hockey, soccer.
“I’ve worked hard to be a hardass about certain expectations so that I feel comfortable giving them a lot of freedom in our community. My oldest bikes into town and gets food with his friends and my middle is just starting to do that, too.”
Fresh sheet of stickers! (Put a few sheets in your car too, while you’re at it, stickers are magic)
“I’m very into boredom these days. I respond ‘GOOD!’ And then go back to my chores. They freak out at me for a second and then they figure it out. ‘“
Build a fort. Let them have free rein on the pillows, sheets, and furniture. Only caveat is that they need to put it away once they’re finished if they’re old enough.
Pull out a bunch of flashlights. Flashlights make almost anything feel fun.
If your child can use a computer or tablet, let them research a sports team or destination and make a Google slideshow about it1
Decorate something edible: apples + peanut butter + mini chocolate chips // crackers + pepperoni + olives // Greek yogurt + berries + honey + sprinkles (then freeze!) // pita + tomato sauce + shredded cheese + pizza toppings //
Write a letter or draw a photo for a friend or relative with the promise you can bring it to the post office later and buy a stamp
Give them an old-school calculator. For some reason, kids love.
Lemonade stand (hot chocolate or hot apple cider during colder months). Any money they make is spending money.
“We like doing challenges. It’s basically just telling your kid: Run to that chair, then do high knees to the kitchen table, crab walk around the playroom 4X, bunny hop to the bathroom, meditate for 2 minutes, and then repeat 3X.”
Put an audio book on! If you have multiple kids, put it on a speaker. If one kid, headphones. Find one they easily become engrossed with. We like Boxcar Children and Magic Treehouse.
Tag / Freeze Tag but use the hose to “tag”
“Toys” without a descriptive use like Play-Doh and modeling clay
Go to the library, find a theme your kid is into, and check out 5-7 books on that topic. (My oldest is into Egyptology and fishing at the moment.)
Keep new library books in a bin and send them to it!
FaceTime a relative2
Send them outside (every single person included this)
Dance party!
Buy a pack of tracing paper. They can trace anything: Pokemon cards, books, magazines.
Scavenger hunt—but really low stakes. Write a list of 5-7 things that are relatively easy to find, and 3-5 that are more challenging. (i.e.: EASY: 6 different leaves, something purple. HARD: a rock shaped like a heart, a feather.)
When all else fails, they get new chores :)
What do you say when someone says, “I’m bored?” Cannot wait to hear. x
Thank you so much for reading Double Dutch where I teach you how to hack travel, meals, style, and parenting to save time and money. Follow along on Instagram, buy me a coffee, and connect on LinkedIn. I’d be so grateful if you shared or subscribed!
Yes, this does involve a screen, but feels educational, so including
Screen-ish, but also they way we keep up with our family members who live in other states!
“Only boring people get bored!! Let that sink in.” Nailed it ⚰️⚰️⚰️⚰️