We’re soon approaching the year anniversary since quarantine orders were put into effect. In those 12 months, we’ve experienced a wealth of emotions, not all of which we need to list here. But the pandemic has also inspired a creeping condition among our children, and its symptoms can be both unpleasant and arduous to combat. Boredom.
To help parents stay sane in their attempts to entertain bored kids, we’ve put together this handy resource. The next time you hear “I’m bored,” think of Great Wolf Lodge. Now, keep reading to see just what kinds of things you can do when the kids are bored.
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18 Things to Do When The Kids Are Bored
1. Create an Indoor Obstacle Course
The best thing you can do with bored kids is to tire them out. DIY obstacle courses are a great way to get them moving while promoting cognitive development. We suggest using painter’s tape to mark the start of your obstacle course. From there, you can direct them to a series of challenges. Don’t be afraid to think outside of the box here. Remember, a row of chairs can make for an awesome tunnel; a rolled-up rug can be used as a balance beam, and scattered pillows are great stepping stones for when the floor turns into hot lava!
2. Put on a Puppet Show
Next up on our list of boredom busters for kids is the homemade puppet theater. It’s a great way to keep the kids busy, inspire a little creativity and keep them away from the TV! Check out our original tutorial to get started. All you need is a cardboard box, construction paper, paper bags, and a few additional items. If you really want to get creative, you can even make a sign and sell some “tickets” to the show
If you don’t have time for all that, then keep it simple with sock puppets! Grab some socks that have lost their mates and some markers to create a face. Cut out the mouth, and start the show!
3. Write a Letter
Still not sure what to do with the kids? Ask them to write a letter! Not only does it introduce them to the practical art of letter-writing, but also gives them an opportunity to practice their fine motor skills. Grab some stationary and ask them to start decorating. Then, ask them to whom they want to address their letter.
Maybe they want to connect to a friend they haven’t seen for a while or a relative that lives far away. If they’re too young to write, they can always draw pictures instead. Show them how to address the letter, stamp it and send it off!
4. Throw a Tea Party
Time to get fancy! Let your little ones dress up in their favorite formal wear. If they’re the only kid around, gather some of their stuffed animals to join them. If you’re up for it, you can even pretend to be the “butler,” giving them the 5-start treatment. This is a great opportunity for the kids to practice their conversational skills and work on ordering for themselves at a restaurant.
5. Bake Something Yummy
Baking is another great way to keep the kids entertained. Not only does it make the house smell good, but it also provides opportunities to teach the kids some very important life skills. Weighing and measuring ingredients gives them experience with numbers. You can also show them how to use utensils properly when mixing the ingredients together.
There are plenty of tasty treats to choose from. You can bake cookies, cakes, s’mores, or something else entirely. If cooking is something the kids seem to enjoy, you can always invite them back into the kitchen to help Mom and Dad make dinner!
6. Organize a Scavenger Hunt
Send the kids on a mission to keep them from getting bored. You can create the list yourself, but it might make things a little easier for parents to have another sibling come up with what items need to be found.
During the colder months, it might be easier to set things up inside the house. You can look for things like band-aids, keys, anything that contains the color red, and so on. When the weather gets nicer, feel free to take things outside. Head into the backyard for a nature scavenger hunt. Be on the lookout for things like pinecones, dandelions. and fallen leaves.
7. Have Fun with Sidewalk Chalk
There are lots of things you can do with sidewalk chalk, but one of our favorite games is called sidewalk fires. Draw a ladder with a fire at the top to get started. Then, grab a bowl of water and a sponge from inside. Place them at the bottom of the ladder.
Have the kids wet the sponge, climb the ladder and squeeze it out over the fire. Don’t let them stop until the fire is out! This game is a great way to develop gross motor skills.
8. Create a Vision Board
Grab some poster board and a few old magazines. See what kinds of images the kids are drawn to. Ask them to look for things representative of what they want to happen in the next year. If they’re old enough, they can cut out the image themselves. If not, you’ll have to man the scissors. Ask them to glue it onto the board and hang it up in their room. It will serve as an everyday reminder of what they can work towards!
9. Balloon Bubble Bath
Bubble baths are tons of fun, but they can get pretty messy. Break up the bathtime routine with a bunch of colorful balloons instead! That way, the kids can enjoy something special in the tub without all the mess.
You can also incorporate a few water balloons into the activity. They’ll float in the water and will allow the kids to enjoy some sensory play. Ask them to describe how they feel using words like slimy, heavy, slippery, or squishy!
10. Play a Board Game
We know, this idea sounds a little, well… dated. But the truth is, there are tons of fun board games out there for families to enjoy. Check out this list of new games to explore. It’s got exciting titles ranging from the Jewel Heist to The Phantom Society and more!
11. Conduct Science Experiments
Sure, this may seem somewhat easier said than done, but there are lots of cool experiments you can do with simple materials found around the house. Let’s start with the classic volcano experiment. Using a few empty water bottles as your base, create this awesome chemical reaction using some dish soap, white vinegar, food coloring, and baking soda. Mix some extra baking soda and water together in a separate container. Pour into the bottle and… boom!
12. Teach Your Child a Magic Trick
Who isn’t interested in magic? There are lots of different tricks you can learn for different skill levels. Let’s start with the disappearing coin trick. This one is typically recommended for ages 5 and up. Not only is it tons of fun to learn, but it’s also an opportunity for the kids to practice their fine motor skills, discipline, and confidence!
Start with the coin on your second and third fingers. Pretend to transfer the coin into your left hand. In reality, you’ll use your thumb to hold the coin in its original place. Check out this article for the rest of the instructions. You’ll also find tons of other tricks the kids can practice when they’re bored!
13. Throw a Dance Party
Who says you have to go out to have a good time? Enjoy a family dance party in the living room instead! We suggest making a guest list, picking out some of your favorite songs, and decorating for the event before you get the party started. You can also use some of our printable props to hand out during the event.
14. Make Friendship Bracelets
Set up a bracelet-making station in any room in the house. There are tons of options to choose from, but we think these beaded friendship bracelets are a great pick for young kids. All you’ll need is a stretch bead cord and different color beads. You can also look for beads that contain letters. That way, the kids can incorporate some fun sayings onto their bracelets.
Pro Tip: tape down one end of your bead cord while the kids are making their bracelets so that they don’t lose any beads.
15. Start Some Pillow Fights
Laughter is a great way to kill the boredom blues. If your kids are having a hard time finding ways to stay entertained at home, surprise them with a friendly pillow fight. Be sure to use small pillows to make sure everyone stays safe and stuff doesn’t get knocked around the room. You know what they say, the family that plays together, stays together!
16. Make a DIY Flower Bouquet
Here’s one of the best summer boredom busters on the list! Take the kids outside after the flowers are in bloom. Have them pick flowers to create their very own bouquets. Grab some colorful ribbon on your way home for them to wrap them with!
17. Go for a Bike Ride
It can be tough to drag bored kids away from the computer, iPad, or TV, but it is important to get them away from these screens every now and then. Experts suggest that too much time with these devices can lead to a lack of sleep, poor performance in school, and a greater risk of obesity.
Encouraging them to go for a bike ride is a good way to make sure they get enough exercise during the day. Older kids might even bump into their neighborhood friends when out on the bike. What they thought would be a quick 30 minutes could easily turn into hours of fun!
18. Make a Time Capsule
This is one of our favorite activities for when we’re stuck at home! Ask the kids to collect a few items they feel best represent the time they’re living in. Remember, all the items will eventually be placed in a box and hidden away, so make sure they don’t include anything they can’t live without.
Decide as a family when you want to open the time capsule. You can wait a few weeks, months, or even years. Be sure to discuss what’s changed when the time finally comes for you to reopen the box!
The Benefits of Boredom
No one wants to hear the words “I”m bored,” least of all from your own children. As parents, we spend a lot of time keeping the kids entertained. And that’s not a bad thing. Structure and routine have been shown to help kids develop their cognition, independence, and coping skills. But it’s important to remember that the dreaded B-word carries certain benefits of its own.
New research suggests that boredom can actually encourage imagination and creativity. Without anyone around to do it for them, children must find new ways to keep themselves occupied, and entertained.
It’s also been shown to help kids develop problem-solving skills, form relationships, build confidence and improve mental health. It’s even been shown to help develop a concept known as “grit.” Boredom isn’t easy to grapple with. The better our kids can overcome tough situations, the more resilient they’ll become.
Of course, you don’t want the kids experiencing boredom too often. That opens up the door to tantrums, defiance, and disruptive behaviors. Still, it’s important to remember that neither kids nor their parents need to be “on-the-go” at all times. A little bit of stillness, as it turns out, isn’t always a bad thing.
How We Help Keep Families Together
We hope you had fun with our list of things to do when the kids are bored! Don’t forget to share this list with the different people in your life. If you can’t get together to review the list, you can discuss each item over FaceTime or Zoom. Be sure to check out the rest of our blog for even more activities.
At Great Wolf Lodge, we create family traditions, one family at a time. These days, we’re looking to take that mission out of the lodge and into your home. Check-in each week to see what Wiley and the rest of the Great Wolf Kids are up to. Don’t forget to share your experience on Facebook, Twitter, or TikTok. Tag a friend to tell them about your favorite activity on the list!
