Running out of ideas for playtime?

Things might be opening up in some places, but many states are still under stay at home guidelines. Schools are closed, and we are approaching summer, but what kind of summer awaits us? Here are some ideas of what to do when your kiddos are BORED!

Boredom leads to creativity.

Remember that it’s ok to let the boredom sit for a little bit. Let them get creative and stimulate their own free play. It’s good for their creativity and problem solving skills. But what if we have just run out of things to do (or our minds are too overloaded to think of anything)? Check out some ideas below.

Create a fun jar

Sit with your family and brainstorm ideas of things they can do when they are bored. Need some ideas? Here are a few:

• Have a barnyard bash! Use your imagination to create a barnyard outside or in a play space in your home. Boxes can turn into barns and farmhouses with a little paint and creativity. A blanket or tablecloth can be a picnic blanket covered in real or play food. Kids can dress up like animals and farmers–all you need is construction paper to make animal masks. Search for prizes in a “haystack” (shredded paper or even tissue paper works well for this). And you can end the say with a barn dance, where the whole family dances around the living room! This idea also works for a variety of adventures like zoo day, jungle adventures, and even a day under the sea!
• Garden Party. Fill a room with tissue paper flowers (or go search for real ones outside). Decorate terra-cotta flower pots with paint or tissue paper and mod podge. Do a watering can relay to get the garden watered. Create flower designs using fresh fruit (Hint: sliced strawberries make great flower petals). Or create a garden outside together as a family (HGTV has some good ideas–and no, I’m not affiliated with them. I just like the ideas). You can even go on a hunt for butterflies and ladybugs. And you can make a rain gauge by cutting the top off an empty two liter bottle. Finally, enjoy a lovely tea party outside or a fun picnic as a family.
• Backwards Day. This is a no frills, no cost day of fun. Take upside down selfies. Eat dinner for breakfast and breakfast for dinner. Wear your clothes backwards. Play Sardines. So many ideas!
• Art Fair. Turn your house into an art gallery or your backyard into an art fair. Paint a sidewalk mural (Here’s a recipe for sidewalk chalk paint. Make a splatter Tshirt. Paint bread for sandwiches using milk colored with food coloring. Practice your face painting. Have a cake decorating contest. Display artwork gallery style, play music, and eat fancy food while you walk around and enjoy.
• Family Olympics. The real Olympic games may be postponed, but you can host your own this summer. Brainstorm all the events you might want to include. They can be traditional or creative (3 legged races, egg toss, sponge tosses, silly human tricks). Set a date and a fun menu. And the best part is that everyone can use the time in between to “train,” which is a great boredom buster. For medals, you can take a cue from The Office and use yogurt lids. (Trivia bit: Angela from The Office graduated from my alma mater–Baylor University. Sic ’em).
• Backyard Campout. You don’t need to head out to a national park for a camping adventure. Camp out in your own backyard with all the food and fun (including S’mores). Can’t do it outside–camping out in the living room works, too (or having a family slumber party). Play flashlight tag, learn morse code, tell late night stories.

Your imagination is your ticket to adventure.

I have a million more thoughts but not enough room, so feel free to reach out to me if you need more ideas. Also, are you worried about older kids and teens? Never fear! That post is coming in a few days. For now, have some fun!