Bored, Nothing To Do This Summer?

I'm bored, there's nothing to do!' I'm sure you've never heard that in your home! Have you ever read the book by Peter Spier, Bored, Nothing To Do? It's about two brothers who are bored so their mom sends them outside to do something. Out in the garage, they build an airplane and fly it... If you haven't read the book, go to your library and grab a copy. Whether you're 6, 16 or 36, you'll enjoy it. I think I'll go read it again!

The airplane "project" results from boredom. There are two solutions to your kids' boredom I want to share with you. I think both have positive outcomes for your children this summer and hope you will share these with your friends & family.

Last fall I read an article by our local librarian. She made the point that boredom in children produces creativity. Think about it. When your children are bored, they often find something to do on their own. It takes creativity to imagine and invent your own "project". Remember the 2 brothers in Spier's book. They were bored and definitely used their creativity to build & fly an airplane.

With this in mind, you need to provide stimulating resources for your children. Resources can be as simple as the sticks in the backyard or more involved like craft baskets or lego boxes. When they are bored, they can use those resources as they spark their own imagination to overcome boredom. Usually, kids will find something to do because they don't want to be bored.

Allowing your children to overcome boredom with their own creative projects allows you to see your children's real passions and interests.

Another solution to boredom is pointing out places your children could go to cure their boredom. If your son simply sits on the couch staring at the ceiling, remind him of the boxes of legos in his closet or the race track pieces under his bed. When your daughter lies on her bed with nothing to do, mention the basket of art supplies in the family room. You get the idea.

I realize busy moms don't always have time to remember suggestions for your kids to encourage creativity. You can print the list, cut them out and put each one in a jar. Let your kids choose one when they are "bored". (This is a part of a list sent to me years ago, but I don't know its origin.)

In no particular order,

1. ride bikes

2. roller blade

3. basketball

4. play board games

5. make a tent out of blankets

6. squirt with hoses

7. run through the sprinkler

8. jump rope

9. read books

10. blow bubbles

11. make homemade play dough

12. play with play dough

13. press flowers

14. do crafts with pressed flowers

15. write a letter to a relative, friend or pen pal

16. clean bedroom

17. vacuum livingroom

18. clean bathroom

19. make a craft

20. draw

21. color

22. paint

23. pull weeds

24. watch a movie

25. write stories

26. use binoculars

27. use magnifying glass

28. use microscope

29. bird watching

30. write a play

31. act out a play

32. invent circus acts

33. perform a circus

34. play card games

35. make art on the front walkway with sidewalk chalk

36. play catch

37. play baseball

38. collect rocks

39. collect leaves

40. collect feathers

41. play Frisbee

42. make Frisbee's out of old plastic lids, decorate with markers

43. dust the house

44. brush the pet

45. write letters

46. read a magazine

47. play dress-up

48. play Cowboys

49. pick vegetables

50. play outside with the pet

51. build a fort in your rooms

52. build a fort in the backyard

53. do a jigsaw puzzle

54. play on the Geosafari

55. play on the computer

56. listen to a story or book on tape

57. do extra schoolwork to get ahead

58. do brain teasers (ie:crosswords,word searches,etc.)

59. cook

60. prepare lunch

61. surprise a neighbor with a good deed

62. play store

63. prepare a "restaurant" lunch with menus

64. hold a tea party

65. have a Teddy bear picnic

66. play with toy cars

67. play dolls

68. play house

69. chase butterflies

70. collect caterpillars and bugs

71. plant a garden or a pot

72. collect seeds

73. hunt for four-leaf clovers

74. learn magic tricks

75. put on a magic show

76. plant a container garden

77. sprout seeds or beans

78. make sock puppets

79. put on a puppet show

80. make Christmas presents

81. make homemade wrapping paper

82. make homemade gift cards

83. make picture frames from twigs glued onto sturdy cardboard

84. crochet or knit

85. make doll clothes

86. sew buttons in designs on old shirts

87. run relay races

88. make bookmarks

89. take a quiet rest time

90. take a shower or bath

91. bathe a pet

92. feed the birds or squirrels

93. watch the clouds

94. organize a dresser drawer

95. clean under the bed

96. empty dishwasher

97. vacuum under the couch cushions and keep any change found

98. write these ideas on pieces of paper and pick out one or two to
do

99. whittle

Have a wonderful summer and watch your children use their boredom to become creative.