If you've been a reader for awhile, you probably remember some of these activities from last year (yes--I'm recycling my posts!), but since summer is here in full swing, and the kiddos are home--and bored--here's a newly extended and updated list of 60+ summer boredom busters to keep the kids happily entertained while Mom
Act out a story (and video tape it), then hook up your video camera and watch it on TV. Our kids acted out Goldilocks and it was hilarious! And it kept them busy with rehearsal for about an hour, then they watched themselves on TV about 5 times.
Make a trash dollhouse (or "Army bunker" for boys)--this can fill up days and days! All you need is a shoebox or other cardboard box and an assortment of caps, little empty bottles, paper clips and other miscellaneous household junk that we all have lying around in a drawer. Click here for the instructions.
Add It Up (toss $1.00 in coins out in the yard and have the kids search for the entire $1.00—while Mom takes a coffee break! If you want to be mean and take a LONG coffee break, only toss out $.95 and they will look for the elusive nickel for hours :-)
Play Battleship. If you don't have the actual game, you can print out a version here.
Make Hot Pretzels. Get creative and roll the dough into names, animals, footballs, a butterfly etc... Click here for an easy recipe.
Make a chalk mural--let each kid (and neighbor kids) each fill up an entire sidewalk square or part of the driveway.
Make a pinata. This takes several days from start to finish, so it would be great to start on a Monday and have it ready for the weekend. All ages can help with this one. Instructions here.
Make a pincone birdfeeder--spread peanut butter into the crevices of a pinecone and cover with birdseed. Hang with twine to a branch near a window and watch all the birds come for the feast.
Play Lines and Dots. This was my Grandmother's favorite game, and we spent hours playing it. Simple, yet fun. Printout and instructions here.
Make a Mini Puppet Theater and put on a show. Instructions here.
Make your own stationery, decorate it with stamps or stickers, and write a letter to grandparents, Godparents or cousins.
Make Origami figures. You can purchase packs of pre-cut Origami paper at craft stores, or you can use plain paper cut into perfect squares--the larger, the easier. Check out some easy figures/instructions here.
Make Peanut Butter Bars. These are quick, easy, and yummy! Best part--no oven/baking involved!
Make a Scavenger Hunt. Use both common household items (pencil, paper clip, penny, envelope...) as well as outdoor items (acorn, Y-shaped stick, something red...). Give each kid a paper sack or plastic grocery bag and a list of the items and let them race to collect the items. (For younger kids, draw the items on their list rather than write them). Winner gets first choice of popsicle.
Make a homemade Beanbag Toss. Fill old clean socks with dried beans or rice and knot the ends. Find household items of varying diameters to use as targets (Hula Hoop, muffin tins, pie tins) and assign each one a point value. Let each child have 5 throws per turn, then add up his/her score.
Play school (print out worksheets from www.superteacherworksheets.com)
Make an obstacle course outside (use laundry baskets, scooters, jump ropes…)
Shine pennies (soak pennies in a small cup of vinegar and a pinch of salt, scrub with a toothbrush until shiny)
Paper Airplanes (make and decorate, then see whose goes furthest out of 10 throws. Learn some new designs at http://www.10paperairplanes.com/)
Make up a secret code (write messages to each other then decode them)
Make a Puzzle (draw a picture, cut it up into pieces and try to put it together again)
Learn to draw animals (www.drawingnow.com/how-to-draw-animals.html)
Soap Carving (use a dull knife to carve animals or buildings out of bars of soap)
Decorate Cupcakes (click here for decorating ideas)
Write a story (cut up old magazines to use for the illustrations)
Play catch, Frisbee, tag
Make a marble maze (using paper towel tubes and duct tape)
Gardening – weed the garden, plant seeds
Read a book (make a fort outside and read in it, spread an old blanket in the grass and lay down to read)
Have a picnic (spread an old blanket on the grass, bring out a snack and a game)
Minute to Win It (get ideas at: www.nbc.com/minute-to-win-it/how-to)
Mini Golf (make a mini golf course with paper cups for the holes; add tunnels and bridges)
Board Games (Trouble, Life, Monopoly, Battleship, Memory …)
Clean something extra and earn $ (ask Mom/Dad what to clean and how much you’ll earn)
Balloon Volleyball (count how many times can you hit it before it touches the ground)
Lead an exercise class (take turns being the leader)
Relay races
Make bookmarks
Make Pepperoni Rolls
Pet rocks (wash/dry small rocks, paint, glue on googly eyes and then name them)
Play war with a deck of playing cards
Wash the car (and have a water fight while you do it!)
Learn a new song on the piano (free printable easy songs here)
Finger Weaving Contest. This is great for kids 7+ years old. Stock up on yarn at the dollar store or use the JoAnn's or Michael's coupons. Click here for instructions.
Bike Parade--Decorate bikes with streamers and signs for a bike parade with friends and neighbors
Draw cartoons
Hide a “treasure”--then draw maps so others can find it
Have a spelling bee, geography bee, math facts bee…
Play Charades (print out charades cards for kids: http://www.fun-stuff-to-do.com/kids-charades.html )
Make a cereal necklace (then eat it for a snack!)
Make your own board game (use pennies or buttons as playing pieces)
Giant Bubbles! (make your own solution: www.tooter4kids.com/Bubbles/Activities_Recipes.htm)
Homemade playdough (long list of recipes HERE)
Watch a movie--borrow some from the library
Go to a garage sale and hunt for treasures--give each child $1.00 to find the best treasure he/she can
Do a dot-to-dot page (www.printactivities.com/ConnectTheDots.html)
Burn leaves on a sunny day with magnifying glass (hold a magnifying glass a couple of inches above a leaf for a few minutes until you see a wisp of smoke or a burn hole in the leaf)
Wash/Brush the dog or cat
Have a lemonade stand and sell homemade lemonade and cookies
Listen to an audio book (from the library or get free stories at http://lightupyourbrain.com/stories/ or http://storynory.com/)
Learn magic tricks (http://magic.about.com/od/libraryofsimpletricks/ig/Easy-Tricks-for-Kids)
String Art (you'll need wood, embroidery thread, nails: http://familyfun.go.com/crafts/string-art-674038/)
Make Popsicles (use Kool-Aid or juice; try layers of vanilla yogurt and orange juice to make a yummy Creamsicle flavor)
Use wet sand to build famous landmarks (Eiffel tower, London Bridge, Coliseum, Mt. Rushmore...)
Decorate T-Shirts (buy cheap T's from the thrift store or dollar store and decorate with fabric paints)
What do you do to keep the kids happily entertained? Leave a comment after this post, or drop me an email and I'll add them them to the list.
