100+ Ways to Fight I’m Bored this Summer

This is the list I used for years when my kids were younger! I call it the, “I’m Bored” list. If they are ever feeling bored or like the only option is TV or an XBOX, they can take a look at this list and get an idea for something better. There are 105 options above, but even more on the list below! Don’t forget to check out my Summer Ideas for Teens too.

Create a Boredom Buster Jar

I have also cut these ideas into strips and put them in a jar so they can draw one if they ever say, “I’m bored!” That saying becomes a bit risky when you have the jar because you might pull out something fun or something not so fun. They will often quickly figure out something to do on their own. I have linked some of the items to articles that explain them a bit more or to products that we have loved that help us get through the summer with a balance of learning, creativity, and fun!

The Giant List of 100+ Ways to Fight I’m Bored this Summer

1. Read (try my booklist for all grades and a booklist for 4th-12th graders)
2.  Read a book to a sibling
3. Write a story (I love these story prompts)
4. Learn to draw an animal or monster (this how to draw book is awesome for all ages)
5. Create something cool from the stuff in the recycle bin with a glue gun
6. Write a letter to a grandparent
7. Write a letter to a missionary
8. Write a letter to your favorite teacher
9. Paint with watercolors
10. Paint with finger paint
11. Draw with sidewalk chalk
12. Create a treasure hunt for the little kids
13. Babysit a sibling $
14. Wash the car inside and out $
15. Bake cookies
16. Plan the menu for the week
17. Fill up the baby pool and play in the water
18. Run through the sprinklers
19. Put a sprinkler under the tramp and jump on it
20. Weed $
21. Play kickball or wiffleball
22. Work on your favorite sport (love this solo soccer trainer and these soccer goals)
23. Get a soccer, basketball or flag football game going (love these flags)
24. Call a friend
25. Play hide and seek or sardines
26. Play tag
27. Play board games (LIFE, Monopoly, Sorry)
28. Play a card game (Uno, Wackee 6, Solitaire, Set, Kyrpto)
29. Play a dice game (Yahtzee, Tenzi)
30. Make up your own game
31. Shoot a bow and arrow
32. Perfect the slackline
33. Play 4-square (this playground ball is great)
34. Play bocce ball, bean bag toss, or spikeball
35. Make up a dance
36. Make up a song
37. Sing Karaoke (microphone)
38. Make up a play
39. Listen to music
40. Play M.A.S.H.
41. Make friendship bracelets
42. Make rubberband bracelets
43. Play with Snap Circuits
44. Play with Legos
45. Iron $
46. Plan the next family outing
47. Plan the next family trip
48. Research a famous person from history and tell us all about him or her
49. Play Laser Tag
50. Have an indoor basketball contest (this is the greatest indoor hoop ever)
51. Hide a stuffed animal and play “hot” cold”
52. Have an Easter Egg hunt
53. Find your 10 favorite inspirational quotes, print them out and put them in your room
54. Get ideas for designing your own room
55. Clean out the toy room $
56. Donate all your old clothes and toys
57. Organize the pantry $
58. Play with bubbles
59. Make your own bubbles and wands (best bubbles HERE)
60. Make Harry Potter wands (super easy craft idea HERE)
61. Make stress balls
62. Ride bikes or rollerblade
63. Try to Catch bugs, frogs or snakes
64. Make an ant maze
65. Research the craziest animal and tell us all about it
66. Research your family history
67. Water the garden
68. Have a water fight
69. See who can make the ugliest face in a picture
70. Go on a nature scavenger hunt
71. Try Geo-caching
72. Build something with wood, hammer and nails
73. Jumprope
74. Organize your books
75. Play wall ball
76. Look through old photo albums or Chatbooks
77. Write a rhyming poem
78. Paint rocks for the garden
79. Do Spin Art
80. Make leaf rubs
81. Make a piece of jewelry
82. Pick veggies from the garden
83. Have a paper airplane contest
84. Do Origami
85. Learn a magic trick (here’s a book of simple magic tricks)
86. Tell jokes (The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids)
87. Build a fort
88. Use the Straw Builderz
89. Make a marble run
90. Grow Crystals
91. Play in the hammock
92. Make a set of markers
93. Make and play with play-doh
94. Build with Kinetic Sand, less mess and lots of fun
95. Make slime
96. Learn some yo-yo tricks (we really love yo-yo)
97. Do a puzzle
98. Have a Nerf War
99. Do your workbook (this brand is awesome)
100. Put together a tinker crate
101. Learn all the states
102. Collect quarters for your State Quarter map
103. Complete a Paint by Sticker
104. Think of something you would love to invent and draw it
105. Pick flowers and bring them to someone who needs a pick-me-up
106. Do a secret service for someone in your home
107. Do a secret service for someone outside your home
108. Run a mile
109. See what you can knock down with a catapult or build your own
110. Make a movie
111. Design your dream house
112. See how many push up and sit ups you can do, and do one more each day
113. Play Would You Rather
114. Create the perfect smoothie and write the recipe down
115. Collect snails
116. Write nice things on sticky notes, and stick them to neighbors or friends doors
117. Walk a dog (borrow one if you need to)
118. Create an obstacle course and time each other
119. Create something with Zoob Builders
120. Predict the top 10 college football and basketball teams for next year
121. Learn to tie a tie
122. Learn to tie your shoes
123. Make something with Pearler beads
124. Play with remote control cars
125. Paint each other’s faces (great face paint kit)
126. Complete a word search or crossword puzzle
127. Make a photo montage video
128. Practice Keyboarding (this is a great typing game)
129. Play an instrument
130. Make a homemade instrument and make a band
131. Use sidewalk chalk to draw roads and buildings and play with the hot wheels cars
132. Use ice like water crayons
133. Finish a Sudoku or Colorku
134. Do a search and find book or Where’s Waldo
135. Draw a map of your city
136. Find a service project you can do
137. Create playlists
138. Play house
139. Play school
140. Create a fairy garden
141. Try High Fit
142. Try Yoga
143. Try figuring out a Rubix cube
144. Read to a pet
145. Learn cat’s cradle and different string games.
146. Have a blind makeover. (The person doing the makeup is blindfolded.)
147. Learn to draw something new.
148. Try a new hairstyle
149. Go to a park.
150. Have an art competition with friends.
151. Hold an egg drop contest.
152. Climb a tree.
153. Play with a toy you haven’t used in awhile.
154. Jump with balls on the trampoline
155. Make a music video.
156. Go on a photo scavenger hunt.

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Leave a Comment

Add your ideas in the comments…I love to hear how other families make the most out of summertime! What do you do when your kids say “I’m bored”?