150+ 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! Use this free printable for this idea.

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

Read

The best things kids can do is read. They can read by themself or to a sibling. Your kids will love these books. And you can find a great post about reading HERE.

Write a Story

Have your kids write a story. If they need help getting started, these prompts are awesome.

Draw

Learn to draw an animal or monster. This How To Draw book is so good for all ages!

Recycled Art Project

Create something cool from the stuff in the recycle bin with a glue gun

Write a Letter

Everyone loves to get letters. Kids can write a litter to a grandparent, missionary, or their favorite teacher. This teacher thank you printable makes it fun and easy.

Paint with Water Color

This is always fun to do. Kids can be creative and paint their own design. You can print off their favorite character coloring page to paint. If you want something more in depth, there are so many good tutorials on youtube. Water color paper is great to use and you can get some HERE.

Paint with finger paint

Kids love using their hands. This will keep them busy for along time!

Draw with Sidewalk Chalk

Kids love to draw big and create fun designs. You can trace their body, create an obstacle course or hop scotch. My kids love to create their own paint with the chalk and create painted murals. It so fun and can keep them busy for hours!

Create a treasure hunt for the little kids

Babysit a sibling $

Wash the car inside and out $

Bake Cookies

Baking cookies is so much fun! You will love all the different recipes by Maria Lichtly.

Plan the menu for the week

Fill up the baby pool and play in the water

Run through the sprinklers

Put a sprinkler under the tramp and jump on it

Weed $

Play kickball or wiffleball

Work on Your Favorite Sport

Working to improve on something you love can be so rewarding. I love this soccer trainer to give you something to work on solo.

Get a soccer, basketball or flag football game going (love these flags)

Call a friend

Play hide and seek or sardines

Play tag

Play board games (LIFE, Monopoly, Sorry)

Play a card game (Uno, Wackee 6, Solitaire, Set, Kyrpto)

Play a dice game (Yahtzee, Tenzi)

Make up your own game

Shoot a bow and arrow

Perfect the slackline

Play 4-square (this playground ball is great)

Play bocce ball, bean bag toss, or spikeball

Make up a dance

Make up a song

Sing Karaoke

My kids love playing karaoke games on youtube. They also love the karaoke microphone.

Make up a play

Listen to music

Play M.A.S.H.

Make friendship bracelets

Make rubberband bracelets

Play with Snap Circuits

Play with Legos

Iron $

Plan the next family outing

Plan the next family trip

Research a famous person from history and tell us all about him or her

Play Laser Tag

Have an indoor basketball contest (this is the greatest indoor hoop ever)

Hide a stuffed animal and play “hot” cold”

Have an Easter Egg hunt

Find your 10 favorite inspirational quotes, print them out and put them in your room

Get ideas for designing your own room

Clean out the toy room $

Donate all your old clothes and toys

Organize the pantry $

Play with bubbles

Make your own bubbles and wands (best bubbles HERE)

Make Harry Potter wands (super easy craft idea HERE)

Make stress balls

Ride bikes or rollerblade

Try to Catch bugs, frogs or snakes

Make an ant maze

Research the craziest animal and tell us all about it

Research your family history

Water the garden

Have a water fight

See who can make the ugliest face in a picture

Go on a nature scavenger hunt

Try Geo-caching

Build something with wood, hammer and nails

Jumprope

Organize your books

Play wall ball

Look through old photo albums or Chatbooks

Write a rhyming poem

Paint rocks for the garden

Do Spin Art

Make leaf rubs

Make a piece of jewelry

Pick veggies from the garden

Have a paper airplane contest

Do Origami

Kids love to do origami! This is a great set go get kids going. You can get a fun origami puzzle book HERE.

Learn a Magic Trick

Ther are so many fun ways to learn magic tricks. This book makes it easy.

Tell jokes (The Big Book of Silly Jokes for Kids)

Build a fort

Use the Straw Builderz

Make a marble run

Grow CrystalsPlay in the hammock

Make a set of markers

Make and play with play-doh

Build with Kinetic Sand, less mess and lots of fun

Make slime

Learn some yo-yo tricks (we really love yo-yo)

Do a puzzle

Have a Nerf War

Do your workbook (this brand is awesome)

Put together a tinker crate

Learn all the states

Collect quarters for your State Quarter map

Complete a Paint by Sticker

Think of something you would love to invent and draw it

Pick flowers and bring them to someone who needs a pick-me-up

Do a secret service for someone in your home

Do a secret service for someone outside your home

Run a mile

See what you can knock down with a catapult or build your own

Make a movie

Design your dream house

See how many push up and sit ups you can do, and do one more each day

Play Would You Rather

Create the perfect smoothie and write the recipe down

Collect snails

Write nice things on sticky notes, and stick them to neighbors or friends doors

Walk a dog (borrow one if you need to)

Create an obstacle course and time each other

Create something with Zoob Builders

Predict the top 10 college football and basketball teams for next year

Learn to tie a tie

Learn to tie your shoes

Make something with Pearler beads

Play with remote control cars

Paint each other’s faces (great face paint kit)

Complete a word search or crossword puzzle

Make a photo montage video

Practice Keyboarding (this is a great typing game)

Play an instrument

Make a homemade instrument and make a band

Use sidewalk chalk to draw roads and buildings and play with the hot wheels cars

Use ice like water crayons

Finish a Sudoku or Colorku

Do a search and find book or Where’s Waldo

Draw a map of your city

Find a service project you can do

Create playlists

Play house

Play school

Create a fairy garden

Try High Fit

Try Yoga

Try figuring out a Rubix cube

Read to a pet

Learn cat’s cradle and different string games.

Have a blind makeover. (The person doing the makeup is blindfolded.)

Try a new hairstyle

Go to a park.

Have an art competition with friends.

Hold an egg drop contest.

Climb a tree.

Play with a toy you haven’t used in awhile.

Jump with balls on the trampoline

Make a music video.

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”?