At 11:15 this morning, I set the baby in the pack-and-play and started to prep lunch. I asked my five year old to find something fun to do while waiting for lunch. Apparently, this was no small feat — the whining ensued almost immediately.
Independent play is definitely a learned skill, and takes time to hone. I realized (quickly once the whining began) that my daughter just needed a few ideas to jump-start her own amazing imagination.
I grabbed butcher paper and made a giant list of 50 things to do on her own while mommy is busy. Before I was even finished scribbling #25, she was asking me for her own butcher paper and crayons!
Today’s post is all about getting creative and coming up with your own “I’m bored” list. When I was little, our “boredom list” was 100 items long and hung inside the pantry door. I have fond memories of looking through that list and carefully selecting the one that seemed most fun in the moment. (Thanks, Mom!) I’m hoping my own kids will adopt this same attitude!
This list is comprised entirely of screen-free kid activities. Not all of them are suitable for very little ones, and some require just a bit of adult help/supervision. But all of them are guaranteed to jump start your own – and yours kids’! – ideas. Hopefully you’ll find a few you love and be inspired to add them to a list of your own.
Here’s to unplugged, independent play and killing boredom!
50 Unplugged “I’m Bored” Activities
- color a picture
- blow bubbles
- do a puzzle
- play with play dough
- have a tea party
- trace letters with dry erase markers
- play farm
- grow a fairy garden
- dress up
- play hair salon
- build with blocks
- play dog kennel or vet with pretend animals
- get out a board game
- build a blanket-fort
- pick flowers and arrange a bouquet
- make mud pies or mud cookies
- ride your bike
- practice soccer skills
- build an obstacle course
- make up a song and sing it for others
- read (or look at) a book
- listen to cassette tapes or audio books
- play an instrument
- play with dolls
- make a toy car parade
- have a picnic
- fold laundry
- jump on trampoline
- use the drawing projector
- have a stuffed animal party
- build an invention out of recycled things
- make your own magazine
- write a weather report
- jump rope
- practice tumbling skills with mats or towels
- do a nature scavenger hunt
- draw with chalk
- read or play in the play house
- dress up the Barbies
- make your own snack mix recipe
- organize seashells
- make a beaded necklace
- use lacing toys
- make a paper chain countdown for something fun
- act out a story
- bounce a basketball
- read an I-spy book or play I-spy
- make an animal out of pipe cleaners
- swing or go down the slide as many times as you can
- create an Easter egg hunt
Our list is actually growing to upwards of 70 items now! I’m thinking I need to get it to 100, just to relive the famous “I’m Bored” list of my past!
What are your favorite springtime boredom busters? 🙂
a fresh brewed faith 