With their titanic levels of energy, it’s tricky to keep the kids amused, especially when school’s out and there’s little to occupy their time. The cry of ‘are we there yet’ will inevitably ensure from the back seat of the car, or, a tantrum will brew from nothing more than a fit of ennui in the garden. This holiday, prepare some fun activities for complaining kids for when the next rainy day threatens to send your harmonious family into turmoil.
Become movie directors
If you have a camera that you don’t mind being knocked about a little, why not shoot a mini-movie that the kids can direct, act in and edit? Have a screenwriting meeting first and come up with ideas for what your film should be about, help them to write up a script and then shoot their dramatic monologs and melodramatic acting. Okay, so it might not win an Oscar, but it will be a cherished family artifact to look back on one day together and laugh at (or maybe even cringe!).
Create a masterpiece
Have an art day with the kids and bring out all the cheap stationery, paints, chalks, pastels and modeling clay. For works, you can keep forever on proud display, paint plant pots, mugs or t-shirts. Try to theme the fun around a specific topic to keep things interesting: pirates, outer space, safari, and cowboys are all solid starter ideas for a project.
Cook up something special in the kitchen
A day in the kitchen is not only great for family bonding, your stomach will profit, too! Kit out your little chef in an apron and white hat, cook simple recipes like pancakes and cookies, and remember to answer with an exaggerated shout of “Yes, chef” and salute for best results.
Decorate the bedroom
If your eight-years-old has outgrown that Dora the Explorer wallpaper that seemed such a good idea at the time, what’s to stop you from giving their room a mini-makeover? Throw on some old overalls, shift the furniture and get stuck in together painting the walls a new, more grown-up theme, then go for a shopping trip to pick up new bedding and accessories.
Take a Day trip
If all this fails, it might be time to consider a day trip as a family. Head out for an afternoon at the movies, visit the local park for a game of Frisbee, have some fun in the playground or take a drive to blow away the cobwebs.
And don’t be too quick to pander to the first shout of ‘I’m bored!’ It’s good for their creative development to encourage your children to come up with their own games and adventures.
For other fun activities for bored kids: Toddler Snow Day Activities
I really like the movie idea. They all sound like great fun ideas to keep the kids busy.
Such Great Ideas I’ll Use Them ALL As I’m Always Looking For News Ideas Crafts Etc. To Do With My Girls Thank You1
These are awesome ideas! I’ve done many of these over the summer with my kids, but we haven’t done the movie director one. my son has an ipod touch that can record video, I’m sure this could be something we do together one day.
Those are some great ideas. I think kids act up when they are bored.
I love reading to my daughter. She seems to always have attention when I am reading her a story about animals.
Great ideas! No kid should ever say they are “bored” with so many options.
My kids did love to make home movies. They always made me laugh too. I love the day trip idea as well.
Frankly, I get them to do many of the things you suggested. I really like them to bake. I hate baking so its an overall win/win situation. They rarely say ‘no’ to baking.
These are great ideas! And then there’s always the good ol’ “go outside and build something” remedy for boredom too! I’m a southern belle and I can remember spending the majority of my time outside creating things with my friends!
These are brilliant idea. When I was a kid I was told to play out side and locked out of the house for hours, I would always get so bored because I wasn’t creative enough to think if anything fun to do.
These are all great ideas! I don’t have kids, but can only imagine how hard it would be to entertain them 24/7.
We take a lot of days trips. With 5 kids they are definitely complaining that they are bored. Thanks for these ideas!
Art days are so fun. We get so much use out of our easel.
Great ideas to do with the kids. My kids loved doing crafts and baking with me. Thanks for sharing.
When my kids were younger, I would pull out the craft bin. The kids and I would create things and it would take their mind off of complaining.
Its so funny my son just said yesterday for the first time all summer, Mom, I’m bored! We instantly jumped into his room and redecorated! Great tips, thanks for sharing.
These are great ideas for some fun with the kids, thanks!
These are such great ideas! My kids would have a blast making their own movie!!!
I just hate to hear “Mom, I have nothing to do!”. Great ideas for the boring kids. And I must say my son loves to direct his own movies. It’s a passion for him.
These listed were some of my favorite things to do when I was younger
Fun activities! Great even if the kids are older. In fact, I´d love to do some myself. 😀
I love painting the rooms! Saves me so much time trying to wash off all of the crayons and boogers 🙂
i always bring my daughter in the grocery haha she loves checking the lists and get the stuffs herself while i push the trolley hehe
Do anything that involves water