Kids jump for joy when school ends, but are usually bored after the first week of summer vacation. This list of summer boredom busters for kids can help ward off the summer blues.
What To Do When Kids Are Bored In The Summer
By planning ahead and being prepared, parents can keep their kids out of trouble and out of their hair during summer vacation. Don’t make a big deal about it or they may reject the parent’s summer boredom ideas. Instead, pull up websites and leave brochures and clippings around for them to discover. Make plans early to avoid summer holiday boredom. Once boredom sets in, it’s harder to shake. How do you beat summer boredom? Keep reading to find out!
Free Local Activities
Many communities have a pool where kids can swim and hang out safely for free or for a small fee. Community concerts, sporting events, festivals, and fairs are great places for teens and tweens to meet up with friends for an afternoon or evening. Some community centers have special events for kids, such as movies or dances.
Libraries often have summer programs for kids. Make a habit of stopping at the library once a week to foster a love for reading. But don’t stop with books. Kids can also borrow music, videos, and games from many libraries or through online apps. Be sure to check out all that the local library offers.
Summer Jobs
A job at a local business teaches responsibility and puts some extra money in kids pockets. When getting a real job isn’t possible because of age or other circumstances, have kids look for other opportunities, such as babysitting and mowing lawns. Or make a list of odd jobs around the house that need to be done.
No matter what the job, working helps kids feel a sense of worth for their contribution. It also helps them value the work that their parents and other adults do. It keeps them busy and beat summer boredom, which was the original point of it all. And they have some money to spend to entertain themselves when they aren’t working!
Summer Boredom Busters For Tweens and Teens
Keep tweens and teens busy by engaging them in volunteer activities. There are plenty of organizations that would appreciate help. Have the kids take charge of identifying places where they might volunteer, such as the Red Cross, food banks, soup kitchens, nursing homes, or hospitals. Some churches have lists of shut-ins who would enjoy a visit from a young person. Helping others helps kids appreciate a world beyond MTV and Facebook.
Kids Creative Activities for Summer Vacation
The idle days of summer are a great time to learn to do something new. Ask kids to think of something they’d like to learn, and then have them research and plan how to do it. Look for art or woodworking classes, karate schools, or fly fishing workshops. Let their imagination roll, but be sure to talk about budget first!
Kids who like to work with arts and crafts can make gifts to put away for friends and family as occasions arise. On rainy summer days, you can have fun printables for kids ready for them to make at home, the cottage, or while camping. Some craft shops and fabric stores schedule how-to activities for customers at the store or online. These are beneficial on several counts: the kids spend time learning to do something new; after the workshop, they can spend time practicing at home; then they spend time using their new skill to create things.
Summer vacation allows for time to get into projects, like redecorating a bedroom or tearing apart an old car. Again, it’s important for parents to set boundaries on how much of their time and money they will invest. Challenging kids to work on their own with a limited budget forces them to be resourceful and gives them a sense of accomplishment. And it keeps them busy!
15 Summer Boredom Busters For Kids
Spend an afternoon with your kids creating a beautiful cactus-painted rock garden together. With the warm weather and summer approaching, you and your family are probably enjoying the outdoors more, so why not pick up some rocks along your travels. Rock painting is really popular right now and the possibilities are endless.
Rather than buying fidget spinners and risking buying a fidget spinner with lead contamination, make your own at home with LEGOS!
This fun and colorful rainbow craft cloud makes cool art to display or share. Made from a recycled egg carton, it’s a perfect spring craft to make together with your kids.
I have a little stash of “emergency” projects I keep in a list on my phone for situations that call for some kid entertainment STAT. The criteria for my 911 list are that the activity requires only 1 or 2 supplies, be mess-free & simple but engaging for any kid.
Who knew making your own sidewalk chalk would be so fun?! Find out how to make some really colorful chalk in unique shapes for summer fun.
Make a Cardboard Box Car Wash with your kids on a rainy day! This is such a unique idea summer!
Kids love pretend play, so harness that creativity and make this cute humpback whale puppet craft!
These kid’s initial wall art pieces are easy enough for all ages, mess-free, and make beautiful kid’s room decorations or gifts for family.
This Minecraft Block Craft is an awesome 3D craft that can be displayed as Minecraft art on a shelf or even hung on a wall. The great thing about this craft, is that it fits the nature of Minecraft so well and you’re able to make any character from Minecraft using these wooden blocks.
10. DIY Bug Hotel
I found an awesome way to make a DIY bug hotel worthy of being featured on Million Dollar Listing LA. How fun for bug loving kids!
This is a simple Jello Playdough recipe that the kids can make! It smells great thanks to the Jello and is fun for kids of all ages!
Wouldn’t it be fun to involve the kids in some glitter and modge podge fun by making Galaxy Tea Lights?! All kids will approve this is a great summer boredom buster.
Making your own unbreakable bubbles is so much fun! It is an easy activity to put together for kids. They last much longer than regular bubbles.
This simple art project will wow your kids and show them just how important proper sun protection can be. And we’ll talk a little bit about how sunscreen works.
Kids will love learning to sew, and creating their own plushie with this tutorial!
Following these tips and ideas will banish boredom, help kids enjoy their summer with fun crafts, and enrich their lives in the process!
Thank you for sharing these. Some days its just to hot for the kidos to go outside.
Great ideas! I am always looking for different ways to entertain my grandchildren. I really like the idea of rock painting and the Egg Carton Rainbows are super cute too.
This is a great list and keeping kids busy is a must for summer holidays