Bored, Nothing to Do This Summer???

“I’m bored, there’s nothing to do!” I’m sure you’ve never heard that in your home! :-) :-) :-)

Have you ever read the book by Peter Spier, Bored, Nothing To Do? It’s about two brothers who are bored so their mom sends them outside to do “something”. Out in the garage, they build an airplane and fly it…If you haven’t read the book, go to your library and grab a copy. Whether you’re 6, 16 or 36, you’ll enjoy it. I think I’ll go read it again!

The airplane “project” results from boredom. There are two solutions to your kids’ boredom I want to share with you. I think both have positive outcomes for your children this summer and hope you will share these with your friends & family.

Last fall I read an article by our local librarian. She made the point that boredom in children produces creativity. Think about it. When your children are bored, they often find something to do on their own. It takes creativity to imagine and invent your own “project”. Remember the 2 brothers in Spier’s book. They were bored and definitely used their creativity to build & fly an airplane.

With this in mind, you need to provide stimulating resources for your children. Resources can be as simple as the sticks in the backyard or more involved like craft baskets or lego boxes. When they are bored, they can use those resources as they spark their own imagination to overcome boredom. Usually, kids will find something to do because they don’t want to be bored.

Allowing your children to overcome boredom with their own creative projects allows you to see your children’s real passions and interests.

Another solution to boredom is pointing out places your children could go to cure their boredom. If your son simply sits on the couch staring at the ceiling, remind him of the boxes of legos in his closet or the race track pieces under his bed. When your daughter lies on her bed with nothing to do, mention the basket of art supplies in the family room. You get the idea.

I realize busy moms don’t always have time to remember suggestions for your kids to encourage creativity. You can print the list, cut them out and put each one in a jar. Let your kids choose one when they are “bored”. (This is a part of a list sent to me years ago, but I don’t know its origin.)

In no particular order,1. ride bikes2. roller blade3. basketball4. play board games5. make a tent out of blankets6. squirt with hoses7. run through the sprinkler8. jump rope9. read books10. blow bubbles11. make homemade play dough12. play with play dough13. press flowers14. do crafts with pressed flowers15. write a letter to a relative, friend or pen pal16. clean bedroom17. vacuum livingroom18. clean bathroom19. make a craft20. draw21. color22. paint23. pull weeds24. watch a movie25. write stories26. use binoculars27. use magnifying glass28. use microscope29. bird watching30. write a play31. act out a play32. invent circus acts33. perform a circus34. play card games35. make art on the front walkway with sidewalk chalk36. play catch37. play baseball38. collect rocks39. collect leaves40. collect feathers41. play Frisbee42. make Frisbee’s out of old plastic lids, decorate with markers43. dust the house44. brush the pet45. write letters46. read a magazine47. play dress-up48. play Cowboys49. pick vegetables50. play outside with the pet51. build a fort in your rooms52. build a fort in the backyard53. do a jigsaw puzzle54. play on the Geosafari55. play on the computer56. listen to a story or book on tape57. do extra schoolwork to get ahead58. do brain teasers (ie:crosswords,word searches,etc.)59. cook60. prepare lunch61. surprise a neighbor with a good deed62. play store63. prepare a “restaurant” lunch with menus64. hold a tea party65. have a Teddy bear picnic66. play with toy cars67. play dolls68. play house69. chase butterflies70. collect caterpillars and bugs71. plant a garden or a pot72. collect seeds73. hunt for four-leaf clovers74. learn magic tricks75. put on a magic show76. plant a container garden77. sprout seeds or beans78. make sock puppets79. put on a puppet show80. make Christmas presents81. make homemade wrapping paper82. make homemade gift cards83. make picture frames from twigs glued onto sturdy cardboard84. crochet or knit85. make doll clothes86. sew buttons in designs on old shirts87. run relay races88. make bookmarks89. take a quiet rest time90. take a shower or bath91. bathe a pet92. feed the birds or squirrels93. watch the clouds94. organize a dresser drawer95. clean under the bed96. empty dishwasher97. vacuum under the couch cushions and keep any change found98. write these ideas on pieces of paper and pick out one or two todo99. whittle

Have a wonderful summer and watch your children use their boredom to become creative.