55 Family Fun Activities For Your ” Mommy, I’m BORED” Jar + FREE Printable

Many kids are looking forward to summer because they don’t have to wake up early and go to school anymore. But sometimes, with no set activities, they end up watching TV all the time or complaining they’re bored.  Other times, they would demand all your attention that you might feel a bit overwhelmed. But still summer is a great time to bond with your kids.

THE BORED JAR

I was looking through Pinterest to find activities for the summer and saw interesting and fun “Mommy, I’m Bored” Jars. Basically, you fill a jar with strips of paper that have set activities and let your kids pick one when boredom strikes.  You could put in some chores you could all do together and make it into a game. Boring chores like matching newly washed socks can be exciting with some playful imagination. Another version would be using popsicle sticks.

When it’s really hot outside, just choose ones you could do at home or make an indoor version of it ( e.g. building a blanket fort in the living room instead of camping in your backyard ). Choose activities that are beyond the usual but still age appropriate.

BORED JAR ACTIVITY IDEAS + FREE PRINTABLE

Here are 55 activity ideas for your “Mommy Bored Jar”:

Write a note for a friend

Wipe the furniture in the living room

Read a book

Make popsicles with fruits

Do a puzzle

Fingerpaint

Play hide and seek

Play with clay

Play music and have a dance party

Make a wishlist

Enroll in an online class

 Play dress up

Sort the laundry with mommy

Water the plants

Bathe the pets

Melt some broken crayons and make art

Cook a new recipe

Learn how to skip

Find 3 toys to give away

Pair up the newly washed socks

Play Simon Says

Make up a secret handshake

Visit a nearby park, water park or museum

Make sock puppets and put on a show

Make a fruit pizza

Make a fort with a big blanket

Find “creatures” in the clouds (cloud watching)

Braid someone’s hair

Plant seeds

Make jello

Look at baby pictures and old photos

Make a scrapbook

Go on a scavenger hunt (inside or outside)

Sing songs together

Watch family videos

Make homemade dough

Thread macaroni or beads to make necklaces 

Draw a family member

Make paper boats or paper planes

Go on a bike ride

Go fishing

Hike a new trail

Build an obstacle course

Fly a kite

Blow bubbles

Walk the Dog

Facetime or Video Call relatives abroad

Learn a magic trick

Practice a Sport

Find stuff for a garage sale

Choose books to donate

Search for lost items in the house

Play with lego

Tell jokes

Make a collage

Dig in the Dirt 

I was feeling a bit creative so I made  a FREE printable just for you! 

Excited? So am I!

You can get a blank one by clicking HERE. I also made two sets that already have some activities: SET 1 and SET 2 

Enjoy! Would love it if you tag me when you use this printable!

Please remember though, that while it’s great to have  these structured activities, experts say we should also allow our kids to be bored and entertain themselves. This stimulates imagination and encourages them to think for themselves.

I found a quote  on the website  Melbourne Child Psychology by Dr. Vanessa Lapointe, a registered psychologist and author of the book “Discipline without Damage”. I think it’s fitting for us parents to consider that we don’t need to rescue our children from boredom all the time. So a little boredom is actually a good thing!

Children need to sit in their own boredom for the world to become quiet enough that they can hear themselves’ ~Dr Vanessa Lapointe

Hope we all have a fun summer!

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