“Boredom is a choice.”
We are working in our household to decrease the number of hours spent checking-out in front of screens. As single parents (and before that, honestly) it was difficult to get much done without the aide of the kiddos’ tablets, but now that things have been stable for a while, we are looking to get it more under control.
Here is the list that we came up with for our 8, 9, and 9 year olds. We also have a “bored jar” that we put out, and it is full of undesirable chores they will have to do if they continue to whine about being “soooo bored” after I’ve already given them this entire list of options.
- Journal some of your thoughts (facebook is an acceptable journal).
- Ask Alexa for an interesting fact, and then do more research on that fact.
- Do a puzzle.
- Go on YouTube on the tv and learn to knit or crochet.
- Read a book.
- Write a song, and use the guitar to play it.
- Draw or paint.
- Play a board game.
- Look up recipes.
- Jump on the trampoline.
- Take the dog for a walk.
- Play hide-and-seek.
- Build a fort (in the boy’s room).
- Have a dance party.
- Create a treasure hunt with clues.
- Wash the car.
- Build a baby obstacle course and send the baby through it. See if you can get her to go really fast. Under a minute? Keep it safe and respectful, please.
- Do some yoga.
- Do a guided meditation with mom.
- Write a story and mom will publish it on our blog.
- Draw on the driveway with chalk.
- Put on a play. Write the lines, learn them, do the blocking (stage movement), and let us know when the performance will be.
- Learn a TikTok dance.
- Sew some new clothes. Find a pattern or create one, and ask mom for spare fabric.
- Do an art challenge from YouTube.
- Paint rocks to hide around the city.
- Write a letter to Grandma.
- Build a toothpick bridge or tower.
- Egg drop challenge: How will you keep your egg from breaking using only materials in the house? Mom will climb a ladder and drop them, you can film if you want to.
- Make a “when I grow up” poster and pick a job you might like to do. Do some research about the kinds of things you will be responsible for, how much money you will make, what kind of house you want to live in, etc.
- Put together a time capsule and ask dad to help you bury it.
- Plan lunch and make it.
- Work on a gratitude or vision board.
- Play close your eyes and guess. No gross objects.
- Listen to music and move your body.
- Go play basketball, football, or soccer.
- Design an online agenda to list on Mom’s Etsy. Mom must help with this one, so you may not get to do it immediately.
- Play in the water with the baby in the backyard.
- Go to a friend’s house.
- Explore your zodiac sign more in-depth.
