Bored, Nothing to Do - Summer Activities for Kids

"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. Here’s a list I share every summer with my subscribers. Not only do I share it with my subscribers, I read it myself and choose a few I’d like to do with my own children. http://curriculumconnection.net/blog/2007/06/26/bored-nothing-to-do-this-summer/

You can print the list, cut them out and put each one in a jar. Let your kids choose one when they are "bored". By the way, this list was sent to me years ago and I don’t know its origin.

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© Kerry Beck, 2008
You have permission to reprint this article, as long as you don’t make any changes and include the bio below.
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To get ready for the next school year, Kerry Beck gives her free audio workshop at Home School Material. For this summer she gives you a free report, “How to Get It All Done” at Christian Homeschool Curriculum.