It’s perfectly fine and healthy for kids to be bored. In fact, it’s good for them. But when you just can’t stand it any longer, or want to plan a fun, memorable activity for your kids, here are fifty fun – and frugal – ideas for kids of all ages to fill their long summer days!
1. Go for a walk.
2. Help your teen plan a 3-on-3 basketball tournament with their friends.
3. Go beachcombing.
4. Play with sidewalk chalk.
5. Pick a room and declutter it.
6. Go fishing.
7. Go to a splash park.
8. Decorate flip-flop sandals from the dollar store.
9. Pack a quick picnic and head to the park.
10. Bike to the local pool.
11. Call some friends and schedule a potluck barbecue.
12. Find some ugly décor in your home and spray paint it a wild color to give it new life.
13. Pick up trash at a local park or in your neighborhood.
14. Go camping.
15. Go to the library.
16. Pick out some half-dead plants on clearance at the local nursery and see if you and your kids can nurse them back to life.
17. Do mani-pedis at home.
18. Wash your car.
19. Make popsicles.
20. Do a photo shoot with your kids.
21. Play hopscotch.
22. Find a park close to home that you’ve never been to – and go!
23. Look at family snapshots together and choose some to swap out the photos you’ve had on display forever.
24. Take a long stroll to a local ice cream shop.
25. Drive the 20 extra minutes to go to that extra fun park.
27. Do a homemade beauty treatment.
28. Make s’mores.
29. Build a solar oven using a pizza box.
30. Heat up lunch in your solar oven!
31. Go garage sale-ing and hunt for treasures. Give your kids a couple of dollars and turn it into a money lesson.
32. Give ‘em the hose and see what happens.
33. Take a hike.
35. Give your kids a box and some markers and watch their imaginations come alive.
36. Paint an accent wall.
37. Plant something edible.
38. Go to a u-pick farm.
39. Make a kite and go fly it.
40. Find a place to volunteer and serve others.
41. Camp in your backyard.
42. Dye some old clothes – maybe go a little crazy with color!
43. Make your own ice cream.
45. Have your teen ask to wash the neighbor’s car – just to be nice!
46. Browse Pinterest with your kids and have them choose a craft or project to try.
47. Better yet, plan a kids’ Pinterest Party!
49. Plant a pot of flowers for your front door.
50. Don’t overthink it – just go!
What are some of your favorite inexpensive boredom-busters? Help another mama out!
