Banish Boredom with Crafts, Activities, and Games Galore!

Ah, summer—the season of sun, late bedtimes, and… kids complaining they have “nothing to do” five minutes after breakfast.
Sound familiar?
Instead of dreading those inevitable words—”I’m bored!”—let’s flip the script.
Boredom isn’t a problem; it’s an opportunity (and honestly, sometimes it’s just a fancy way of saying, “Mom, entertain me!”).
This guide is packed with 175 fun, creative, and sanity-saving boredom busting ideas to keep your kids happy, engaged, and off your back (at least for a little while).

Ready?
Let’s dive in!

What is Boredom?

Boredom is that restless, antsy feeling kids get when they aren’t being entertained 24/7.
But guess what?
It’s actually GOOD for them. (I know, shocking.)
When kids have downtime, they have the chance to tap into their creativity, problem-solving skills, and independence.
Of course, too much boredom can turn your living room into a WWE wrestling match, which is why you need a plan.
Keep reading—I’ve got you covered with 175 boredom busting ideas!

The Benefits of Boredom

Believe it or not, boredom has its perks:

• Boosts Creativity: When kids have to come up with their own fun, magic happens. Think forts, puppet shows, and inventions made out of cardboard boxes.
• Encourages Independence: Learning to entertain themselves is a life skill (and let’s be honest, gives us moms a much-needed break!).
• Develops Resilience: Problem-solving, patience, and flexibility—boredom teaches all of it.
• Promotes Mindfulness: Sometimes, slowing down is exactly what kids need to appreciate the simple things. (link to article)

The Dangers of Boredom

While boredom isn’t all bad, it can have some not-so-great consequences if left unchecked:

• Over Dependence on Screens: When in doubt, kids will default to tech like TVs, tablets, or video games as an easy fix, leading to less active play.
• Mischief & Mayhem: Too much free time = more “experiments” that may or may not involve permanent markers and walls.
• Frustration & Meltdowns: Some kids struggle with downtime and need a little help figuring out what to do next.

Boredom Busting Ideas Categories

We have an entire summer to fill up.
The ideal is if our kiddos spend a lot of that time filling it themselves.
I totally recommend you adding structure (kids crave and need structure and you can get so much more done).
I have included a calendar for the summer to help you out of fun activities, adventures, hanging out with friends, and even time for reading!
Need summer boredom busting ideas?
I’ve got TONS. Pick a category and let the fun begin!

1. Indoor Activities

For 8 and Under: 

Blanket forts
DIY musical instruments
Finger painting
Playdough
Puppet shows
Sensory bins
Sticker collages
Storytelling with toys

For 9-12: 

Baking competitions
Creative writing prompts
Designing board games
Escape room challenges
Junk modeling
Learning magic tricks
Make domino chains
Stop-motion animation

2. Outdoor Adventures

For 8 and Under: 

Backyard camping
Bug hunts
Giant bubbles
Hopscotch
Kite flying
Obstacle courses
Scavenger hunts
Sidewalk chalk murals

For 9-12: 

Biking challenges
Frisbee golf
Geocaching
Hiking with a nature journal
Nature collage
Photography scavenger hunt
Rock collecting
Survival skills training
Treehouse building

3. Water Fun

For 8 and Under:

Backyard car wash
Fishing for toys
Ice cube painting
Making mini water parks
Splash pad
Sponge relay races
Toy boat races
Water balloon piñata
Water balloon toss

For 9-12: 

Backyard water jousting
Designing a water obstacle course
Kayaking
Making giant ice sculptures
Raft-building
Slip-n-slide races
Sprinkler games
Water balloon catapult
Wet sponge toss

4. Board Games & Puzzles

For 8 and Under: 

Memory matching
Candy Land
Chutes and Ladders
Early Card games like UNO, Old Maid, and Go Fish
Guess Who?
Hedbanz
Simple puzzles
Early cooperative games like Hoot Owl Hoot! and Outfoxed

For 9-12: 

Chess tournaments
Clue mysteries
Cranium
Crossword challenges
DIY escape room puzzles
Logic brain teasers
Strategy games like Risk, Rummikub, and Ticket to Ride
Trivia night 

5. STEM Challenges

For 8 and under:

Baking soda volcanoes
Balloon rockets
Lego challenges
Magnet experiments making slime with different textures
Making slime with different textures
Marshmallow towers
Origami
Paper airplane races
Rainbow density jars
Sink-or-float tests

For 9-12: 

3D printing
Alka-Selzter powered lava lamp
Bridge-building
Coding a simple game
Coloring Carnations or celery
Designing circuit boards
Launching bottle rockets
Rube Goldberg machines
Solar-powered car challenge

6. Creative Arts

For 8 and Under: 

Clay sculpting
Finger painting
Friendship bracelets
Make wind chimes
Potato stamping
Rainbow scratch art
Storybook illustrations
Sponge painting

For 9-12: 

Advanced watercolor techniques
Calligraphy
Canvas painting
Comic books
Designing T-shirts
Jewelry making
Photography projects
Songwriting

7. Physical Play

For 8 and Under: 

Balloon volleyball
Bean Bag Tic-Tac-Toe
Follow-the-leader
Freeze dance
Hide-and-seek
Indoor obstacle courses
Relay races
Simon Says

For 9-12: 

Basketball shooting contests
Hula hoop tricks
Indoor rock climbing
Jump rope tricks
Parkour training
Rollerblading/Skateboarding
Soccer drills
Trampoline challenges

8. Imaginative Play

For 8 and Under: 

Dress-up fashion show
Grocery store role-play
Dinosaur adventures
Making cardboard castles
Outer space pretend play
Pirate treasure hunts
Princess and dragon adventures
Stuffed animal tea party
Superhero training

For 9-12: 

Acting out skits
Creating a board game storyline
Designing a theme park
Designing dream houses
Hosting a pretend talk show
Role-playing historical figures
Running a pretend restaurant
World-building for a fantasy land

9. Reading & Learning 

For 8 and Under: 

Alphabet scavenger hunt
DIY bookmark
Interactive story-time
Library treasure hunts
Listening to audiobooks
Making a picture book
Shadow puppet storytelling
Writing letters to pen pals

For 9-12: 

Book clubs
Biography scrapbooking
Creating a poetry journal
Learning a new language
Podcasting about books
Researching passion projects
Visiting virtual museums
Writing reviews

10. Volunteering & Acts of Kindness

For 8 and Under: 

Baking treats for neighbors
Collecting canned goods
Drawing thank-you notes
Feed the birds
Helping clean up a park
Making cards for nursing homes
Making care bags for shelters
Painting kindness rocks

For 9-12: 

Creating a kindness challenge
Lemonade stands for charity
Making videos for hospital patients
Mentoring younger kids
Organizing charity drives
Sewing blankets for shelters
Starting a community garden
Volunteering at an animal shelter

11. Delayed Gratification Projects

For 8 and Under: 

Creating a time capsule
Gratitude jars
Growing a plant from seeds
Knitting a scarf
Paper mache projects
Saving for a special toy
Slow-building puzzles
Sticker reward chart

For 9-12: 

Coding a game
Knitting a blanket
Learning an instrument
Long-term art projects
Making a scrapbook
Plant a pollinator garden
Raising funds for a cause
Sewing projects
Training for a sports event
Writing a novel

Now you’re armed with enough boredom-busting ideas to last all summer.
So, the next time your kid says, “I’m bored,” just smile—because you’ve got this!

“Life without adventure is like pizza without cheese…boring.”
~ Flynn Rider in Tangled