Fun activities to try when kids are bored
plus a little secret about why they’re bored in the first place
“But I’m bored!” Who hasn’t heard their kid come whining at their doorstep about having nothing to do, despite piles of toys, books, and games at their disposal? It doesn’t seem to make sense, but chances are your kiddo is looking for something even they themselves don’t know what it is. We’ve rounded up a few fun activities to try when kids are bored - and one big secret to kids’ boredom you might not have considered.
Why do kids get bored?
For adults, childhood can seem like a magical, carefree time: no bills to pay, no 9-5 job to go to, and nothing to do but learn and grow and discover the world around them. Still, somehow, they manage to get bored. The reason for this is that boredom isn’t just about not having activities to do: it’s that “something to do” wasn’t at the root of the boredom to begin with.
It turns out, when kids are bored it’s often because they need or crave a little attention or interaction from their parents. They might need a little guidance from you in what to get excited about, but it’s a temperature gauge for them to know that you’re there, paying attention, and that they matter.
You kids might also be in need of a bigger challenge. Perhaps they just had a big developmental leap, and the toys and activities that used to be fun just aren’t doing it anymore? By only getting them started on activities without dictating the limitations, you give them space to both be with you but also set the bar where they can stretch and grow.
4 fun activities for when your kids are bored
Make an obstacle course. Bring out furniture, pillows, chairs, anything that is fun and safe to climb on and create a tricky obstacle course around the room. If it’s not a grownup-friendly course, you can be in charge of tracking the time.
Dress up for a dance party. Take the regular sing-along session up a notch by finding fun dress-up clothes and having a silly dance party in front of a mirror. If you have colored lights or sparkly decorations, even better - bring them out and let the kids be in charge.
Start a scavenger hunt. Scavenger hunts are challenging, fun, and easy to adapt as your kids grow. Leave little clues about things to find around the house - and then let your kids do the same for you! They’ll get engrossed in figuring out good hiding spots and sneaky clues, and soon they won’t remember they were ever bored to begin with.
Build a cardboard box fort. Cardboard boxes are amazing treasures for kids that can turn into nearly anything. Give your kid a few leftover boxes and let them build whatever they want with them. A little packing tape can help put different “rooms” together, and some markers or leftover fabric make for great decorations. You may need to assist in cutting out windows and doors, but this activity is also great for independent play.
Get kids involved in your activities
If you feel like your child is bored because they could benefit from some parent-kiddo time, but you have a long list of things you need to get done, get your kid involved. You’d be surprised how task-oriented kids can be with things that feel like chores as long as they feel there is a purpose to it.
Bored kids love to take part in your activities, if they are kid-friendly:
Turn cleaning into a game, where you see who can put away toys or wipe off counters the fastest.
Let your kid come along for your jog, by biking alongside you or in a stroller if they are younger.
Get quality time with your child, while also teaching them about numbers, science, and food - and feed the family - by involving them in meal prep. Kids are great at stirring things, counting cup measurements, washing produce, and taste testing as you go.
A little boredom can be great for kids’ creativity
In the same way that adults can thrive from a bit of boredom, coming up with great ideas while leaning back and twiddling their thumbs for instance, children can also benefit from being bored. Having to figure out some fun activity to do is a great motivator for creativity.
They may need a little guidance to not get stuck in the boredom phase. You can set a timer and say if they wait till the timer is up, you can help them figure out something to do. Nine times out of ten, they’ll think of something before the timer is up.
You can also help set them up for creativity by helping them with the first step - perhaps by laying out various arts and crafts materials, cueing up a soundtrack, or bringing out some of your own most dazzling outfits for dress-up.
With a little nudge and free reins, your children will soon be bored enough for their imaginations to run away with them, and you’ll have encouraged their imagination and initiative into another growth spurt.
Need help when your kid is bored?
Sometimes all the inventive parenting in the world isn’t enough for bored kids. If you want to work with a babysitter or nanny who truly knows how to engage kids on silly adventures and magical learning experiences, hire a SmartSitter. Not only do SmartSitters have experience and skills in childcare, they bring a whole bag of activities to engage and delight your kids.
Fill out a family application today and let us know what you need.
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