20 Indoor Boredom Busters
When it’s too cold to play outdoors and the toys in the house aren’t appealing, blast boredom with some creative play. Encourage kids to decorate a “boredom buster” jar while you stuff if with parent-approved activities kids can do independently. Half the fun is seeing which activity they’ll draw! Here are 20 to get you going:
Table of Contents
1
Make a snack. Try instant pudding, chips and dip, or celery with peanut butter. Remember to clean up!
2
Write and perform a play based on a book you’re reading.
3
Make sock puppets. Put on a play with your newly created characters.
4
Celebrate “Backwards Day.” Eat, wear and say everything backwards! (Until it gets too hard, at least).
5
Make sugar cookies. Make creative faces out of frosting.
6
Make placemats out of construction paper. Decorate with pictures of food you hate!
7
Set up a treasure hunt using plastic eggs, LEGO bricks, anything easy to spot. The creator can draw a map to lead pirates to the treasure.
8
Gather unused toys and clothing for a donation center.
9
Make your own word search and then give it to a friend to complete.
10
Have a “Princess Night.” Watch a princess movie (“Cinderella,” “Princess and the Frog,” “Snow White,”etc.). Host a tea party and dress up while you watch the movie.
11
Start a scrapbook. Fill pages with old art projects, pictures and school awards.
12
Project your shadow on the wall. Have someone trace it. Then cut it out and glue onto black paper for a unique piece of silhouette art.
13
Write a family newsletter to send to relatives who live out of state.
14
Take a bubble bath!
15
Eat saltine crackers, then hold a whistling contest immediately after.
16
Play “spot the difference.” Have someone study how you look for a few minutes. Then go in the other room and make a small adjustment (take out an earring, put on a shoe, etc.). See if they can spot the difference.
17
Make and name pet rocks. You’ll need paint, glue and some googly eyes.
18
Play musical chairs or have a crazy dance party. Just be sure to clear breakables out of the room!
19
Hold a bubble gum blowing contest. Biggest bubble wins! Don’t forget to take picture.
20
Play a board game that’s made its way to the top of the closet. Monopoly, Sorry, the Barbie Game – chances are kids have forgotten how fun these classics are.
– Melanie Wagner
