How to Keep Kids from Getting Bored Over Summer Break
Kids can't wait to get out of school for the year. Some think school can be boring and pine away for the lazy days of summer fun. But parents know that unless kids have some structure in their day they will soon get bored with the added free time. A few years ago, I came up with a plan to help keep my kids from getting bored. At the time my two older kids were nine and ten. They were at a great age for this particular activity. Try this quick trick to keep your kids from getting bored over summer break. It worked for us and the best part is it didn't cost anything to make.
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Things You'll Need
- An empty jar or covered shoe box
- Small slips of paper
- Pen
- Ideas of activities and things to do
Instructions
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Things to do in the Summer
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Find an empty jar or covered shoe box. Have the kids decorate it with colored paper, markers and crayons. Write 'Summer Fun Activity Box' on the front.
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Brainstorm ideas and activities that the kids enjoy and write one idea or activity on each slip of paper. We came up with things like call a friend for a playdate, bird watch in the back yard, play cards with a sibling, have a Popsicle, play in the water hose, take a trip to the library and build a fort in the backyard. We came up with things they love to do and things they wish they did more often. We came up with things that would take five minutes and other activities that take an entire afternoon. Each family's box will be different. Some boxes will include a suggestion to play ping-pong--get the ping pong table set up before hand. If you have a child who likes to draw write a suggestion to get drawing materials out. Gather drawing materials in an easy to reach drawer before summer begins.
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Gather all the slips of paper and place them in the prepared container. Agree on a special place to keep the container and encourage the kids to choose a slip of paper and do the activity they chose. Anytime your kids come to you and tell you they are bored send them to the Summer Fun Activity Box to come up with something to do.
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This activity works best for kids who are not quite teenagers, but are old enough to read and have a certain level of freedom on their own. I made a rule that if the kids chose to go to the activity box I wanted them to follow through and do the activity the chose on the first try. That way the fun could be more spontaneous and the kids couldn't just pick one and complain that it wasn't something they felt like doing. It really worked. They knew that if they went to that box they would have to do whatever activity they chose. There was a certain level of fun in simply not knowing what activity they would be choosing.
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Make sure that whatever items are included on your slips of paper you have the necessary materials available. Make sure you have a good deck of cards on hand if you've included an option to play cards. Make sure you have a horseshoe set if there is an option to play a game of horse shoes. Be encouraging and positive with the activity. Help your kids to approach this as a fun and creative way to keep busy and have fun at the same time. Choose the items together.
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Tips & Warnings
Be creative.
Consider adding items the kids have an interest in learning or trying new.
Make sure there are lots of old favorites included too.
Plan camps, day trips and other summer fun activities; use the activity box as an added benefit only.
Stay away from adding items like playing video games, doing the computer or watching TV. Kids find these things on their own. You want the activity box to offer items they may not think to do but will enjoy.
