What To Do When Kids Are Bored? 120 Fun Ideas

The dreaded “I’m bored!” complaint is familiar to parents everywhere. While boredom can actually provide some benefits for children in terms of creativity, self-reliance, and patience (as you can read here), we understand sometimes you just need a quick boredom fix in the moment. We don’t want you to fear those words from your kids, but we also want to provide some immediate “first aid” type ideas to stimulate your children when needed.

In this article, we’ve compiled over 100 screen-free activity suggestions to try the next time your kids utter that boredom alert. From arts and crafts, to science experiments, outdoor activities, building projects, pretend play and more, you’re sure to gain some fresh inspiration to keep your kids engaged and learning.

Remember, boredom can be good for your child’s development, so no need to panic or constantly entertain. But for those times when you hear the dreaded declaration, scan through our list of boredom busting activities to discover new ways to battle the “I’m bored” blues. Get ready to spark creativity, curiosity and fun until their next boredom bout provides mental space for imagination.

Table of Contents

Fun ways to use this mega list!

Print out the list and post it on the fridge or a bulletin board so it’s handy when kids say “I’m bored!”
Go through the list together and have kids circle or highlight their top 10-20 favorite ideas. Then focus on trying those activities first.
Randomly pick 5-10 ideas from the list and place them in a “Bored Jar.” When kids are bored, have them pull one out to try.
Help kids make their own boredom bucket list by going through and checking off activities they want to try.
Assign each family member 2-3 activity ideas to be “in charge” of initiating when boredom strikes.
Use a whiteboard to brainstorm and add new ideas to the master list over time.
Sort ideas by indoor/outdoor, by season, by individual interests so you can quickly pivot.
Introduce one new idea every week or month to build up your family’s go-to boredom-busting activities.
Schedule a monthly “Family Fun Day” to try activities from the list that need more time.
Keep the list handy on an iPad or phone so it’s always accessible when you’re on the go.
Write each activity idea on a separate post-it note, then stick them all on a wall, fridge or bulletin board for easy reference. Use different colored post-its to coordinate categories – blue for outdoor activities, yellow for crafts, etc. Allow your kids to move the post-its around, grouping themes they like together.

The key is to be prepared and have a plan so you can quickly refer to activity ideas the moment your child says the dreaded “I’m bored!” words :-).

120 screen-free activities to do when kids are bored

Go on a nature walk or hike
Ride bikes around the neighborhood
Visit a playground and play on the equipment
Have a dance party
Play basketball or soccer in the yard
Make up new games with balls, frisbees, jump ropes etc.
Break out board games and puzzles
Build with Legos, blocks, Magna-Tiles etc.
Play dress up and put on performances
Cook or bake something together
Do science experiments
Have a coloring contest
Make homemade play dough and sculpt it
Construct paper airplanes and have contests
Learn origami and make paper animals.
Design and build a fort or cardboard castle
Put on a talent show or magic show
Make up stories and record them
Start a band and put on a concert
Create an obstacle course
Make slime or oobleck (corn starch + water)
Have a water balloon toss or slip n slide
Play hide and seek
Create a scavenger hunt
Set up sprinklers or water toys outside
Wash toys like cars or action figures
Film silly videos or TikTok dances
Paint/draw pictures and art projects
Make greeting cards and gifts for family/friends
Start a garden by planting seeds
Pull weeds or pick flowers in the yard
Collect rocks, sticks, leaves for DIY projects
Play restaurant by taking turns cooking and serving food
Build a blanket, pillow, cushion fort
Create a book nook/reading space and read books in it
Have a silly face making contest
Play with shaving cream sensory bins
Look through family photo albums together
Do Mad Libs together
Make homemade musical instruments
Research a topic they’re curious about
Look up how to videos and learn new skills
Find pen pals by mail or online to exchange letters
Put on a puppet show
Dye hair crazy colors with washable hair dye
Make homemade bubbles with different recipes
Make paper airplanes and decorate them
Cloud watch and point out different shapes
Play charades or Pictionary
Make vision boards from magazine cut outs
Decorate their bedroom or doors
Rearrange bedroom furniture
Have a backwards day where you wear clothes backwards
Make up and perform a dance
See who can stack the most solo cups
Play freeze dance
Make a board game or modify an existing game
Build a marble run out of cardboard tubes
Make homemade face masks
Decorate old t-shirts with fabric markers and glitter
Have a competition to see who can clean their room the fastest
Make papier mache sculptures
Create an indoor minigolf course
Make a time capsule
Make up trivia games and quizzes for each other
Tell jokes and riddles
Paint/decorate flower pots and plant seeds in them
Make sidewalk art with chalk paint and brushes
Do a photo scavenger hunt
Play 20 Questions
Make fruit kabobs or fun snacks
Listen to kid-friendly podcasts together
Do yoga poses together
Make an indoor campsite with tents and sleeping bags
Play Would You Rather questions game
Sort through old toys to donate ones you’ve outgrown
Make dreamcatchers with yarn, sticks, beads
Draw with sidewalk chalk on paper or the driveway
Play hopscotch with chalk outside
Make animal tracks with chalk outside
Make an at-home “museum” to display their creations
Create treasure hunts for each other to solve
Make sock puppets and record puppet shows
Have a mini Olympic Games in the yard
Make up imaginary worlds, towns, animals etc
Start a journal or diary
Create paper bag or sock hand puppets
Make paper bag vests and costumes for dramatic play
Hold a carnival day in the backyard with games
Make edible mud pies with crushed Oreos and pudding
Create vision boards from magazine cut outs
Make bird feeders to hang outside from pine cones etc
Play Concentration/Memory card game
Make beaded jewelry and accessories
Create an obstacle course in the house or yard
Make mini golf courses indoors or out
Make picture frames from popsicle sticks or clay
Play with flashlights in a homemade tent or fort
Create unique musical instruments from household items
Race paper cup sailboats in a tub or pool
Play with finger paints
Have a teddy bear picnic
Make homemade stickers
Create paper bag puppets
Make a twig tent or tepee in the yard
Play restaurant with play food and menus
Set up a face painting station
Make a nature mosaic from leaves/rocks/flowers
Make shadow puppets using hands and flashlight
Start a nature journal to record observations outside
Make pinecone bird feeders with peanut butter
Create an art gallery in your home for their masterpieces
Make pom poms and fiber art sculptures
Create a back porch carnival with games and activities
Make homemade bowling set with bottles and ball
Play hair salon by styling each other’s hair
Make rain sticks from paper towel tubes and rice
Create vision boards by gluing inspiring pictures
Make fairy gardens in flower pots with mini items
Paint rocks with designs to make paperweights

Maximizing This List

For outdoor activities like biking, playing basketball, soccer, etc – encourage kids to invent new games and variations on traditional rules to keep it engaging. Have them set up obstacle courses or circuits to get creative.

For art and craft projects – provide a variety of supplies like paper, cardboard, paint, crayons, glue, tape, markers, fabric scraps, pipe cleaners, googly eyes, etc. Let kids combine materials in new ways to promote creativity.

For building activities like Legos, fort building, and cardboard creations – challenge them to engineer structures to perform specific functions like a castle, spaceship, or hideout. Provide props for dramatic play.

For science experiments – involve kids in the scientific process by having them come up with hypotheses before testing. Talk through observations and results afterwards.

For cooking projects – teach basic kitchen skills and safety. Let kids help choose recipes that interest them. Supervise closely but have them do mixing, measuring, decorating.

Categorize the activities by type – arts & crafts, science, games, etc. Then you can quickly pivot to the relevant section based on your child’s interests.

Note which activities require minimal prep/supplies vs. more involved planning, so you have quick go-to options.

Indicate age-appropriateness for each idea so you can easily select for younger vs older kids.

Designate activities for rainy days, hot summer days, snow days, etc so you have options tailored for the weather (we have some Spring Activities here!).

Share the master list with other parents for playdate inspiration and ideas to swap.

Allow kids to cross off activities as they complete them and cultivate a sense of accomplishment.

Set goals for trying a certain number of new activities within a particular timeframe.

Take photos of kids engaged in the activities and compile into an album or boredom jar documenting your adventures.

Have kids rate activities when completed and note their favorites to repeat in the future.

Incorporate activities into your family’s morning routine, travel games, restaurant entertainment etc.

Reference the list when planning upcoming events, vacations, holidays to integrate activities.

Final Thoughts

The possibilities are endless! 🙂 Customize the list and system to maximize it for your family’s needs and lifestyle.

The key is asking lots of open-ended questions to get kids thinking about how to maximize activities. Keep them engaged by allowing them to take the lead and direct activities based on their interests and ideas.

With this extensive list of over 100 boredom-busting activities, you now have plenty of options to try the next time you hear those dreaded words “I’m bored!” From simple games and crafts to more complex projects and challenges, you’re equipped with ideas to match your child’s interests and energy level.

Reference this list when planning school breaks or long weekends to incorporate fun new activities into your family time. Save it for babysitters and grandparents so they have plenty of go-to boredom busters on hand as well. And feel free to add your own tried and true boredom-beating ideas to this master list! By being prepared with screen-free activities that engage your children’s bodies, minds and imaginations, you can say goodbye to the boredom blues and hello to family fun!

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