When I was young, summer vacation was my time to read every book I could get my hands on. I still long for that freedom, but those days of leisure are long gone. Here are my additions to the things to do when bored list:
Ride a bike
Try yoga in your living room
Clean out a drawer or a closet
Play cards
Play solitaire with a deck of cards
Find scraps and hand sew a baby size quilt
Or a doll quilt (use old clothes for scraps)
Start making crafts to give as gifts
Get your friends together and put on a style Show at your house.
Teach yourself to knit or crochet
Build a bird house from scraps
Study and identify the birds in your yard
Plant some flowers
Pick some flowers
Search for wild flowers
Write letters to old friends you have not talked to for awhile
Plan a vacation you want to take some day
Try a new recipe
Make a bird bath from found objects
Color with crayons
Paint a picture
Set up a place in your home to do indoor exercises
Plan a party
Do a clothing exchange
Bounce a ball
Play with your pets
Dress your pets in doll clothes (or yours)
Listen to a radio
Dance to music
Sit outside and watch the world go by
Close your eyes and listen for sounds; identify
Dream
Talk to your family
Make a scrapbook just for you
Create a journal, decorate, take it on your next vacation to record each days events
Research shows kids brains do grown when they are “bored.” They actually need that bored feeling to expand their brains! I learned about that years ago as an educator so when my own kids tell me they’re bored they know the response is going to be, “good, your brain is growing!”
“We adults don’t have to be constantly producing/achieving, either. I’m still working on untangling my own identity from my output, from untangling my WORTH from my output. Maybe you are, too.” Well said!! And incredibly true.
My sister and I used to listen to audiobooks (harry potter) and do arts and crafts when we were bored. We also used to make up stories about our dolls and write/illustrate them in a book, and then perform the book to the adults. I love all these ideas, and it’s a great reminder for me (as an adult who has no kids yet) that my summer is not deemed successful or great by my output. Thank you Stephanie!
One time (at a friend’s brilliant suggestion) we gave the (3rd-5th grade) kids a box of old or damaged crystal that she found in her grandmothers shed. We gave them hammers, superglue and showed them how they could rub the sharp edges on the rough sidewalk.
4 hours later, we had an art display. A tiny candy dish, bird feeder, jewelry box. Etc
Thank you for this. Digital Minimalism by C. Newport talks about how beneficial for boredom is!
Also, you asked for comments about the "Off the Grid" topic. I REALLY enjoyed it. I am considering ways to save money so I can live the life I want to. This sparked many ideas. Thank you!
When I was young, summer vacation was my time to read every book I could get my hands on. I still long for that freedom, but those days of leisure are long gone. Here are my additions to the things to do when bored list:
Ride a bike
Try yoga in your living room
Clean out a drawer or a closet
Play cards
Play solitaire with a deck of cards
Find scraps and hand sew a baby size quilt
Or a doll quilt (use old clothes for scraps)
Start making crafts to give as gifts
Get your friends together and put on a style Show at your house.
Teach yourself to knit or crochet
Build a bird house from scraps
Study and identify the birds in your yard
Plant some flowers
Pick some flowers
Search for wild flowers
Write letters to old friends you have not talked to for awhile
Plan a vacation you want to take some day
Try a new recipe
Make a bird bath from found objects
Color with crayons
Paint a picture
Set up a place in your home to do indoor exercises
Plan a party
Do a clothing exchange
Bounce a ball
Play with your pets
Dress your pets in doll clothes (or yours)
Listen to a radio
Dance to music
Sit outside and watch the world go by
Close your eyes and listen for sounds; identify
Dream
Talk to your family
Make a scrapbook just for you
Create a journal, decorate, take it on your next vacation to record each days events
Research shows kids brains do grown when they are “bored.” They actually need that bored feeling to expand their brains! I learned about that years ago as an educator so when my own kids tell me they’re bored they know the response is going to be, “good, your brain is growing!”
“We adults don’t have to be constantly producing/achieving, either. I’m still working on untangling my own identity from my output, from untangling my WORTH from my output. Maybe you are, too.” Well said!! And incredibly true.
My sister and I used to listen to audiobooks (harry potter) and do arts and crafts when we were bored. We also used to make up stories about our dolls and write/illustrate them in a book, and then perform the book to the adults. I love all these ideas, and it’s a great reminder for me (as an adult who has no kids yet) that my summer is not deemed successful or great by my output. Thank you Stephanie!
One time (at a friend’s brilliant suggestion) we gave the (3rd-5th grade) kids a box of old or damaged crystal that she found in her grandmothers shed. We gave them hammers, superglue and showed them how they could rub the sharp edges on the rough sidewalk.
4 hours later, we had an art display. A tiny candy dish, bird feeder, jewelry box. Etc
My 20 year old daughter still has her creation.
Thank you for this. Digital Minimalism by C. Newport talks about how beneficial for boredom is!
Also, you asked for comments about the "Off the Grid" topic. I REALLY enjoyed it. I am considering ways to save money so I can live the life I want to. This sparked many ideas. Thank you!