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This Reading Mama

20 Summer Boredom Busters

By thisreadingmama 8 Comments

Summer. It’s the time of year most kids live for, but many parents secretly dread. I know I have a love/hate relationship with it. Not enough structure sometimes leads to LONG days and kids who whine, “I’m bored.” I’m NOT one of those moms who thinks I need to fill my kids’ days with endless activities. I actually think it’s good for them to be bored at times. Boredom is what often sparks creativity.

20 Summer Boredom Busters This Reading Mama

But in the freedom of summer, it’s nice to be able to have a little more spontaneity and a few activities in my back pocket for those times to break from the boredom. Summer boredom busters, if you will. And here are just a few I’ve collected from around the net that will not only bust some boredom, but sneak in some learning as well!

20 Summer Boredom Busters

1. Play summer learning games. It’s important to keep content fresh over the summer. But especially because it’s summer, spice it up and make it more fun, like these Simple Sight Word Games we like to do.

2. Write a book with your child. Use a family trip or special outing as a springboard. Or use your child as the starring character. Just imagine and write together. {By the way, this is great for reluctant writers of any age!}

3. Read to {and with} your child. Find some great read aloud texts you’d like to explore together this summer. Write out a list and visit the library often!

4. Try some Go outside! Cards {What an absolutely brilliant idea!}

FREE Printable Road Trip BINGO Pack

5. Bored on a road trip? Try my FREE Interstate BINGO game (for older kids) and my FREE Road Trip BINGO game. The Measured Mom also shares more tips and printables for the car ride!

6. Do a science experiment. Sure it may take a little prep work to gather all your supplies, but kids {at least my own kids} LOVE to do these with me {and I don’t do them often enough}. Lemon Lime Adventures is one of my favorite places to go for science fun.

7. Get in the kitchen and BAKE! I love how Buggy and Buddy extends the concepts in a book into the baking she does with her kids! How clever.

8. Create an obstacle course for or with your child {inside OR out}, then navigate it together.

9. Rotate what you already have. I love, love, love Walking by the Way’s “the jar” idea. Simply genius!

10. Integrate water…at the pool, in your backyard, or in your driveway. Water fun goes a LONG way!

11. Explore with sidewalk chalk. The possibilities are truly endless with sidewalk chalk; like did you know you can even make ice chalk??

12. Work a Puzzle. Buy one at a yard sale, at the store, or print your own.

13. Create a “Bored Activity Chart”. Love this idea from Busy Kids=Happy Mom!

14. Play with stickers {or other quiet activities} because sometimes, it’s just nice to have quiet. Ahhhh…

Summer Reading - free printable to track book varieties

15. Have a read-a-thon of sorts. I love how The Measured Mom and KC Edventures encourages kids to add a little spice and variety to their reading for the summer.

16. Make a scavenger hunt for outings such as the zoo or the beach.

17. Arts & Crafts Time! Red Ted Art is my “go-to” place for craft ideas and if you’re looking specifically for summer crafts, she has an amazing list here.

18. Ask your child what she’d like to learn. Do some project-based learning, based on your child’s interests. This is a FANTASTIC and rather sneaky way to integrate all the subject areas!

19. Play with music. Dance together in your family room, make a musical instrument together, learn the piano keys, or do some storytelling to music. Music has a way of lifting the “boredom blahs” right out of the day.

Spoons family fun night...all the fun you could possibly have with a set of kitchen spoons.

20. Eat your breakfast, lunch, or dinner in a different way. Visit Not Consumed’s round-up of “wacky” Family Dinner ideas for some inspiration! {If you just search her blog for “family fun night”, you’ll find many more ideas, like the spoons family fun night in the photo above.}

Kids Still Bored? Even More Summer Boredom Buster Ideas:

  • 50 Summer Fun & Learning Activities for Kids {Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas}
  • Summer Boredom Busters {Here Come the Girls Blog}
  • 15 Summer Activities Kids with Love {Mess for Less}
  • 10 Boredom Busters for Summer {Plain Vanilla Mom}
  • Summer Boredom Busters {Teach Beside Me}

Follow This Reading Mama’s board Summer Theme on Pinterest.


What kinds of things have you been doing lately with your child? It’s time to share at the After School Linky! Feel free to visit the other hosts, listed below for their features and after school activities for ages 5 and up!  

Cohosted by
The Educators’ Spin On It
Afterschool for Smarty Pants
Boy Mama Teacher Mama
Coffee Cups and Crayons
Little Wonders’ Days
Mama Smiles
Relentlessly Fun, Deceptively Educational
The Measured Mom
This Reading Mama
What Do We Do All Day
 
It’s your turn to link up! We would love to have you link up your School-Age Post (Ages 5 and up) about your learning week after school time including Crafts, Activities, Playtime and Adventures that you are doing to enrich your children’s lives after their day at school, homeschool or on the weekend!
When linking up, please take a moment to comment on at least one post linked up before yours and grab our after school button to include a link on your post or site! By linking up you’re giving permission for us to share on our After School Pinterest Board or Feature on our After School Party next week! Don’t forget to follow along and join our After School Enrichment Community.

 

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Filed Under: Parenting

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Comments

  1. Debbie @ http://kidsbibledebjackson.blogspot.com/ says

    June 9, 2014 at 7:18 am

    I love the list! Pinning it to come back to, and thanks for hosting!

    Reply
    • thisreadingmama says

      June 9, 2014 at 3:27 pm

      You’re very welcome!

      Reply
  2. Terri says

    June 9, 2014 at 3:26 pm

    Great list! Pinning it for future reference! Thanks for including our Go Outside! cards.

    Reply
    • thisreadingmama says

      June 9, 2014 at 3:27 pm

      You’re so welcome! Thank you for your amazing idea.

      Reply
  3. edsnapshots says

    June 10, 2014 at 10:07 pm

    Great list of ideas. Pinned it to my summer board.

    Reply
    • thisreadingmama says

      June 11, 2014 at 6:19 am

      Thank you for pinning!

      Reply
  4. Anna says

    June 15, 2014 at 3:28 pm

    Were you the 3rd and 13th entry on purpose so you could get me to comment over here? 🙂 Great round up! Pinning and planning to share on Facebook soon.

    Reply
    • thisreadingmama says

      June 15, 2014 at 3:36 pm

      Ha! I didn’t even notice!! 🙂

      Reply

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Hi! I’m Becky, a homeschooling mama with 4 blessings who keep me on my toes {and knees}. Before homeschooling, I was a classroom teacher (M.Ed.) and reading tutor. Read more about me here.

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