The boredom list

A screen-free list of 50+ activities kids can actually do on their own

As you know, we’re planning for a slow summer over here. While I’ve jokingly written that boredom is the goal, I don’t actually want my kids to be bored — I want them to have a restful, wonder-filled, joyful summer! However, I understand that boredom is often a necessary speed bump on the way to creativity, cooperation, passion, and fun, which is why it doesn’t scare me. I’d even go so far as to say that I actively create the conditions where it might appear.

That being said, we all get stuck sometimes. And our kids are just 8 and 5, so I don’t expect them to glide through the summer completely content, never hitting a snag. So, even as we’re setting the expectation that they are responsible for making their own fun, and that the parents will be largely hands-off, we also did a little proactive problem solving as a family.

Right before the end of the summer, we sat down together and made a “boredom list” — a list of activities they can turn to on one of those long summer days when nothing sounds fun. Because they had a hand in developing it, my hope is they’ll be more likely to reach for it when they feel stuck. While I’d suggest the same practice for you, I’m happy to share our list of 50+ activities today to get you started! :) I’ve included a printable PDF at the bottom, too.

While it’s not too hard to find lists of screen-free activities on the internet, I find that they are either 1) not activities kids can do independently and/or 2) don’t feel realistic for my family. Every item on this list is something I can actually picture my kids doing on a day we’re both working from home. Enjoy!