Now that summer has arrived, many children will find themselves with more free time on their hands. If you are worried about hearing “I’m bored!” we have a solution: create your own Boredom Busting Jar! When your kids say they are bored or have nothing to do, send them to the jar, and soon they will have an activity to keep them occupied. It is a genius idea in its simplicity. Children will have a stockpile of activities, freeing caregivers from being put on the spot to think of the perfect afternoon project.
Start with a jar with an opening large enough for a hand to reach in and pull out a piece of paper. If you don’t have a jar, you can use a box, coffee can or other container. Create a list of activities children can do on their own, together or with the family. Cut the individual activities out, and place them into the container. You can label or decorate it as desired. When someone utters the phrase “I’m bored!” send them to the jar for an activity.
Ideas for activities can be anything the grownups of the house approve of. Activities can just be fun stuff or ways to be helpful around the home. The key is to have many activities to choose from. Sometimes the first draw won’t work out, especially if it is an outside activity and the weather is not cooperating. If this happens, then a second draw is allowed. However, don’t let kids just keep drawing and rejecting ideas. That defeats the purpose of the jar. Your family can set the limit of draws to what works for them.
If you sign up for Summer Reading, there are lots of fun activities listed on the reading record that you can use for the Boredom Busting Jar. Already finished with those? Click here for a full list of ideas. You can also search our catalog for books of craft projects and games.
