Boredom busters are perfect for keeping kids busy during the spring and summer months!
Kids and Boredom
While I’m a huge supporter of kids being bored to promote their thinking, problem-solving, and imagination skills, sometimes a good boredom buster can be totally necessary, you guys!
That said, you don’t have to look too hard to find some pretty incredible options.
Thankfully we live in a world with endless opportunities when it comes to boredom busting.
Answer: a bottle – Photo Creds: Little Ladoo
If you are looking for simple boredom busters that require absolutely no printing or prep, consider working through these fun online activities with your kids or encourage them to do them with friends instead!
- Brain teasers (above) via Little Ladoo
- Rebus puzzles via Little Ladoo
- True or false questions via Paper Heart Family
All three of these ideas would make perfect indoor summer activities for beating the heat.
Boredom Busters for Summertime
Speaking of summer, if you’re in need of fun summer crafts or family activities I’ve totally got you covered!
That said, I’ve also got some other great ideas for summer boredom-busting below.
From hiking with the kids to creating a budget-friendly backyard pool oasis.
However, if printable is more your style, I encourage you to check out some of our summer-themed printables here on Life + Homeschool, as well as some fun options from other great bloggers!
First, check out these 3 awesome printable boredom busters from Life + Homeschool!
- Summer reading program (left)
- Printable favorite things list (top right)
- Summer bucket lists (bottom right)
Next, consider these fun summer-themed boredom busters!
This boredom jar (left) via Mama Teaches is such a fun way to encourage kiddos to keep their own boredom at bay by choosing something random to do when boredom strikes.
That said, sometimes a learning activities are even better for busting summer boredom.
Try encouraging your kiddos to work on summer worksheets for extra practice or master important writing skills by leaning on these summer drawing prompts (right) via Rainy Day Mum
More Printable Boredom Busters
While summer-themed fun is great, sometimes boredom strikes at other times of the year — such as spring break.
So, if printable fun is your favorite way to bust boredom at its core, I’ve got you covered with some awesome ideas, you guys!
First up, this awesome art prompt spinner (top left) via Barley and Birch will keep kiddos busy and encourage simple creativity!
This boredom buster includes a free digital spinner as well as printable paper spinner ($$).
If you loved that, check out these next 3 awesome ideas!
- Customizable posters (top right) for busting the boredom via Rock Your Homeschool
- Boredom buster paper chain activity w/printable (bottom left) via In the Bag Kid’s Crafts
- Boredom buster jar (bottom right) via Artsy Fartsy Mama
So many fun ideas to choose from, you guys!
These next 3 printables are perfect for a little bit of hands-on printable fun!
From these LEGO challenge cards via Fox Farm Home that are perfect for multiple age groups to these adorable flower playdough mats via Crafty Kids Play that are perfect for little ones (and combining with one of the homemade playdough recipes near the bottom of this post!).
My personal favorite though? This fun cootie catcher via Leap of Faith Crafting that is absolutely ideal for tweens (with parents from the 80s or 90s of course). Talk about nostalgia, you guys!!
While artsy and hands-on printable fun are great, sometimes all you need to bust the boredom is a good game!
Check out these 4 interactive boredom busting printables.
- Outdoor scavenger hunt printable (left) via Troubleshooting Motherhood
- printable gnome game (right) via Ruffles and Rainboots
- Weekend activity BINGO via Home Time Activities
- Animal movement strips via In the Playroom
So many fun ideas, you guys!
Lastly, these 3 printable boredom busters are great for building thinking skills and promoting educational fun.
- 100 drawing prompts (top left) via Simplify Create Inspire
- would you rather printable (top right) via Paper Heart Family
- printable riddles (bottom right) via Wondermom Wannabe
All 3 of these activities would be perfect for squeezing into a homeschool morning basket or for utilizing as a part of your homeschool loop schedule.
I seriously love printables like these, you guys!
Hands-On Boredom Busters
While printable boredom busters are great, sometimes all you need to mix things up is by focusing on simple play based, sensory, or STEM activities.
Try picking fun ideas that help kiddos build motor skills or induce creativity and imagination.
Hands on fun is so important, especially for little ones!
That’s why I leaned on these simple preschool activities (top left) and kindergarten activities (top right) when my kiddos were little.
Once they grew, we added these fun activities (bottom left) to our homeschool loop schedule and added board games (bottom right) to our weekly list of homeschool activities.
That said, you don’t have to be a homeschool parent to utilize some of these awesome ideas, you guys!
Speaking of games, this indoor laundry basket game (left) via Imaginative Homeschool looks so easy (and fun)!
While this DIY Tic-Tac-Toe (right) via Ruffles and Rainboots adds in crafty elements by encouraging kiddos to re-create a classic.
Such fun indoor game ideas!
If games aren’t your style and your kiddos need something even more hands-on, consider these STEM worthy boredom busters instead!
- Popsicle stick catapult (left) via In the Playroom
- DIY air vortex cannon (top right) via Little Bins for Little Hands
- Paper spinners w/free printable (bottom right) via Artsy Fartsy Mama
- Thaumatrope activity w/free printable via Little Bins for Little Hands
What awesome ideas, you guys!
If you loved those fun STEM ideas, you are going to love these next 2 science-based activities!
Encourage your kiddos to beat the summer heat by creating this snowstorm in a jar (left) via Honey and Lime or try this colorful milk experiment (top right) via Living Life and Learning!
Have a fidgety kiddo? Using a free printable template, help them create this DIY fidget spinner (bottom right) via Red Ted Art instead!
While I always love a good STEM project, sometimes focusing on a child’s sensory needs is more important.
Consider making one of these awesome playdough recipes for ultimate boredom busting.
- Traditional playdough (left) via The Best Ideas for Kids
- Allergy friendly gluten-free dough (top right) via Strenght and Sunshine
- Color changing playdough (bottom right) via Two Pink Peonies
Nothing beats a classic boredom buster like playdough, you guys!
Last, but certainly not least, try tackling boredom with the ultimate hands-on activity — slime!
- Fluffy slime (left) via The Best Ideas for Kids
- Metallic silver slime (top right) via Fun a Day
- Glow in the dark slime (bottom right) via Mommy Evolution
If you loved any of the above hands-on boredom busters, consider these DIY craft stick puzzles via Simply Designing or this clothes pin car via Crafts by Amanda as well!
So many fun ideas, you guys!
More Crafty Fun
While I love awesome printables and hands-on fun, sometimes the best boredom buster of all is a crafty one!
Whether it’s teaching children how to paint a rainbow (left) or creating awesome handprint crafts, I encourage you to check out the entire kid’s activities section here on Life + Homeschool!
Looking for a crafty idea to get you started? Consider creating this simple paper donut craft (right) I made with my own kiddos years back or try this fun cardboard coloring activity via Homan at Home.
So many options, you guys!
While I love to share paper crafts and theme crafts here on Life + Homeschool, I also love unique craft finds — like these!
Consider making one of these awesome craft ideas with your kiddos when boredom strikes.
- Polymer clay jewelry (left) via One Crazy Mom
- Salt dough (top right) via Messy Momma Crafts
- Paper mache via Crafty Hacks
These look like so much fun, you guys!
Finally, end your craft session outdoors with some sidewalk chalk activities and painted rock crafts!
Try these cute painted rocks (above) via One Crazy Mom or create these unique melted crayon rocks Sweet Frugal Life instead!
Love these boredom busters? Share this post with a friend on social media today or pin for yourself for later!
Happy boredom-busting, you guys!!
