Boredom is a natural part of childhood, but it’s also an opportunity for kids to step outside of their comfort zone and discover new interests, exercise their creativity and engage in activities that stimulate their minds.
We’ve sourced the best “boredom-busting” activities to help turn those rainy days and moments of restlessness into fun-filled experiences.
Indoor scavenger hunt
Appeal to your child’s curious nature by hiding objects around the house and give them clues to help find them. You might even turn your hand to rhyming clues to make things more interesting! Encourage your child to explore and solve the mystery, discovering hidden objects along the way.
Science experiments at home
Did you know, there are many simple science experiments you can do using everyday household items? From home-made volcanoes to slime-making, these experiments are fun as well as educational.
TO MAKE A VOLCANO YOU WILL NEED:-
a glass jar
Foil
Water
Bicarbonate of soda
Washing up liquid
Red food colouring
Vinegar
Wrap foil around the top of the jar. Form the foil into the shape of a volcano, giving the “lava” a slope to run down.
Inside the jar, put the water, 4 teaspoonfuls of bicarbonate of soda, a small squirt of washing up liquid and a few drops of food colouring.
Activate the volcano by adding the vinegar and watch everything FIZZ UP!
After the lava stops flowing, just add more vinegar to make it go again.
TO MAKE SLIME YOU WILL NEED:-
This method makes a ball of flexible slime close to silly putty in texture. It stays clean in your hands, making it a good choice for little kids.
Makes 1 small ballTakes 10 minutes
100ml PVA white glue (children’s craft glue or CE marked glue)
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
gel food colouring
1 tsp contact lens cleaning solution
glitter (optional)
1. Squeeze the glue into a mixing bowl (look for a bottle in a 100ml size if possible so you won’t have to measure it out). Add the bicarbonate of soda and mix well.
2. Add a drop or two of your chosen gel food colouring. Less colouring gives a pastel colour; the more you add, the brighter the colour. Mix until well incorporated.
3. Add the contact lens solution and mix. The slime will begin to form, going stringy before coming away clean from the bowl into a ball.
4. Once it has formed, take it out and knead it with your hands. It will be sticky at first but after about 30 seconds you’ll have a smooth and pliable ball. Add glitter at this point, if desired, and work in with your hands. Store in a pot with a lid.
Instructions taken from https://www.bbcgoodfood.com/howto/guide/how-make-slime
Obstacle course challenge
Set up a fun obstacle course in your garden (weather permitting) or living room using cushions, hula hoops, broomsticks, buckets and other household items. You can challenge your little ones to make their way over the obstacle course to win a reward. You might even be able to encourage them to clean up after themselves along the way!
Arts & Crafts - Create a masterpiece
Encouraging your child to paint, draw or create collages is a great way to bring out their artistic side and let their imaginations run wild! Finger painting or potato printing are easy and inexpensive ways to amuse your children on rainy days. Why not try some of our Easy Make and Do ideas.
Picture credit: https://empoweredparents.co/potato-printing/
Outdoor nature adventure
Take a nature walk with your child or encourage them to go out into the garden and collect items of interest such as fallen leaves, rocks, flowers etc and spot insects and bugs along the way. Create a simple check list that they can tick off as they find objects, which encourages observational skills and keeps kids entertained for hours! Why not bring your nature-inspired finds home and create a collage or start a scrapbook.
Picture credit
Dance Party
Turn up the music and let your little ones show you their dance moves! They can even choreograph their own routines or take part in a dance-off with family members. Why not try a few rounds of “Musical chairs” to keep kids active.
Cooking or Baking
Kids love cooking (and eating the rewards) so involve them in the kitchen by allowing them to help with some easy to make recipes for kids. They can measure, mix and decorate a range of delicious treats, both sweet and savoury, encouraging a healthy, balanced diet. Why not try our Tasty recipes for kids
Den building
Grab your blankets, duvet covers, sheets and pillows and help your child create a cosy den indoors. Whether it’s under the dining table, in their bedroom or behind the sofa, kids love to “hide away” in their own safe space where they can read, play or even have a small picnic with their friends.
We hope these simple but exciting activities will give you some inspirations when keeping your children entertained. Encouraging children to create, explore and engaging them in interests that stimulate their imaginations, should mean that boredom will no longer be a challenge. Remember, boredom doesn’t have to be a chore, it can be a catalyst for creativity and discovery. Embrace these moments as opportunities for your child to learn, grow and HAVE FUN!!