Skip to main content

NewFolks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

What to do when your kids are bored at home

During school breaks and weekends, the inevitable “I’m bored” is probably all too common in your household. Keeping your children busy doesn’t have to be very involved on your part as long as you have different ideas to alternate throughout a day. Here are some suggested activities your kids can do when they’re bored.

Arts and crafts

There’s a type of arts and crafts for everyone. Kids who like to get messy might enjoy tie-dying. Others might prefer making collages or scrapbooks. Coloring is another activity that’s great for the whole family — with the advent of adult coloring books, filling in complex designs can pass the time quickly. Your kids can use crayons, colored pencils, pens, or markers.

Pressmaster/Shutterstock

There’s also lots to do with string and yarn: sewing, crocheting, knitting — not to mention braiding bracelets and keychains. Painting, in particular, can be enthralling for young children who might enjoy mixing colors and touching wet paint. Crafting sock puppets or dolls of scrap fabric can also be enjoyable; this activity allows your kids to be creative as they decide on designs, colors, and mixing fabrics.

Recommended Videos

Play games

There are endless games appropriate for all ages that you can play at home — both indoors and outdoors. First, check your cabinets and closets for any board games you might already have. For individual play, consider having a deck of cards or jigsaw puzzles on hand. There are also different kinds of card games to play in groups. Other games suitable for multiple children include hide and seek, tag, and ball games if they go outside. Children’s video games are also suitable in moderation. Imaginative play with toys encourages creative thinking, as does role-playing.

Make food

Recipes range from simple dishes a young child can prepare to time-consuming, multiple course dishes. Taking on a new recipe as a challenge while bored at home can be quite rewarding. Of course, children should be supervised when cooking or using knives. Smoothies, ice cream in a bag, and indoor s’mores are just a few of the easy, tasty treats your child can make themselves. Edible molding dough can even be made from the comfort of your home. Alternatively, parents can cook foods and let children decorate them, such as waffles or cupcakes.

Attend virtual events

family video chat
fizkes / Shutterstock

From theme parks to zoos to monuments, there are many livestreams and recordings online that are free to view. Some institutions also publish reading guides and worksheets to make the experience more educational. Your child might choose to view a ride-along video of their favorite roller coaster or browse through an interactive museum. Some free video conferences also exist, as well as online courses in various academic and leisurely subjects. If you can think of something, there is probably a virtual adaptation of it to explore somewhere!

Get up and move

Staying active is an important part of staying healthy. Children and adolescents should get at least an hour of moderate physical activity daily. There are a multitude of ways to exercise and have fun while doing it. Exercise can be as simple as a walk or as involved as a high-intensity interval training regimen. Group games can also serve as a form of exercise. There are a multitude of fun backyard activities for kids that will keep them entertained and active for hours. Jump rope, hopscotch, swimming, and biking are all healthy ways of exercising that are interesting to many children. But kids don’t have to go outside to get moving. Stationary exercises like running in place, jumping jacks, or sit-ups can contribute to flexibility, strength, and/or cardiovascular health.

Start a project

Plant a garden if you have the space and supplies. You could choose a practical vegetable garden or go for a more lively variety of flowers. Beginning to learn a new language is always good exercise for the brain and a useful skill. Some of the other activities mentioned here, like arts and crafts or games, can be considered projects if they are time sensitive, such as embroidering a bag. Science experiments, which are both educational and entertaining, are another type of project.

Keeping your kids busy doesn’t have to keep you busy! Between your and your children’s imagination and creativity, you should be able to come up with lots of activities that are fun and engaging. Hopefully our list of ideas has helped inspire you.

Where to host your kid’s party: Tips for parents planning the perfect day
It's easy to plan a fun and affordable birthday party for your child
Birthday party balloons

Planning your child's birthday party is exciting but can also be stressful. Sometimes, finding your kid's party location can be affordable and fun, and there are venues that cater to kids. But trust us, it does not have to cost you a fortune! There are plenty of budget-friendly party places that you can find for your child's party. Keep reading to learn more on kid's party locations.
Consider their age

The biggest factor you want to consider is the age your child is turning. Are they young children? Chances are that if they are between the ages of 2 to 7, you can probably have their birthday party at a local park. Family and friends can gather around picnic tables, the kids will have an open area to play in, and it's a bonus if there is a playground at the park. The kids would love that! Most young children don't care where their party is being held -- they just want to have fun!
Number of guests

Read more
Spring sports for kids: Best picks for a fun season
Let your child try one of these sports to welcome springtime
A children's baseball game

When the winter hits, most kids plan out how they will stay inside all season long, huddled under blankets with books and TV shows. Parents, too. By spring, parents and children alike cannot wait to get back outside and moving again. If you want to help your child stretch their body and mind out and be active again, find one of these spring sports for kids and get them signed up now.
How to pick a sport for your child

Depending on where you are, spring sports for kids usually start signups in January, but can go up to May in some places, so check with your local school or city club on the dates. When picking a sport for your child, let them make the decision with you, and don't be disappointed if they don't want to continue it. You want to find something your child likes, so they stick with it. Letting them try a few different ones wouldn't hurt, especially so you know what they want to commit to before going crazy buying all of the gear.

Read more
5 fun spring break activities for kids you can do at home
Give your kids the ultimate spring break staycation with these fun activities
Mom and son having a picnic at home

We all look forward to spring break. It's a great time for school kids to recharge their batteries and for parents to get a break from making school lunches for a week! Although spring break trips are fun, travel isn't always an option. If you're looking at a week at home and are thinking of things to do with your kids, we've got you covered.

Staying at home doesn't have to be boring -- far from it! With these spring break activities for kids, you're going to create family vacation memories without leaving town.
Science experiments

Read more