The “I’m Bored” Phenomenon

How did I cope with boys in the summer? I made an “I’m bored” list for my kids to use.

I posted a list of things to do on the fridge. The lists were labeled “inside”, “outside”, “for money” and “special request”. Any whining, or other expressions of boredom were directed there. The following is about 1/3 of each list from my fridge. I included every activity I could think of, and every toy in the house. It was very effective when the kids were younger.

I hope this helps! 

INSIDE

• Legos: freestyle or kit
• Paper airplane
• Airplane model building
• Yo-yo
• Baseball cards
• Piano
• Chess
• Checkers
• Guitar
• Hot wheels
• Cards: kings corners/war
• Cards: go fish, solitaire
• Write a letter
• Marbles
• Boggle
• Super Stencil
• Chinese Checkers
• Frog soccer
• Operation
• Jurassic park
• Take Off
• Make a bug zoo
• Arrange rooms
• Cooking/baking
• 101 science experiments
• Electricity kit
• Volcano kit
• Microscope
• Kitchen experiment kit
• Sew bean bags
• Juggle bean bags

OUTSIDE

• Water fight
• Croquet
• Baseball game
• Climb trees
• Basketball
• Football
• Golf
• Tennis
• Play in the small pool
• Soccer
• Collect bugs
• Bubbles
• Sidewalk chalk
• Bowling in backyard
• Hockey
• Play with the dog
• Play tag
• Foursquare
• Pitching practice

SPECIAL REQUEST

• Museum of Flight
• Science Center
• Playground at school
• Picnic
• Grandma’s house
• Fly kites
• Collect wood at work site
• Library
• Beach or lake
• Rent a movie
• Make scavenger hunt
• Jetty Island trip
• Forest Park Petting Zoo
• Woodland Park Zoo
• Plan a party
• Friends over
• McCollum/Heron park
• Go swimming
• Mariner’s/Aquasox game
• Bike trail ride

FOR MONEY

• Sell berries, or flowers
• Pick berries
• Pull weeds
• Sweep garage
• Sweep driveway, patio
• Bicycle wash
• Clean a closet
• Lemonade stand
• Garage sale
• Neighbor’s jobs
• Write a report or book
• Neighborhood newsletter
• Wash cars
• Paint a room with mom
• Book club reading