If you have kids or remember being one, you know how tough dealing with boredom can be. But it’s also a great chance to get creative and discover new activities to try! When boredom strikes at home, or if I need to keep the kids busy while I work, I turn to some activities from this list.
I’ve picked activities that not only entertain kids but also keep them active and engaged in something meaningful. There are plenty of ideas here that kids can do on their own, which is a big deal in our house. Most activities don’t need much parental supervision, except for a few that require a more hands-on approach. We save those messier and more involved projects for family time when I can join in. I’ve also included a list of kid-friendly Christmas activities.
Feel free to share any tips for sanity-saving, low-mess activities for kids of all ages by commenting below!
I always put outdoor activities at the top of our list, both for myself and the kids, because getting outside has plenty of health benefits. Plus, it keeps the mess outside! Usually, it’s not hard to get the kids outdoors, especially since we upgraded our backyard equipment. Sometimes, we simply make it a rule to start the day outside. Many of these activities are fun for the whole family, but older kids can do them independently, too. We sometimes use our adventure points system to reward good use of outdoor time.
In my experience, once the kids are outside, they don’t want to come back in! Sometimes all they need is a little nudge to start exploring. But when the weather isn’t cooperative, being inside can feel stifling. Here are some ideas to tackle boredom at home and give parents a little personal space:
When I have work to do, but we’re stuck inside due to bad weather, the key is to set clear expectations for self-directed activity days. Let the kids know when you’re available or not, which activities are allowed, how household chores are divided, when tech time is permitted, and how the house should be tidied up.
In some cultures, people go outdoors regardless of the weather. With the right gear, most outdoor activities are still doable and might even be more fun. For our younger kids, we have one-piece waterproof rain suits, and for older kids, Swisswell waterproof jackets and trousers.
Kindergarten classes use learning stations for a reason. They offer kids various activities and allow them to choose which to do first. It’s effective for all school-aged kids. Set up different activities throughout the house or living room corners, especially for kids with shorter attention spans. Our ideas include:
We also keep a collection of kitchen science experiments for indoor days. They’re self-directed, filled with science facts, and don’t require special ingredients. My older kids love supervising when food is involved!
Just bringing out board games from the closet can engage the kids. Giving them a choice is always a hit. If board games aren’t exciting enough, they might like making their own games instead!
If you’re stuck at home, days may start to feel the same. Spice things up with an impromptu party! Check what “national day” it is, like national spinach day, and throw a themed party. Just a note: I have the kids handle everything while I join as a guest after finishing my work.
I’ve kept an “emergency” stash of games and toys hidden away that I pull out to surprise the kids. They often forget about them, and it’s a thrill when Mom brings out the “bored box.” Over the years, we’ve favored low-clutter, non-plastic items and often buy from thrift shops and garage sales.
When the weather’s bad but the kids have energy to burn, indoor movement activities are a godsend! Here are our favorite ways to get some exercise inside without any injuries:
Kids usually find ways to burn off energy indoors, but these activities help channel that energy productively.
By the end of the day, everyone gets tired, and siblings might start fighting. To prevent this, I offer quiet, independent activities for everyone to rest and recharge.
Of course, passing out art supplies and letting kids create their own projects is always a good option! Music is a big part of our home, so musical activities are always on the list to keep boredom at bay. Music is fun and a fantastic skill to learn.
Instead of just finding ways to entertain kids, why not encourage them to start a business? For those aged seven to 13, a book can inspire them to start a business doing something they love. Set up a home business incubator and help kids think of their own charitable or for-profit ventures. Younger kids might need more guidance in this activity, but once they get going, they’ll have a cool project to work on alone.
While I prefer my kids spend less time on devices, it’s also important that they know how to navigate technology—a big part of my own business. Some activities use technology to teach new skills, which I think is a positive use of screens!
I chose Greek and Latin in school because they help me figure out word meanings by roots, but they aren’t very practical in daily life. So, I wanted my kids to learn more useful languages like French and Spanish, and I’m learning with them using DuoLingo. It turns learning into a game and works on phones or tablets for easy consistency.
I learned to speed read in middle school, and it’s been a valuable skill, so I wanted to teach my kids as well. The program Spreeder retrains you to read quickly and efficiently. I suggest the affordable premium version, but there’s a free one too.
A friend introduced me to Hoffman Academy for free online piano lessons. I was skeptical, but it’s been impressive and easy to follow. Although my house can get noisy, a keyboard with headphones helps during my quiet hours.
Coding has become a must-know skill in today’s tech-driven world. Kids can learn it leisurely or through classes. Codecademy provides engaging online coding lessons suitable for kids who can read.
I believe kitchen skills are essential, yet many adults lack them. We found an online cooking course that teaches kids fundamental skills like knife handling and following recipes. It needs some adult supervision but is a worthy time investment. Soon, the kids will be serving you dinner!
Here are more digital activities to entertain kids when needed. Prefer going screen-free? Here are some fascinating podcasts my kids enjoy.
While I tend to lean towards screen-free activities for my kids, we have embraced some digitally based resources. We ensure balance with ample outdoor and creative play.
Instead of rushing to solve my kids’ boredom, I encourage them to embrace it and see where their creativity leads. Once they learn to entertain themselves, the ideas just keep flowing.
Keep this list handy for fresh inspiration. Often, kids end up using their creativity to come up with ideas I never would’ve thought of!
What are your family’s favorite activities? Do you have any that are minimal mess and high on learning? I’d love to hear from you!
