15 Ideas for the Next Time You Hear “I’m Bored”

“I’m bored.”

Every parent’s nightmare phrase, right? Don’t worry, we’ve got some great ideas that can keep those words from exiting your child’s mouth quite so frequently!

Battling Boredom

When you hear your kids mention being bored, take a moment to have them think about the following things:

  • Have you been creative?
  • Have you played outside?
  • Have you read a book?
  • Have you exercised for 20 minutes?
  • Have you done something helpful?

An easy way to remember these is through the acronym BORED: *b*een creative, *o*utside play, *r*ead a book, *e*xercised, *d*one something helpful.

After your kids have thought about these aspects, they may just find that they’re not bored after all or could find something new to occupy their time.

If the feeling of boredom persists, there are plenty of ways you can help your children combat their feelings of boredom.

Here are 15 ideas that can help eliminate boredom at home for your kids while inspiring physical activity or creativity:

  1. Go on a family bike ride.
  2. Have them help wash the car or help with some other “grownup” chores.
  3. Have a dance party.
  4. Make an obstacle course in the backyard.
  5. Write a story.
  6. Put on a play.
  7. Create a gratitude or vision board.
  8. Put together a time capsule.
  9. Bake tasty treats.
  10. Create some snack art.
  11. Draw chalk murals outside.
  12. Go on a scavenger hunt.
  13. Try a YouTube art challenge.
  14. Collect and paint rocks.
  15. Write a letter to a grandparent.

When Boredom Is a Good Thing

Remember, boredom isn’t always a negative thing for kids and can actually help them in many ways.

Being bored helps children:

  • Develop their sense of identity
  • Foster creativity
  • Discover life passions
  • Learn time management
  • Get more physical activity
  • Form peer relationships
  • Develop problem-solving skills

Boredom can help children become more content, as a life that is too full of excitement can become exhausting and lead to the need for more and more stimuli. Boredom can also serve as a motivator for our children, inspiring them to think outside of the box to come up with ideas to bust the “boring.”

A bored child can be a less than ideal situation for any parent, but don’t forget to look at both sides of the coin. If boredom remains a common theme, consider enrolling your child in one of Drama Kids International’s exciting and educational drama programs!