My kids are bored this summer. Any tips for fun activities?

Question

My 8 yr old is bored now that school is out. Anybody have any fun, low cost activities that we can do at home to help the bordom. I have a 3 yr old daughter too. Any activities that would be fun for both of them to do together? Thanks!!

Answer 1

Check out your local library they usually have story times. Plus they have summer reading programs for kids your son's age.

Go to your local park that have hiking trails. Go on the hiking trails and bring a plastic bag. Have your children collect rocks, leaves, and other nature things that interest them. When you get home have them make collages out of the materials that they collected. On the back write what park you visited as well as write down their favorite part of the hike. Than at the end of the summer you can make a book out of it and they have a memory book for the summer.

Have water ballon fights. Chalk on the sidewalk. Take shaving cream and put some on the table. Kids love playing with it. Plus you can add drops of food coloring and/or glitter to make it more interesting to play with.

You can make your own goo. One part white glue (has to be white) and one part liquid corn starch. Mix them together. You can add food coloring and glitter to make it look nifty.

There is bubble painting. Fill a container 3/4 of the way with clear dish soap. Than mix in powder tempra paint. They take a straw and they blow in the mixture till there is a mound of bubbles. Than they take a paper and lay it on top of the bubbles. The bubbles will stick and pop leaving behind nifty bubble designs.

Make an obstacle course outside for them to run threw. Get a sprinkler they would love that. Bubbles are fun to play with.

Here are some links
http://summer.about.com/od/craftsfunactivities/a/summerfun1.htm

http://childparenting.about.com/cs/summer/a/summerart1.htm

http://www.kidsturncentral.com/summer/summerfun.htm

http://summer.about.com/od/craftsfunactivities/?terms=fun+game+summer

Just go to any search engine and type in summer activities for kids. They'll give you a bunch of links. Also look up arts and crafts for kids.

Answer 2

Easiest way to cure boredom: shut off the TV and unplug the video games for the summer.

After that, a list of possibilities:
1. Camping
2. Hiking
3. Fishing
4. Travel somewhere unusual
5. Go to the playground
6. Build a fort
7. Plant a garden
8. Hit the swimming pool
9. Go to the park - play games
10. Clean up the neighborhood
11. Do some craft projects outdoors
12. Have a party
13. Go to a movie/rent a movie
14. Go play putt-putt golf
15. Canoeing or rafting
17. Waterpark
18. Adopt a pet
19. Catch bugs
20. Play board games

Answer 3

I have a two and half year old and an 8 month old and we pack up in the stroller and walk to a lake close by. My 8 month old loves it and it takes a little while for my 2 year old to get used to it but we all wind up having fun. Try doing a lot of swimming and going to the park. That way you get time with them too.

Answer 4

Making food, building forts, cleaning up rooms is not fun but if you reward them with a trip to a water park or a sleepover party or something like that they have an incentive. wash the car! Paint pictures. Do-it-yourself home improvements! I remember building things with my dad like birdhouses. Read books, go swimming, I know it's hard to find things for both 3 and 8 year olds.

Answer 5

I take my son out for free activities, such as road trips for the day to a creek. we also go on hiking trails. every year we go the the local visitor's center for tourists & get our state's travel guid. it gives all of the free or cheap activities for the entire state for the year. we take picnic lunches as well. we go to the movies every now & then. & we go to parks. If you were here in Mississippi, I could tell you exactly where to go..... The Natchez Trace. It's a historical road with lots of places to stop at & all most all of them are free or take donations.

Answer 6

i babysit all the time in the summer, and as long as the parents don't mind a little mess, these are great activities:

1) freeze juice and swedish fish in cups with popsicle sticks. they love picking out the fish while they eat.

2) cut watermelon into cubes and freeze it for about a half hour. it tastes like candy and my clients like it because its healthy.

3) give them celery sticks and poster paint and paper. have them use the stalks as brushes.

4) have a waterballoon fight! winner gets hosed!

Answer 7

OK I'm 13 and I'm always bored i spend most of my free time on the computer or on the TV. i recommend going like to rapids (its always fun) or boomers or D&B for other days plan picnics and out door activities

Answer 8

go get a $25.00 pool that u blow up they will have so much its funny and its no that much money so thats one thing or play broad games wit them or let some of there friends come over 4 a play date or take them 2 the park or something 2 that affect

Answer 9

Teach them cooking and baking. You can make it really fun with recipes and be able to teach them kitchen safety and nutrition at the same time. Let them bake things to bring to family and friends as a way of encouraging them to participate.

Answer 10

If we said we were bored my dad always found things (work) for us to do . Try that a couple times, see how fast they can find things to do on thier own.