>>100 THINGS TO
DO WITH KIDS
“I’m bored,” is the
short version of “I can’t think of anything
to do.” Although it’s not the responsibility
of parents to keep their children entertained and busy,
parents can lead their children toward creative, fun
and engaging activities. The following 100 activities,
updated and revised from last year, will help you and
your children beat boredom this summer. Most are free
and can be done alone or with other children. Some require
an adult. Clip and post this list on your fridge. Send
me your favorite summertime kid tips as you think of
them. Enjoy!
NO TIME FOR BOREDOM THIS SUMMER--100 THINGS TO DO:
Make things with PVC-pipe pieces and connectors;
blow bubbles; design and build a LEGO structure; line
up and knock down dominoes; take a short train ride;
make a cardboard city out of large, empty boxes (free
from appliance stores); play “concentration”
by matching pairs of playing cards; have a progressive
kids’ party (snacks and games at each home for
90 minutes); create sidewalk art using chalk or Crayola
sidewalk paint; design your own Web site; organize a
field trip; start a play group; rent a canoe; organize
a toy exchange with four or five families, play “Post
Office” with junk mail; have a sand-castle-building
contest between two families; write and/or draw your
own storybook; start a summer journal, roller blade
at a scenic location; buy a kiddy pool; play in a mud
puddle; start a collection (coins, cards, leaves, etc.);
make a home movie; play catch; make sock puppets; color
paper doilies; complete a challenging puzzle; enroll
the kids in a recreation class or summer day camp (call
the Parks and Recreation Department in your city); play
Twister; go fishing; take a hike or go biking; play
ping-pong; wash the car--squirt each other; take a boat
or ferry ride; play miniature golf; go camping; beautify
your neighborhood; have a picnic; go tide-pooling; watch
the Discovery channel; watch family vacation videos;
have a face-painting party; start a hobby; look through
family photo albums; go on a treasure or scavenger hunt;
do a craft project; “paint” the exterior
walls of the house with water; throw a Frisbee; fly
a kite; have a kids’ garage sale; throw a pool
party; build a fort; bring out the water toys (small
containers, basters, funnels, etc.); throw water balloons;
go to a children's theatre production; read a story;
have a tea party; eat popcorn and play board games;
sponsor a neighborhood talent show or video-game contest;
plant a garden and take care of it; buy or build a sandbox;
play hide-and-seek; put up a tent in your backyard or
living room; take a factory tour; go to a town festival;
make your own play dough; have a pizza-decorating contest
at a slumber party; organize a pet parade; make a collage
with old magazines; open a lemonade stand; feed the
ducks at a local pond; cook or bake something together;
play dress-up; put on a show in your garage; enroll
the kids in a YMCA, YWCA, church, 4H or scouting program;
go to the ballpark, library, beach, movie theatre, park,
county fair, bowling alley, water slides, zoo, amusement
park, aquarium, museum and observatory; become a volunteer;
learn about nature; take a drive to the country; visit
a farm; do weekly science experiments; play with two
or more small magnets; go berry-picking; visit the best
playground in your town.
Copyright 2004, Tom McMahon |
