Getting bored from time to time is a human thing – no need to worry about that. But when you have kids, boredom can be the worst thing in the world. It is why keeping the kids busy is the best thing to do when school’s out and the weather means you need to stay indoors. However, sometimes it is next to impossible to get them involved in anything!
They just keep saying they are ‘bored’, or they want to do something else, or simply want to watch some cartoons or play on a tablet. And as a parent, that is incredibly frustrating to watch! So it is clear we need some heavy-hitting activities to really capture the attention and imagination; here are some ideas:
Talk About Their Feelings
If your child comes to you saying ‘I am bored’, it might not simply be boredom. It could be something else they cannot quite figure out how to talk about yet. Maybe they are upset with something, or something has made them sad, or they simply want to spend a bit of time with you and do not know how to ask for that.
So, it is a good idea to get down to their level and ask them how they feel inside; use creative terms to explain it, and then offer up loads of ideas of what else they could do, either with you or with their siblings.
Make Costumes Or New Toys
Making things of your own is a great way to capture attention. After all, you need to design the item, color it in, find the materials and necessary tools, cut things out, stick/sew them together, and then you can play with them.
All in all, it can take at least an afternoon to have your product in hand! So get the kids interested in making their own costumes and toys. They will love having something unique to play with or get dressed up in that no one else in the world has.
Learn a New Skill Together
Learning a new skill as a family is a great way to engage your kids. After all, if you are doing something, they are likely to want to follow along too. They look up to you, and want to get involved with the same things you do!
Use this principle to your advantage. Pick up a new instrument to try, or take them along to Aqua-Tots Swim Schools, or give them a set of (small) knitting needles of their own. Anything you can all do that you can talk over and set instructions for will be a good fit here.
Send Them On A House Hunt
Finally, kids love having something to solve! Why not set up a scavenger hunt within the house and see who manages to get to the prize first? Or you could set up a quiz, or simply play a big game altogether that involves different household objects.
If the kids are bored, it is not a disaster! Just keep ideas like these in mind.
