Are you too busy or too uninspired to occupy the kids, but you’re tired of seeing them on their electronic devices? I got you! Choose from these activities that your child can do independently this summer.
- Build a fort, tent, or nook for book-reading. Equip the space with a comfy pillow, a reading lamp, and a glass of iced tea. Maybe throw in a plushie (you know, if they’re not “too old” for that kind of thing).
- Color in a coloring book. Whether your child needs to destress or simply escape boredom, this makes for a rewarding activity! Coloring books have come a long way, and even teens and adults can enjoy being creative as they carefully color sheets with intricate designs and patterns.
- Help tidy the house (organize the pantry, pull out old clothes/toys to give to charity). This may require a little bit of pleading, but it’ll give him a probably much-needed break from the screen. Plus, tidying one’s surroundings will help to clear the mind.
- Have fun playing in makeup. Find fun YouTube video tutorials that show how to apply lip gloss and eye makeup! Or practice applying nail polish!
- Make friendship bracelets and other crafts (tie-dye t-shirts, embroidery). Get your beads, strings, and additional supplies from Hobby Lobby or Michael’s. Producing art is fantastic for curbing one’s boredom, and handmaking a gift for a friend makes it 10 times better!
- Bake goodies (try new cookbook recipes), make Jello, or freeze your own popsicles. Perhaps invest in a shaved ice maker, so your child can slurp down snow cones to cool off from the summer heat.
- Call friends, cousins, and grandparents just to chat. Sometimes our kids need to be encouraged to keep in touch with grandparents. Phone calls are a wonderful way to keep family close (although long-distance conversations are not as special as in-person visits).
- Read books and magazines. Discover a new series that your child might enjoy reading. We’ve indulged in many literary collections, such as A Series of Unfortunate Events and Little House on the Prairie.
- Practice doing creative hairstyles (braids, twists, updos, blowouts, Kool-Aid hair dye, etc.). It’s always nice to change things up with a fresh look!
- Go through old keepsakes (photo albums, art projects). My kids love pulling out their baby books and photos and walking down memory lane.
- Nothing better than writing, right? So many options to write – in a journal, a letter to a friend, creative writing (poetry, stories, songs, etc.).
- Play with the toys and activities that you already have, such as old birthday gifts that have never been opened, etc.
- Tell clean jokes and riddles. Get your child a new joke book if they need to add some new ones to their repertoire. (Warning: You may be stuck hearing corny jokes for the next few weeks.)
- Strengthen the brain by working on Rubik’s cubes, jigsaw puzzles, a Lego kit, sticker books, word searches, and crossword puzzles. There’s nothing wrong with keeping that mind sharp!
- Play board games. There are thousands of options from which to choose, so discover something new, or stick with a tried-and-true favorite such as Scrabble.
- Paint, draw, or do a torn paper art collage. Maybe you’ll end up with new pieces for your closet!
- Invite a friend over. Dessert, movie, sleepover? Sounds like a plan! Okay, well the "movie" isn't non-screen time, but it beats playing video games all day.
- Listen to music. Find playlists that match your child’s interests, and have some music appreciation time.
- Practice a musical instrument. Your child can take private lessons or group lessons in the neighborhood, or learn beginner techniques online.
- Roller skate in the living room. If you have hard floors that won’t get damaged with skates, and a bit of extra space, your child might enjoy skating back and forth throughout the living room / foyer areas.
- Plant a small garden. With a packet of seeds or some small herb seedlings, your child can have a basic garden growing in no time! We’ve been pleased with our City Pickers kit that makes caring for plants a simple ordeal.
- Listen to an audiobook or child-appropriate podcast. Look for some suitable ones on Spotify, Amazon, or YouTube.
- Re-enact favorite scenes from movies. Or… spare the energy of making costumes and acting out stage directions, and perform a reader’s theater script instead!
- Have a dance party. Throw on the energetic tunes and encourage all family members to participate.
- Try clay-sculpting. Your child can use Crayola air-dry clay and easily create fun projects.
- Keep it classic with pretend play time (toy cars, dolls, and building blocks). Magna-Tiles and Fort Magic sets have kept my children occupied for hours!
- Construct paper airplanes. Try different designs and see which ones fly the farthest. If the idea of paper airplanes isn’t setting off a spark in your child’s eyes, maybe origami will!
- Teach the dog (or cat) a new trick! Roll over. Sit. Stay. Jump through a hula hoop! There’s always something else to teach!
- Take extended bubble baths. Use ALL THE THINGS (be sure your child isn’t allergic). Bath soaps and bombs, plus play interesting music while your child enjoys her bathtime.
- Spend time doing summer enrichment workbooks. Find some with colorful fonts and interesting layouts to make it fun! We love the Brain Quest ones!
