"MOM!! I'm BORED?!" she screamed at me while simultaneously sliding backward of the couch like a worm. She'd screamed this at me several times over the last few minutes. Like I had the solution to the all encompassing struggle to find fun things to do in the summer at home.
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"Why don't you go outside?" I responded calmly. "Or read a book." Obviously not the right answer because she dramatically plopped over on to her stomach and sighed...heavily while saying, "Those are so BORING!"
This had become our daily tradition. My 5 year old grumpily walking around telling me she was bored and me giving suggestions on what she might be able to do.
Don't get me wrong. I realized that I was to blame as much as she was. I'd spend a few minutes each day playing a game, drawing a picture or reading a story with her.
However, I couldn't spend every second entertaining her. There were bills to be paid, appointments and phone calls to make and chores to be done. She couldn't seem to fill the other minutes of the day without someone completely guiding her efforts.
However, I couldn't spend every second entertaining her. There were bills to be paid, appointments and phone calls to make and chores to be done. She couldn't seem to fill the other minutes of the day without someone completely guiding her efforts.
I needed a solution. One in which she still had to make a decision but I could direct in an appropriate and less dramatic fashion.
That's where the "Mom! I'm bored!" chart was created.
I've seen loads of boredom buster type charts or summer bucket lists with lots of summer ideas for kids. We've even got our own list of 100 Things to Do This Summer. However, these charts often include lots of activities that must be done outside the home. I needed help IN my home!
The Mom, I'm Bored chart is specifically for activities that can be done at home with little to no preparation.
The Mom, I'm Bored chart is specifically for activities that can be done at home with little to no preparation.
Fun Things to Do In the Summer At Home
To start, I needed a list of summer ideas for kids that were just for staying home. I did some list writing and looked online and came up with these 65+ ideas.
You can download the entire list of fun things to do in the summer at home from my google drive, or you can just print this post and save the list.
- Slip and slide
- Find shapes in the clouds
- Make a movie
- Blow bubbles
- Make popcorn with “extras”
- Play restaurant
- Put on a puppet show
- Make mud pies
- Help pick veggies in the garden
- Make ice fossils
- Play hopscotch
- Clean your bedroom
- Give your dolls a bath
- Make finger puppets
- Make cards
- Have a bath
- Have a tea party
- Make homemade Popsicle
- Do a sewing project
- Sweep the floor
- Clean the porch and driveway
- Have a race
- Make pom pom monsters
- Clean the toilets
- Decorate a plant pot
- Make a paper boat
- Mop the kitchen floor
- Make pom poms
- Learn a magic trick
- Make pancakes
- Make wrapping paper
- Create a wind sock
- Play football
- Play baseball
- Read to siblings
- Do a puzzle
- Stack cups
- Make puppets
- Play a board game
- Play a card game
- Write a letter to someone
- Play I Spy
- Make a play dough project
- Play basketball
- Have a scavenger hunt
- Have a squirt gun fight
- Wash bikes
- Paint with chalk
- Paint rocks
- Build a fort
- Fly kites
- Go fishing
- Set up a lemonade stand
- Hunt for bugs
- Play on the trampoline with sprinklers
- Take a nap
- Go on a nature walk
- Paint art
- Tie-Dye t-shirts
- Do a sticker book
- String beads or noodles
- Listen to an audio book
- Listen to music quietly
- Trace shadows (yourself and other objects)
- Bake cookies
- Make a marble run
- Have an outdoor dance party
- Sing karaoke
- Play hide and seek
- Draw with sidewalk chalk
- Look for stars in the night sky
- Have a water balloon toss
Printable Summer Sticky Notes
I decided the best way to present these summer boredom busters was to print them on sticky notes. This way I could add a couple activities to the Mom! I'm bored chart each day. I could moderate which activities to share which days based on our own needs.
For instance, on a swim lesson day the activities would be different than on a day we stayed home all day. That's why these printables are great. You have total freedom to customize it to your own family and needs.
Materials Needed
- Printable Sticky Note Template - download here
- Sticky Notes
- Mom, I'm Bored Chart
- Laminating machine
Print the Sticky Note Template with outline.
Step 2
Add sticky notes to template and load in printer. Print 6 sticky notes and activities at a time.
Print and laminate the Mom I'm Bored chart.
Step 4
Tape a ziploc bag to the back of your chart.
Place extra sticky notes in the ziploc bag.
Hang up your chart and get ready for some fun summer activities!! That photo is from our summer family command center. It is pretty amazing so go check it out.
I have high hopes that this will prevent the total collapse of our summer vacation from couch worm tantrums. I also look forward to having a way to redirect behaviors with some creative activities for all of my children.
Will it be a win? They've already commented on a few of these fun things to do in the summer at home and summer break hasn't even started yet! I call that winning.
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