How To Cure Your Child’s Summer Boredom And Rainy Day Blues
Most of the children are out of school and the long, lazy days of July and August await them. You’ve probably already heard the dreaded phrases “I’m bored” or “There’s nothing to do.” So what can you do to entertain those kids who are bored and don’t know what to do? Here are some helpful ideas to round out those long summer days and heal the rainy day blues.
Bubble fun
A bottle of bubbly liquid will provide hours of laughter and fun. You can buy bubble mix anywhere, but part of the fun of bubbles is making your own. Make your own bubble solution and then blow them out both indoors and outdoors and on calm, windy days. Try our bubble recipe and create a fun bubble machine.
Picnic time
Whether it’s in a park, on the beach, or in your backyard, picnics are so much fun! Bring a picnic basket, cooler, beach bag or cardboard box, large blanket or tablecloth to sit on, recyclable plastic or disposable plates and cups, and sunscreen. Pack non-perishable foods such as pre-packaged beverage cartons, cheese and crackers, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, trail mix, raisins, etc. Be sure to include the special things children need: bubble fluid and wands, butterfly nets, bug jars, sand buckets and shovels, sidewalk chalk, a beach ball, a frisbee and a ball, a bat and a glove.
Water activities
- Provide children with a hose that has a spray bottle and a cloth. Let them wash their toys and other surfaces.
- Fill a small bucket with water. With an old paintbrush, allow children to paint or write with their paintbrush on the sidewalk, steps, etc.
- Hear squeals of laughter as children run through jets of water from a water sprinkler. Connect a garden hose to a sprinkler then turn on the water and let the fun begin.
Cool treats
- Make and serve some fresh sandwiches. Keep grapes, berries, and chunks of cheese on hand in the refrigerator. Let the children prepare their own skewers for a simple lunch (choking hazard, not suitable for children under 3 years old).
- Make popsicles with your child’s favorite fruit juice. Place the juice in an ice cube tray. When the juice is partially frozen, place a stick in each cube.
- Cut a peeled banana in half. Insert a stick into the end of each banana half. Top the bananas with peanut butter and then sprinkle with crispy rice cereal. Dip in chocolate syrup and place on a plate in the freezer for several hours.
- Check out children’s cookbooks at the library and let your kids experiment with making simple meals.
Beach party
Look The little Mermaid movie, and then have a “beach party.” Fill a small “kiddy pool” with water (adult supervision required) and let the kids wear bathing suits, bring beach towels, and play with beach balls. Make our mermaid craft.
Oceans of fun
Learn about ocean animals and keep a variety of craft supplies on hand to make some of our ocean-inspired crafts.
Sun prints
Cut shapes out of paper, spread re-stickable glue on the back of the shapes, and then glue them onto construction paper. Glue the paper to a sunny window, facing out, and leave it for at least a week (longer for greater contrast), and then remove the cutouts.
Buggy for insects
Look for interesting insects in your own backyard or at the local park. Look for insects under rocks, old logs, leaves, and patio planters. Examine them with a magnifying glass. With your young entomologist, identify your findings (have a notebook and crayons handy to make some scientific sketches).
What to do in your local area
Make a list of things to do in your area: visit the zoo, a museum (art, history, science, kids) or a park; go fishing, hiking or biking; take a trip to the local library; go see a play, or better yet, plan your own neighborhood play; or do a community service project like picking up trash or visiting the elderly.