It doesn’t take long for my children to tell me they’re bored, especially during the summer. When our days are less scheduled and the kids have way more free time, it’s only a matter of time before I hear… “Mom, I’m bored.”
For many years my response to the “mom, I’m bored” complaint was to pull out our list of chores and start assigning jobs to the kids. However, that did not make me a fun mom. My solution? The I’m bored activity jar keeps kids entertained for hours. One hot summer day I sat down at the dining room table and wrote as many activities as I could think of on index cards.
When I’m involved in a project my default response to the kids is either play a computer game or watch a movie. While an occasional movie or computer game isn’t a bad thing, it can quickly become the default activity in our home and I’d rather my kids do something else.
Bust Boredom with I’m Bored Activity Cards
With the help of my kids, I came up with 85 boredom busting, kid friendly activities. Print your personal copy of the cards on business card sheets (Avery 5371
). If you don’t want to purchase business cards, print on card stock and cut them out yourself. If you plan on using them for several years I recommend laminating the cards.
The activity cards are easy to use. First, cut out the cards and place them in a jar, basket or box. Ask your children to decorate the card container. When your kids are bored ask them to pick a card from the jar.
The card they pick is their activity for the next 30 minutes!
Since life is busy, I’m sharing the activity cards my family created with you. When you download the activity card file you’ll get 85 activity cards along with 15 blank cards. Use the blank cards to add your family’s fun activities. There are indoor and outdoor activities so it might be helpful to use two jars or color code the cards so your kids don’t pick an outdoor activity on a rainy day.
See all of The Happy Housewife’s Free Homeschool Printables here.
Heather says
I am a little afraid to ask, but what is “cornhole”?
TheHappyHousewife says
It is the game where you toss bean bags (filled with corn) into a board with a hole in the middle. 🙂 You play it outside.
Tabitha says
I was going to ask the same thing. 🙂
Lisa says
Can’t believe you haven’t heard of cornhole. I have been told it’s an Indiana game. It is quite addicting as well as an excellent project for kids to sew the bags and use power tools (with supervision of course) to make the boards. Not to mention getting to decorate the boards into whatever theme your family likes. My church even has a set.
Sky says
A corn hole does sound pretty weird! But it is a game were you have a piece of wood with a hole in it and you toss a bean bag into the hole.
Heather says
aka bean bag toss
Tabatha says
Here in central Illinois we call it “bags”. Very addicting, nice game to play when bored! =)
Sarah D. says
Love the cornhole question! I grew up in VT with my parents being from upstate NY and northwest OH. Never heard of cornhole ’til I met my southeastern IN husband and moved down here. You need at least one (most people have two to throw back and forth into, like playing horseshoes) inclined board with a hole in it and dried corn filled bean bags. Just toss the bags at the board and try to get it in the hole! Kids love it. =)
Thanks for the “I’m bored” cards to download! =)
Kathy H says
The card I like best says, “Call Grandma.”
casey says
I chuckled when I read the above comment because when I first moved to NC I had never heard of it either and was a little unsure of what it might be…thinking the worst. lol. CA doesn’t do the cornhole thing much but, now living here I have grown very fond of it!! THis is the greatest idea ever to offer this to families! Thank you!
Dianne says
Hi all – I am from South Africa.
I have downloaded these cards and am looking forward to trying this out with the kids.
I know the game Cornhole – although that is not the name we use – it is very fun.
My kids are going to be so chuffed with me 🙂
Christine says
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
Trina says
Are those their bored faces up there? You have bored princess? That picture is too funny! Thanks Toni! I’m going to give this a go.
Heather says
Thank you so much for sharing your printable list with us! This is my first time visiting your blog. I will definitely add you to my reader. Enjoy your summer!
Lori says
Great idea, I’m saving for later!!!
PJ says
Awesome! I love this! I did something similiar a couple of years back with rewards. But this is PERFECT for the summer. Thanks so much!
Jenn says
I love this!!! Thank you so much for sharing this! What a fun idea.
Mary says
Thanks for sharing your cards! I created a bored bucket for my kids and this helps with more ideas!
Kathy says
I am super glad one of my friends shared this link on Facebook. I am totally going to try this with my kids! Thanks!!
Glenda says
I love this!!! Thanks for sharing! We’ll be making one tomorrow! My son is always “born” LOL 🙂
Jennifer says
Thank you so much! I just made mine in less than 10 minutes! Awesomeness!
Christine Lewis says
I LOVE love LOVE this idea! I was wondering if you minded me bookmarking it on my website. I am trying to come up with a database full of awesome ideas that parents and teachers can use to educate children. While this is not necessarily related to education, I imagine it could be (in some cases). Let me know if it is alright to include a bookmark. Also, if you become a member, and contribute (this bookmark would count), you can earn guaranteed free membership to our site. If and when I get enough traffic, you would also earn Google Ad revenue. Thanks for the idea. I’ll at least be using it at home with my kiddos : ).
TheHappyHousewife says
Christine-
You are welcome to bookmark the site.
Toni
Leisa says
MoneySavingMom sent me here…thanks so much for these cards! My kids have only been out of school for 3 days and already the “I’m bored”” whining has started. I was thinking of making a jar but didn’t have time to think up and print out cards myself…thanks again!
Natasha says
I love this idea. The only thing I will be changing is about half of my cards will be chores. If the kids say they are bored, they will have to gamble and maybe decide they aren’t really bored after all 😉
Carrie says
Haha! Exactly. My kids know that the “b” word is practically a swear word around here. They often repeat my refrain, “Bored people are boring”, and they know if they complain of boredom they’ll get a chore assignment. I’m mean 🙂
Sharalyn says
Yep–When my son complains of being “bored”, I give him a choice of cleaning up the playroom (which is perpetually a mess), cleaning his room (there’s usually *something* to pick up in there), or not telling me he’s bored. 😉 9/10 times, he suddenly can find all kinds of things to do!
Saartje says
I also think it’s best to let kids figure out what to do by themselves. I’m their mum, not a 24/7 entertainment center! When they’re bored, I tell them to help me with whatever I’m doing, or go outside.
Tara says
Natasha, I love it! lol
Fay says
Natasha, I love the half and half idea! I think they would take the chance a few times and then maybe decide it’s not such a good idea to be “bored”… lol
Lisa Marie Fletcher says
Thanks for the great ideas!! I have to admit, the “I’m bored” phrase is my single most dreaded one of my days. lol. I really appreciate the thought and time that went into this. I’m going to put a post on my Canadian homeschool website to link to here for my readers – this is an important tool to share! 😀
Jade =) says
I used your idea/printables to create a To-Do Jar for my son. Here’s my post on it (giving you credit, of course!). Thanks for the great inspiration! http://heyitsjade.blogspot.com/2011/06/summer-to-do-jar.html
Lisa says
Any chance I could talk to the author of this post about writing some curriculum materials for ReadWriteThink.org?
TheHappyHousewife says
You can email me at thehappyhousewife@gmail.com.
Loretta Rizzo says
We’ve had a prayer jar & chore jar before but never an “I’m Bored” jar. GREAT idea!!!
Colleen says
Thanks! this is great, I am going to make them for the kids I nanny. Seems like an easy way to keep kids entertained, even the process of picking a new activity will help shake boredom =)
Caroline says
What a great idea! Thank you for sharing this with us!
Chris says
My boys made up their own box of summer activities last year to help them battle boredom. I will add some of these to their list. But you definitely need to include chores. Moms shouldn’t have to do all the work!
TheHappyHousewife says
I didn’t add chores because chores are something my children do every day, not just when they are bored. 🙂 We use Motivated Moms to track chores and everyone takes daily assignments.
Allie O says
I’m with Chris! 🙂 We’ve done it w/chores before- but never with fun stuff. Great idea, Toni. Thanks!
Rebekah says
Great idea! Thanks! I needed this!!
Alison says
Thank you! We have 2 boys (4 & 1 1/2) so here’s a few extra ideas on how we customized it for us. 1. Make Dinner- mixing bowl, wooden spoons, felt play food, etc. 2. Water Glitter Bag- ziploc bag filled partially with water; add glitter, foam shapes, & random objects; squeeze out excess air. They can make the objects swirl around as they play with the bag. 3. Lunch Bag Puppets. 4. What is it? – put a mystery item in a lunch bag. Without looking they can use their hand to try to guess the object. 5. Balls in a Bowl- tossing game. 6. Make a Hat- paper plate, cut out circle, decorate brim. 6. Animal Train- use empty cardboard box. I used an empty strawberry container, cut lid off then used yarn to connect the cars. 7. Babygate Volleyball- put up a babygate in a hallway, give them a beach ball to toss. OR- put a babygate a foot from a bedroom door, close the door. 4yr old threw a beachball so it would bounce back, 1 1/2 yr old just placed other balls over gate & reached under to get the ball.
Alison says
Another idea- color code your activities. Yellow can be for outside, blue for kids only, green for everybody, etc. That way if I need to get stuff done I can put only blue activities in the jar or if it’s too hot outside I can remove the yellow.
Courtney (WomenLivingWell) says
This is a GREAT list!!! Thank you!
Courtney
Vanessa says
I love this idea!
Gabe says
This is a great idea! I’ve got a bunch of projects I’m working on this summer (growing a baby due in August, preparing for a move in September and all things related to such events!), so I put together “Summer School” for my kids. It all requires very little from me (so I can rest/work on projects), but will keep the kids busy all summer! I’ve set some educational goals (with incentives to keep them going), and planned simple activities and crafts to keep all six kids learning, active and having fun!
Valerie says
Need one for teens!
Tracy Richardson says
I may be the meanest mom to speak yet, but during the summer, we don’t completely forego the schoolwork. I am a homeschool mom, and in order to avoid the “summer brain drain”, we do an hour of schoolwork and at least a half hour of reading each day. This keeps them sharp and at least fills some of our time. Love the ideas posted on here for boredom busters, though.
Jamie @ hands on : as we grow says
What a great idea! I keep thinking this is something I’ll do when the kids get a little older – but I could definitely do it now too! No need to wait 🙂 I’ll have to come up with a list suitable for their age. Come over to It’s Playtime and link this up! Definitely love these ways to play!
Monique Bradford says
Thank you! I can’t wait to start using the Mommy I’m Bored Jar! What a wonderful idea!
Geraldine Erikson says
I love this and we will be making it today. Thank you for the printables. I have a son who uses the “B” word so much I outlawed it so he now says “I am Plank” the curse of a smart creative kid with a good sense of humor.
Kali says
I love this idea. I strongly believe in creating new ideas for children to use their brain instead of playing video games or watching tv when they are bored. Although I do not have children yet I will remember this one the first time I hear my child say, “Im bored mom.”
Charmin says
Toni,
Thanks so much for sharing this! I’ll be sharing this with my two boys for certain this summer!
I also loved everyone’s suggestions and comments about what else to add — especially customizing it for boys (thanks Alison!).
Have a beautiful day!
melissa says
Do you ever have kids just say that they are Bored, just so that they can pick an activity?
TheHappyHousewife says
Yes, all the time. 🙂
kp says
Thanks for sharing this great list! And thanks for adding the paper cutter guide lines =)
Kelly @ IdealistMom.com says
Thank you for sharing your list! I’m making a bored jar right now. 🙂