As a result of the pandemic, I’ve spent this past year trying to combat boredom while we’re all stuck at home. I get it. I’m bored too. I want something fun and exciting to do. I want to go back to Disneyland and Legoland and the airport as well, but it’s just not an option right now and I’m only slightly more mentally aware of that than my 8 year old son. Though I don’t have the luxury of expecting someone to entertain me when I’m bored, here are a few things to stop boredom in kids.
In the first month of Distance Learning, it was a mad dash to push any type of unconventional teaching toward JT at rapid speed. I posted numbered flashcards all over one wall to turn it into an interactive Nerf math battle arena. I pulled all of the stemware out of my cupboards and filled them with varying amounts of water and food coloring to create some musical xylophone fun. I even bought a bag of lemons just to slice them in half for science experiments involving baking soda, vinegar, and food coloring. If pinterest had a project we could do with household items, we did it!
In addition to the activities that needed adult supervision, sometimes I needed JT to keep himself busy without my involvement because I still needed to work from home in order to maintain my WFH job and continue making money and keep a roof over our heads and food in our bellies. JT has been a voracious reader since he learned it was a quiet activity he enjoyed by himself from the comfort of his own room. His recent obsession is graphic novels disguised as books, but if it gives both of us a quiet break, I’m all for it. He loves Dogman and Big Nate and the My Life As A… and Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. He can reread those books over and over without getting bored of them at all. It amazes me!
Do your kids ever have the audacity to come to you with the phrase, “I’m bored,”? Mine does and it used to get me so worked up until I finally realized there was something I could do to put an end to it. JT loves puzzles and mind teasers and anything that puts him to the test to solve or work through or figure out. Giving him those kind of activities also helps him develop more resilience and the ability to push through when things get tough. It also helps to build his confidence once he figures something out and feels a sense of pride for all the hard work paying off.
I found a bunch of little fidget toys online that were good for kids with sensory issues in maintaining focus in the classroom. Sometimes, for kids who struggle with distractions or the ability to sit still for long periods of time, it’s helpful for them to work with something in their hands so that some of their body is still in movement while their brain takes in what it’s supposed to be focusing on. JT’s brain and body work this way and I’ve tried a variety of accommodations to make his classroom time feel less like a prison sentence.
I rounded up all the manipulatives and sensory toys and put them in a plastic box with a lid that could easily be stored away or pulled out for use. We call it the “I’m Bored” Box and anytime I hear those dirty words, I simply point to the box and tell JT to grab something out of there. It’s been a lifesaver! I don’t hear that phrase anymore as he knows that the box is an option when I’m not available to interact with him at the time. He still needs reminding every once in a while, but it’s much better than it was just a year ago!
For more Activities and Fun Things to do When Kids Are Bored, check out my recent post on the Zulily blog.