Do you find the long summer holidays a real juggling act? Are you constantly met with the refrain “I’m Bored”? Help is at hand with these 99 entertaining ideas to combat I’m bored this summer, no matter what age your children are. All you need is a box or jar and our free downloadable ideas sheet!

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We were only one wet week into the summer holidays and my girls were already telling me they were bored. So I came up with a novel way to combat their moans. We created an ideas box

We sat down and came up with a list of ideas for things that either they could do on their own or that we could do together, and I threw in a few household chores for good measure.

Then I made them into a handy, printable list, so you can make your own I’m Bored Box this summer!

Entertaining Ideas to Combat “I’m Bored” this Summer

How to create your own “I’m Bored” Box

1. You will need 1 empty tissue box. You could also use a mason jar, just make sure it’s big enough for little hands to reach into. Get your kids to decorate the box.
2. Download and print out out the 99 entertaining ideas to combat I’m bored
3. Use scissors to cut them into individual ideas
4. Add the ideas to the I’m Bored Box (or jar)

And you’re all set. Every time a child utters the magic words, “I’m Bored”, they have to pick an idea from the box and do whatever it says.

With everything from cleaning bedrooms to going for a walk or learning a magic trick to baking fairy cakes on offer, they won’t be bored for long!

Here’s our full list of ideas and of course you could add your own!

1. Bake fairy cakes
2. Draw a picture of your favourite animal
3. Learn how to say Hello in 10 languages
4. Make a suncatcher
5. Make slime
6. Write a story about an astronaut
7. Bike or scoot
8. Play a board game
9. Put on a show
10. Learn a magic trick
11. Make playdough
12. Vacuum your room
13. Clean the windows
14. Read a book
15. Make pizza
16. Crazy dance for 10 minutes
17. Do some chalk drawings
18. Have a picnic in the garden
19. Make s’mores
20. Paint a picture
21. Try knitting something
22. Do a cartwheel or handstand
23. Load / unload the dishwasher
24. Change your bedlinen
25. Make banana bread
26. Do some crafts
27. Call a friend
28. Make a fortune teller
29. Make a smoothie
30. Draw a cartoon
31. Go on a treasure hunt
32. Do some origami
33. Make cookies
34. Make ice-pops
35. Do 100 star jumps
36. Put up the tent in the garden
37. Create an obstacle course
38. 1 hour of TV
39. Cook dinner for the family
40. Wash the car
41. Water the plants
42. Clean the bathroom
43. Do a chore chosen by you
44. Do a puzzle (e.g. a crossword or word search)
45. Do a chore chosen by Mum or Dad
46. Write a Haiku
47. Do a jigsaw
48. Make popcorn
49. Watch your favourite film
50. Research your family tree
51. Take the dog for a walk (or your friend’s dog)
52. Eat a new food
53. Play skittles
54. Create a collage
55. Make an omelette
56. Lay the table for the next meal
57. Make jam
58. Make a video
59. Learn a new recipe
60. Create a home spa
61. Play hide and seek
62. Play hunt the thimble
63. Go on a scavenger hunt
64. Sort out your cuddly toys
65. Think of 5 things you could do
66. Tidy your room
67. Sort out your books
68. Pick 3 things to give to the charity shop
69. Make bubble mix and then make bubbles
70. Practice an instrument
71. Learn some Spanish phrases
72. Draw a self portrait
73. Pick 3 books you no longer read to pass on
74. Jump rope for 2 whole minutes
75. Play a card game
76. Make a fort
77. Build a Lego creation
78. Learn some new jokes
79. Recreate a famous painting
80. Learn a card trick
81. Play a game of Solitaire
82. Plant some seeds
83. Create your own mocktail
84. Make ice cream
85. Make an insect hotel
86. Play a ball game
87. Make a themed music playlist
88. Do some weeding in the garden
89. Have a disco
90. Make garden perfume
91. Plan a round the world trip
92. Take 10 photos of interesting objects
93. Learn to juggle
94. Sharpen all your pencils
95. Be active for 20 minutes
96. Write a letter to a friend or family member
97. Make a dominoes or marble run
98. Build a castle out of playing cards
99. Play pick up sticks
100. Play card games online at Solitaire Bliss

And if you need even more boredom busting ideas:

• 101 of The Best Boredom Busting Ideas for Kids
• 101 Activities the Don’t Involve Screen Time
• 50 Boredom Busting Fun Activities for Kids
• 33 Fun Projects for Kids aged 8-12
• 21 More Fun Projects for Kids aged 8 to 12 Years
• 100 Family Bucket List Ideas
• 101 Free Things to Do With The Kids that Cost Nothing But Time

Have your say! If you have any more ideas you think should go on our I’m Bored box List, please do share them with us in the comments box below.