100 Things to Do When Kids Complain They Are Bored

“I’m bored, Mum!”

You’re trying to finish an important email, and there it is again, that familiar whine echoing through the house. You’ve just spent a fortune on new toys, the craft cupboard is bursting, and yet here we are. Sound familiar?  That’s why I’ve created this ultimate list of things ahead of the summer holiday for when kids complain they are bored and so that screen time can be managed effectively.

I’ve been there myself as a mum, and over my 20 years in education, I’ve heard this complaint more times than I care to count. The truth is, boredom isn’t always a bad thing – it’s actually crucial for developing creativity and independence. But when you’re juggling work, household tasks, and parenting, you need practical solutions, not psychology lectures.

Let’s be honest: thinking of engaging activities on the spot when you’re already stretched thin is exhausting. That’s why I’ve compiled this comprehensive list of 100 activities that actually work. These aren’t just time-fillers; they’re opportunities for growth, learning, and genuine engagement.

Why ‘Boredom’ Isn’t Always What It Seems

Before we dive into the solutions, let’s address what’s really happening when children complain of boredom. After years of working with families, I’ve noticed that “I’m bored” often means:

• “I want your attention”
• “I feel overwhelmed by too many choices”
• “I need structure or direction”
• “I’m used to constant stimulation”

Understanding this helps us respond more effectively. Sometimes children need our presence, not just activities. Other times, they need gentle guidance to rediscover independent play.

The ‘Boredom Jar’ Solution

Here’s a strategy that’s transformed countless households: create a ‘boredom jar’. Print out activities from this list, cut them into strips, and pop them in a jar. When boredom strikes, your child can pick one out and have a go.

This approach works because:

• It removes the burden of constant decision-making from you
• Children feel empowered to solve their own problem
• It introduces an element of surprise and choice
• It prevents the endless “I don’t want to do that” responses

Activities That Actually Engage: The Complete List for When Kids Complain they are Bored

Be Useful: Building Life Skills

1. Hoover and tidy your bedroom – Teaching responsibility whilst solving your problem too
2. Make your mum or dad a cup of tea – A lovely gesture that builds practical skills
3. Put clothes that are too small into a charity box – Decluttering with purpose (Find local charity shops)
4. Organise schoolwork into folders, sharpen pencils, check pens work – Preparation that pays dividends
5. Gather plastic bags for recycling – Environmental awareness in action (Find recycling points)
6. Dust screens of all digital devices – Practical tech maintenance
7. Check light bulbs and smoke alarms work – Safety awareness building
8. Audit savings and consider earning opportunities – Financial literacy starts young (Money and Pensions Service for kids)

Creative and Artistic Pursuits

9. Take a chair outside and sketch your home – Observational drawing skills
10. Create a floral arrangement from garden finds – Nature-based creativity (Flower pressing guide)
11. Learn to knit or crochet – Traditional skills with modern relevance (Free knitting patterns)
12. Design a new superhero and illustrate their comic adventures – Storytelling through art
13. Try to copy a famous painting – Art appreciation and technique practice (Famous paintings online)
14. Learn calligraphy and design family place settings – Beautiful practical skill (Calligraphy basics)
15. Create a family art gallery on a wall or washing line – Celebrating creativity
16. Make origami pigeons – Precision and patience building (Origami instructions)
17. Learn to draw a grumpy frog – Fun character drawing (Drawing tutorials)
18. Turn household objects into unusual photo subjects – Creative photography

Physical Activities and Outdoor Adventures

19. Practice handstands and cartwheels – Physical confidence building
20. Do some garden skipping – Classic playground fun
21. Rake leaves outside – Seasonal helping with exercise
22. Add bird food to feeders – Wildlife care and observation (RSPB bird feeding guide)
23. Create a family obstacle course – Physical challenge design
24. Find a nice tree to climb – Calculated risk-taking and adventure (Tree climbing safety)
25. Create a den inside or outside – Imagination and construction skills
26. Learn to juggle three soft balls – Coordination and persistence (Juggling tutorial)
27. Go litter-picking locally – Community service with immediate impact (Keep Britain Tidy)
28. Take the dog for a walk – Responsibility and exercise combined

Learning and Discovery

29. Learn to touch type – Essential digital age skill (Free typing practice)
30. Research three interesting jobs – Career exploration and communication (Career profiles)
31. Learn useful phrases in a new language – Global awareness building (Duolingo free app)
32. Create your own weather station – Scientific observation skills (Weather watching guide)
33. Learn basic first aid – Life-saving practical knowledge (British Red Cross children’s first aid)
34. Research a country you know nothing about – Geographic and cultural learning (CIA World Factbook)
35. Learn to identify common trees – Nature knowledge for life (Woodland Trust tree identification)
36. Choose and complete a maths challenge – Problem-solving practice (NRICH maths challenges)
37. Learn an unusual word daily – Vocabulary expansion (Merriam-Webster word of the day)
38. Research family history and create a family tree – Heritage connection (FamilySearch free genealogy)
39. Learn a poem by heart – Memory training and cultural appreciation
40. Check what happened on this day in history – Historical awareness (BBC On This Day)

Technology and Digital Skills

41. Create a song using GarageBand – Music production basics
42. Research local digital device capabilities – Technology optimization
43. Double-check social media privacy settings – Digital citizenship
44. Use online maps to plan dream road trips – Geography and planning skills
45. Create family photo albums or calendars – Digital organisation and memories
46. Plan online family food shopping within budget – Practical maths and planning
47. Research podcasts for your age group – Media literacy and discovery
48. Take and edit photos of beautiful outdoor scenes – Photography and digital skills

Social and Community Connection

49. Call elderly relatives with news and questions – Intergenerational connection
50. Put postcards through neighbours’ doors checking they’re okay – Community care
51. Bake a cake for a neighbour – Kindness in action
52. Create treasure hunts for younger children – Leadership and creativity
53. Write letters to care home residents – Empathy and communication
54. Plan family movie nights with posters and snacks – Event organisation
55. Host family meetings with real agendas – Democratic participation
56. Create family Zoom quiz content – Technology for connection
57. Start a book club with friends – Literature and social skills
58. Teach parents useful apps or computer functions – Reverse learning

Indoor Entertainment and Games

59. Dust off favourite board games – Classic family time
60. Play cards with other bored household members – Social gaming
61. Get binoculars for wildlife spotting – Nature observation
62. Try meditation for children – Mindfulness and calm
63. Create your own jokes and test them – Humour development
64. Try online exercise or yoga with parents – Shared fitness
65. Learn several musical instrument chords – Musical foundation building
66. Complete design STEM challenges – Engineering thinking
67. Do quick punctuation quizzes – Grammar skill building
68. Try amazing online quizzes – Knowledge testing and fun

Food and Cooking Adventures

69. Learn to make bread from scratch – Traditional skill with immediate rewards
70. Research and cook homemade pizza – Culinary creativity
71. Plan and prepare family meals – Nutrition and planning
72. Bake treats for sharing – Generosity through cooking

Planning and Goal Setting

73. Write a two-year master plan – Long-term thinking
74. Research SMART goals and create personal ones – Achievement planning
75. Develop family fitness regimes – Health planning
76. Create curriculum vitae listing achievements – Self-reflection and preparation
77. Plan visits to local attractions – Cultural exploration
78. Plan geocaching adventures – Modern treasure hunting
79. Design bedroom renovations in Lego or Minecraft – Creative planning
80. Write daily diary entries – Reflection and memory keeping

Reading and Literature

81. Read book chapters consistently – Literary development
82. Check BookTrust’s 100 best children’s books – Literature exploration
83. Write stories or poems for competitions – Creative writing
84. Learn about Poetry by Heart competitions – Performance and memory
85. Research and discuss philosophy videos – Critical thinking

Kindness and Gratitude

86. Write gratitude lists and thank you postcards – Positive psychology
87. Research and support chosen charities – Social consciousness
88. Write about proudest achievements – Self-recognition
89. Ask friends about favourite relaxation methods – Peer learning
90. Research charity volunteer opportunities – Community involvement

Entertainment and Culture

91. Ask family about greatest musicians and listen – Musical education
92. Find best sporting moments and watch together – Shared cultural experiences
93. Browse National Geographic photos of the day – Visual inspiration
94. Research Time Magazine’s influential people – Current affairs awareness
95. Entice parents to play your video games – Shared gaming experiences
96. Check out BBC Ten Minute Arts and Crafts – Quick creative projects

Reflection and Self-Care

97. Think of five favourite relaxation methods – Self-awareness building
98. Reflect on news consumption habits – Media awareness
99. Write poems about feelings or memories – Emotional expression
100. Create playlists of family favourite songs – Musical memory making

Making It Work: Practical Implementation

Age-Appropriate Adaptation

Ages 5-8: Focus on activities 1-30, with adult supervision for cooking and outdoor activities Ages 9-12: Most activities work, with guidance for technology and social media tasks Ages 13+: Full list applies, with emphasis on independence and responsibility

Setting Up for Success

Create the right environment:

• Designate specific areas for different activities
• Keep basic supplies readily available
• Allow for mess and imperfection
• Celebrate effort over outcome

Establish clear expectations:

• Some activities are independent, others need adult input
• Not every activity will appeal to every child
• It’s okay to abandon activities that aren’t working
• The goal is engagement, not perfection

When Activities Don’t Work

If your child consistently rejects suggestions, consider:

• Are they seeking attention rather than activity?
• Do they need help starting rather than choosing?
• Are they overwhelmed by choices?
• Would they benefit from structured routine instead?

Sometimes the solution isn’t another activity – it’s connection, rest, or simply accepting that some degree of boredom is normal and healthy.

The Long-Term Benefits

These activities aren’t just boredom busters; they’re building blocks for:

• Independence and self-reliance
• Creative problem-solving skills
• Confidence in trying new things
• Understanding of contribution and responsibility
• Appreciation for simple pleasures
• Connection with family and community

Your Next Steps

Start small. Don’t try to implement everything at once. Choose 10-15 activities that appeal to your child’s interests and your family’s situation. Create your boredom jar, explain the system, and be prepared to offer gentle encouragement rather than enforcement.

Remember, the goal isn’t to eliminate boredom entirely – it’s to help children develop resources for managing it independently. Some of my most creative students have told me their best ideas came from those moments of apparent ‘nothingness’.

The Bottom Line

Boredom complaints are opportunities in disguise. They’re chances to build independence, creativity, and problem-solving skills. By providing structure and suggestions rather than constant entertainment, we’re giving children tools they’ll use throughout their lives.

Don’t feel guilty about not being your child’s constant entertainment director. You’re teaching them something far more valuable: how to find interest, purpose, and joy in the world around them.

At Academic Success, I’ve seen how these simple strategies transform family dynamics. Children become more independent, parents feel less pressured, and everyone discovers new interests and abilities.

What specific boredom challenges are you facing with your child? Every family’s situation is unique, and sometimes the best guidance comes from discussing your particular circumstances.

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Reena Damani is the founder of Academic Success, with over 20 years of experience helping children aged 3-11 build strong foundations and reach their potential. She has guided hundreds of families through educational challenges and continues to support families across the UK in their learning journeys.

Related Resources:

• Building Independent Learning Skills
• Summer Learning Loss
• Growth Mindset for Children

Useful Links:

• BookTrust’s 100 Best Children’s Books
• BBC Ten Minute Arts and Crafts
• National Geographic Photo of the Day
• Philosophy Foundation Videos
• Poetry by Heart Competition
• Time Magazine’s Most Influential People

Have you tried any of these activities with your children? I’d love to hear about your experiences and any creative adaptations you’ve discovered. Share your stories in the comments below – they might inspire other families facing similar challenges.