Summer vacation is right on the horizon and parents everywhere are bracing themselves for the inevitable complaints by children that they are bored. Fortunately for parents, it is easy to arm yourself with a list of ideas to chase away those summer boredom blues. Here are three proven ideas to try when your kids are bored at home this summer.
Build a Fort
Rainy summer days do not have to spell boredom. You can still salvage the day and have a blast even if you have to stay indoors. Building a blanket fort is a great way to engage young children and encourage creativity. After you have picked out your space, gather up as many blankets and pillows as you can and start building. Supplies such as safety pins, string, and clothespins can help to make the process easier and provide for a sturdier fort. Once the fort is done, be sure to plan fun activities to take place inside the fort. Ideas include movie watching, snacks, and book reading.
Pull Out the Craft Supplies
Getting crafty is a perfect way to spend a summer day at home. You do not even need to spend a lot of money at specialty craft stores. There are tons of craft ideas with old school supplies that you can teach your kids to do when they complain of being bored. Get creative and try to repurpose and reuse old things around the house for even more fun. Crafting inspires creative thinking and also is an ideal way to build fine motor skills.
Host a Lemonade Stand
This quintessential summer activity never goes out of style. This classic tradition boasts an abundance of benefits. Not only is it a fun activity for children, but it also teaches them valuable lessons about entrepreneurship and customer service. You can enhance the educational experience even more by getting your children involved in the marketing and promotion of the event. Be sure to have them help make the drinks, set up the stand, and count the money. They will take more ownership over the venture if they are involved in all aspects of the planning and execution.
By thinking outside of the box, you can brainstorm numerous ways to entertain your children once the boredom sets in. Fun and cheap activities are everywhere; the trick is not to overthink it. With a little creativity, this can be the best summer yet!