The Original Simple Mom

FEATURED ARTICLE – FEBRUARY 2012

Since we try not to use the phrase â€œIâ€™m bored!â€ in our home, I usually donâ€™t hear my kids complaining about being bored during those long days at home during the winter vacations.Â But I have to admit that weâ€™re still an incredibly normal family. Even without the â€œb-wordâ€ in their vocabulary, there have still been those times when my three children just seemed to be at a total loss for something constructive to do.

A number of years ago I brainstormed with my kids and some of our assorted friends and we came up with a list of 200+ ideas for summertime activities.Â I decided to narrow the list down to just those things that can be done indoors and arenâ€™t weather-dependent for those cold snowy days home from school or during winter vacation times.

You can put each item on this list onto individual pieces of paper, place the papers into a container, and when the children need inspiration for an activity, they can draw out two or three papers and then decide which idea they want to do, either as a group or individually. This method is usually more helpful than giving the kids a huge list of possibilities. By narrowing the choices down to just two or three, itâ€™s easier for the kids to pick out the one that sounds the best to them.

143 INDOOR WINTER BOREDOM BUSTERS for Kids

make paper snowflakes clean out the toy box send virtual greeting cards choose photos for a family calendar have an indoor picnic bake and decorate cut-out cookies go camping in the livingroom clear out your email inbox make a mobile out of found objects (acorns, rocks, branches) write up some New Yearâ€™s Resolutions create a simple Family Tree make sandwiches and cut them out with large cookie cutters play basketball with a wadded up piece of paper and a wastebasket play board games make a tent out of blankets read books make homemade play dough play with play dough write a letter to a relative, friend or pen pal clean bedroom vacuum living room clean bathroom make a craft draw color paint watch a movie write stories use magnifying glass write a play act out a play invent indoor circus acts perform an indoor circus play card games dust the house brush the pet write letters read a magazine play dress-up play Cowboys build a fort in your rooms do a jigsaw puzzle play on the Geosafari play on the computer listen to a story or book on tape do extra schoolwork to get ahead do brain teasers (ie: crosswords, word searches, hidden pictures, mazes, etc.) cook prepare lunch surprise a neighbor with a good deed play store prepare a â€œrestaurantâ€ lunch with menus hold a tea party have a Teddy bear picnic on the floor in the livingroom play with toy cars play dolls play house learn magic tricks put on a magic show make sock puppets put on a puppet show crochet or knit make doll clothes sew buttons in designs on old shirts make bookmarks take a quiet rest time take a shower or bath organize a dresser drawer clean under the bed empty dishwasher vacuum under the couch cushions and keep any change found write these ideas on pieces of paper and pick out one or two to do practice musical instruments perform a family concert teach yourself to play musical instrument (recorder, harmonica, guitar) fold laundry sweep kitchen or bathroom floors vacuum or dust window blinds clean bathroom mirrors clean sliding glass doors copy your favorite book illustration design your own game build with blocks or Legos create a design box (copper wire, string, odds-and-ends of things destined for the garbage, pom-poms, thread, yarn, etc.) have a marble tournament on the livingroom carpet make dessert make dinner give your pet a party have a read-a-thon with a friend or sibling check out a science book and try some experiments make up a story arrange photo albums play hide-and-seek create a symphony with bottles and pans and rubber bands read a story to a younger child string dry noodles or O-shaped cereals into a necklace glue noodles into a design on paper play jacks make up a song make an indoor teepee out of blankets write in your journal play charades make up a story by drawing pictures draw a cartoon strip make a map of your bedroom, house or neighborhood call a friend cut pictures from old magazines and write a story make a collage using pictures cut from old magazines do a secret service for a neighbor plan a treasure hunt make a treasure map make up a â€œBored Listâ€ of things to do plan a special activity for your family search your house for items made in other countries and then learn about those countries from the encyclopedia or online plan an imaginary trip to the moon plan an imaginary trip around the world, where would you want to go write a science-fiction story find a new pen pal make up a play using old clothes as costumes make up a game for practicing math facts have a Spelling Bee make up a game for practicing spelling write newspaper articles for a pretend newspaper put together a family newsletter write reviews of movies or plays or TV shows or concerts you see during the break from school bake a cake bake a batch of cookies decorate a shoe box make a hideout or clubhouse make paper airplanes have paper airplane races learn origami make friendship bracelets for your friends make a wind chime out of things headed for the garbage paint your face braid hair play tag make food sculptures (from pretzels, gumdrops, string licorice, raisins, cream cheese, peanuts, peanut butter, etc.) and then eat it produce a talent show memorize a poem recite a memorized poem for your family

Have fun!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Deborah Taylor-Hough is the mother of three, a full-time college student, a displaced homemaker trying to make ends meet on a limited budget, and the author of several older (but still-in-print) books including the popularÂ Frozen AssetsÂ cookbook series.

NOTE:Â Â Come by andÂ â€œLikeâ€ Debi on Facebook!Â