If you’re a parent then I am sure you have heard it a hundred times. You know what I’m talking about. The dreaded “Moooooom! I’m bored” cry from a kid with a whole lot of energy and nowhere for it to go. It’s usually accompanied by aimless circles around the living room, a trail of destruction following behind them, and then the inevitable flop onto the couch in exasperation. I myself have seen it more times that I would like, and I know that with Spring Break here and school quickly coming to an end I need to kick things into high gear and do some planning for the long Summer days ahead. You already know we love adventure, but not every day can be spent on the go. Sometimes it’s nice to just keep things low key, and that’s where boredom strikes. So how do we keep kids from crawling the walls on those long days? Here are a few ideas that won’t cost you anything!
Go on a nature trek.
Did you know that there is a whole world to be explored right outside your back door? All you need is some investigative tools, an open mind and a little research to lead kids on a one-of-a-kind back yard adventure to discover bugs, flowers, and SO much more. Judah is super into bug collecting right now, so he loves going outside and seeing what he can find. Exploring nature is a great way to encourage curiosity and imagination, and it can be a fabulous learning experience too.
Start a weekly hike.
You don’t have to go far to go get in the middle of nature. Is there a State Park near you? A nature trail? Look up popular walking trails in your area and you are bound to find one that is just right for your family. You will be spending time together outdoors, and working out at the same time!
Have a car wash.
Kids love water play, and my kids LOVE helping us wash our cars. Not only do you get some fun quality time in, but you also come out with a sparkling ride! Sure, it might not go quickly, but isn’t the experience what counts? It also makes them feel like part of the team, like they are playing an important part in the day to day tasks.
Share a snack.
I am usually working when Judah is home from school, and most of the time I just pop my head out of my office to say hi and then go back to work. It isn’t something I really want to be doing, but I struggle with balancing it all because I also want to spend time with him. So, I have started setting aside some time each day to have an afternoon snack with him. We talk about his day, we cuddle, and I know that we both love it. It doesn’t seem like much, but a few minutes here and there can mean the world to a child. It turns out that when I come back to my computer afterwards, I’m much more productive because of my little break. Who knew, right?
