Submitted by Sarah Morris on behalf of Primrose Schools–
Preschools with an emphasis on holistic education.

Boredom can strike kids quickly, especially when autumn is here and winter close behind. To keep them away from TV and video games, have some indoor activities ready for when the weather starts cooling down. Keep your child’s imagination active and growing with these 10 ideas:

1 – Reading – The most obvious and clear answer to ‘I’m bored’ should always be, “Try reading a book!” If you continue to do that, your children will gain a love of reading. If you are able to, sit down and read with them. With you reading, it will give them a chance to just fantasize about what you are saying and imagine the grand worlds that you two are building together.

2 – A Show! – Kids love to perform, so why not give them the prime opportunity by telling them that tonight you want them to put on a play or talent show! They can be the entire cast, or get their friends involved for a neighborhood party. Help them put together the costumes and props, and watch what happens when they take center stage!

3 – Castles – Have any empty boxes lying around? What about that luggage that has been in the basement for the last six months? Let the kids go nuts by building a castle and decorating it with stickers and markers. (The markers are more for the boxes than the luggage) Building a castle is going to let them imagine that they are royalty, or they are on a quest to fight a dragon.

4 – Hush & Listen – Have everybody be quiet for a short period of time. Ask them what they hear. Build a story out of some of the sounds coming from around your house. Is it just creaking, or is it a ghost?

5 – Sleepover Party – Most parents know what it is like to have a sleepover with all the kids hanging out and getting into mischief in your house, but have you ever had one with your kids? Set up a blanket tent in the living room, watch a movie and cuddle up with popcorn or your favorite snacks. If you want to be real rustic, turn off the power, and make everything be done by flashlight.

6 – A Cardboard Village – Empty cereal boxes, cardboard tubes, and tons of other normal household items can be put together to build a little city right in your kitchen. With kid-safe tools like glue sticks and edge-less scissors, your kids can build you an entire world.

7 – Cooking – Have you ever taught your kids how to make a dish? Sharing time with them in the kitchen is a great way for them to learn the beginnings of a skill while teaching them how to share and work together!

8 – The Notebook – Did you do anything special on your summer vacation? Why not have your child come up with a scrapbook with pictures from old magazines, and drawings. If you have any photos from your time together, then it’ll make it all the more personal to them.

9 – Scavenger Hunt – Write down on notecards some interesting things that you know are in the house somewhere. Have them find them all and the first one done gets a prize!

10 – The Idea Box – When you have time, sit down with your entire family and start to come up with ideas that can be done when the next round of boredom strikes. Put all the ideas down on slips of paper, and when the boredom monster comes looming again, now all you have to do is pick something fun out of the jar. They’ll feel completely involved because it might be their choice that gets picked!

It isn’t hard to branch off of these for more ways to keep your kids occupied in a constructive way. The more quality time spent playing and creating, the more you are helping them develop their imaginations and an appreciation for working together.