Tomorrow is the last day of school for most of the schools in our area. My kids are all in school for a half day or less tomorrow and then summer break begins. The other day we talked about all of the things I have been doing around the house to get ready for summer. We talked about making plans, setting rules, setting a summer routine, cleaning things out, planning activities and getting needed supplies. Today we are going to talk a little more about the last two things on that list. Let’s talk about planning activities and getting the needed supplies. Having some “I’m bored!”activities ready to go will save your summer!

The excited happiness of summer break can wear off pretty quickly. Some kids start the “I’m bored!” within a few days. Some kids take a few weeks to get there. My kids take a little longer than a week or two before they utter those dreaded words. I hate hearing those words, they make me a bit crazy. I try my best to have some “I’m bored!” activities planned and ready to go so when I hear those words, I have an answer. You can plan some “I’m bored!” activities ready too – it is easy. They don’t have to be fancy or expensive, they just have to be planned and ready.

Once you’ve planned the activities, get any needed supplies. Get those supplies gathered and put away in an easy place, ready to use. You’ll thank yourself later and be glad you took the time to get ready for summer break when you answer that “I’m bored!” with some “I’m bored!” activities that are ready to go. Here are a three of my favorite and most simple “I’m bored!” activities:

Play-doh
Everybody loves Play-doh. It is a favorite one of the “I’m bored!” activities in my house. Make sure you have fresh Play-doh and some utensils to roll and cut the dough. Make a challenge list and keep it with the Play-doh. The challenge list will give your kids lots of challenges of things to make.

Legos
This is another family favorite when it comes to “I’m bored!” activities. Make sure all of the Legos are gathered and ready to build. Make sure you have enough base plates. Do the same thing as with the Play-doh. Make a challenge list and keep it with the Legos. The challenge list will give your kids lots of challenges of things to make. You can even print the list out and cut it into strips. They pick a challenge to build from a bag or jar. Super fun!

Coloring and Cutting
This is one of the “I’m bored!” activities that is so varied and is different every time. Make sure you have plenty of different art supplies. I try to have crayons, markers, colored pencils, glue sticks, scissors, construction paper and printer paper all the time. Sometimes we add in other mediums and supplies. The kids can make all sorts of cards, décor and more. Have them make cards for neighbors and friends. Have them make décor for the upcoming holiday. Is there someone with a birthday soon? They can make cards, gifts or even décor.

These are just three of the easiest “I’m bored!” activities that I plan for every summer. Are there some that are family favorites in your house? Let us know and you might see them featured in a future blog.