Pinterest has plenty of great lists to work from, or you can come up with your own. Still stuck for options? Get ChatGPT to whip up a custom scavenger hunt from scratch that relates to your children or key rooms in your home!
2. Host a home movie marathon (pyjamas and popcorn compulsory)
Spend quality time with your children and introduce them to the world of cinema with a home movie marathon, complete with cosy PJs and popcorn! You can even pull the couch cushions onto the floor or bring a mattress into the living room to create a special cinema experience. Or, if you’re looking to go all out, bring it outside with picnic rugs, a spare white sheet, speakers and a projector for a movie under the stars.
3. Watch home movies or go through your old photos
Nothing says nostalgia quite like going throw old home movies, videos and photos – plus the children will love it just as much as you do! Create a special viewing experience by projecting your phone onto the TV and get ready to travel back in time and relive special moments unique to your family.
4. Create an at-home tennis court
Draw a chalk ‘tennis court’ on your driveway and pull out your old rackets (or borrow some from friends). No rackets? Handball is your best bet. If you don’t have a driveway, masking tape on the floor works just as well!
5. Build a cubby house with blankets and chairs
Let your children’s imaginations run wild and build their dream cubby house with spare blankets, couches and chairs from around the house. Bonus points for fairy lights and cushions for an extra special touch!
4. Make a DIY putt-putt course in your backyard or living room
Find some children’s golf clubs at your local dollar store or retail store and purchase a couple of golf balls. Then create an at-home putt putt course with a mug lying on its side as the par finish point.
5. Put on a LEGO competition to see who can produce the best build
Get out your at-home LEGO sets and let your little ones build whatever their heart desires! Or, if you really want to set a challenge, create themed rounds with a timer to keep in the competition theme.
6. Enjoy a picnic dinner outside, or on the floor indoors
Create the ultimate at-home destination for any meal of the day with a picnic. Whether you have space in the backyard or clear out the living room to make memories, your children will love the meal-time switch-up!
7. Find a pen pal using one of the many pen pal networks out there
Help develop your child’s writing and communication skills by starting up a pen pal through a dedicated program within your local community.
8. Attempt a science experiment using items in your pantry
There are so many simple science experiments you can create with ingredients that can be found at home! Try DIY bath bombs, the classic coke and mentos trick or even the magic milk experiment with m&ms and some milk on a plate. These simple tricks will have your little ones mind blown!
9. Have a game night
Nothing is as exciting as competing against family and friends in a fun board game. Make a whole night out of playing your children’s favourite board games and have them entertained for hours!
10. Learn something new – it could be a language, a card game or a craft activity
There isn’t an easier way to make your children quiet down and concentrate than by introducing them to something they haven’t learned before. Whether it’s simple phases of a different language, a new puzzle or game or even a simple craft activity, watch their creativity shine through!
11. Declutter, but make a game out of it
Want to get your space clean and tidy? Nothing will do this faster than making your very own cleaning game with your children. Time them as they clean up their own bedrooms or play spaces and watch the race against the clock to get their space tidy the fastest!
12. Make vision boards or goal collages out of old magazines
If you have a stack of old newspapers and magazines lying around that you don’t know what to do with, make it into a crafternoon! Set out colouring pens, textas, glue, glitter, string and other craft supplies with a poster board or piece of paper and let your little ones scrapbook to their heart’s content. Make it more intentional by setting goals for their vision boards before they start bringing their DIY to life.
13. Bake or cook something delicious
Let your child develop their hand-eye coordination as well as literary skills by reading a new recipe and learning how to bake a simple treat. This could be banana bread, a simple cupcake, carrot cake or even pancakes and allow them to take the role of head chef as you support and assist where needed.
14. Teach your children the games you used to play as a child
Children love to learn about their parents and what they did for fun when they were their age. Give them insight into your past with retro games inspired by your own childhood. From What’s the Time Mr. Wolf to musical chairs, have a blast teaching them some new games you used to love.
15. Save water from your showers for a backyard water fight
Teach your child about water conservation and sustainability practices by intentionally setting water aside from showers for a backyard water fight. Get some simple water guns from a retailer near you and save your water fight for a hot summer’s day.
16. Throw your own disco
Children love to get up and dance on any occasion, so throw them their very own private disco at home. Whether it’s playing music through a speaker and dancing around or adding a disco ball and lights to a dark room to bring the disco atmosphere to life!
17. Make nature-inspired crafts with items found in your backyard
Don’t have many craft supplies on hand but still want to keep them busy? Try taking inspiration from the objects that can be found in your own backyard. From creating rock people to stick and leaf wands, there are so many ways to repurpose natural items into DIY crafts.
18. Pull out the pens and paints to get crafty indoors – Pinterest offers thousands of ideas
With some colourful pens and paints the world is really your oyster when it comes to kid’s crafts. Some ideas we love include origami, toilet-roll binoculars, paper aeroplanes, paper weaving and more!
19. Make a movie! Your smartphone offers plenty of apps to make it a Hollywood hit
Whether your little ones want to star in their own music video with apps like VideoStar or want to be actors in their own short films, allow them to bring their own vision to life!
20. Write your own book – better yet, make it a series!
Let your little ones become authors for the day and create their own books using paper, pens and a stapler to bind their picture-perfect books together! They can even draw custom illustrations for each page.
21. Play dress-ups or put on a fashion show
Allow your little ones to dress up with your own clothes or costumes they already have and put on a fun fashion show with music and lights. Allow their creativity to flow into their model walks to help them pick the perfect pose to strike at the end of the runway (aka. Hallway).
22. Make an ‘I’m bored’ jar with the items on this list written on separate pieces of paper
Never hear the words ‘i’m bored’ again as you use their ideas for inspiration next time boredom strikes. Let your little ones write down their own ideas for staying entertained and inspired. Then, every time you hear those little words, make them pull an idea out of the jar.
We hope some of these boredom busters kept your children entertained! If you have tried some of our suggestions, be sure to tag us and show us your creations for a chance to be featured @edgeearlylearning.
