How to Create a Bored Jar For Your Kids (+ Activity Ideas & Printables)

Last updated on November 20th, 2020 at 10:42 pm

The dreaded phrase: “Mom, I’m bored!” 

As summer keeps going and social distancing guidelines continue to be enforced, boredom buster ideas can start to wear thin. It’s getting increasingly harder to find ideas that keep children entertained, ideally while also teaching them some sort of life lesson or new skill.

A bored jar can help fill this need. A bored jar is a jar, box, or tin filled with fun activity ideas that your kids can turn to when they need some inspiration. All you need to get started is a container to put your ideas in! 

Grab a jar, shoebox, coffee tin, or anything else that can hold your activity ideas and let your kids decorate it with paint, markers, and stickers. Then, have them write their name on the jar, or print out a label so they know it’s all theirs. 

Fill the Jar With Activities

Print your bored jar labels (choice of colors and sizes) and activity ideas, including blank activity slips, so you can come up with your own ideas. 

Once you’ve got your jar created, it’s time to fill it with fun activities. You can print out our list of activities below, or write your own on slips of paper or popsicle sticks. The best part: activities can be a mix of traditionally fun activities and educational, crafty, and health-inspired ones. 

1. 30 minutes of TV time
2. Make a pillow fort
3. Finger painting
4. Make masks out of paper plates
5. Draw with your left hand
6. Play dress up (dress-up clothes for kids)
7. Have a picnic
8. Call a relative
9. Make a puppet show with dolls or socks
10. 30 minutes of computer time
11. Draw a constellation
12. Play a board game
13. Pillow fight
14. Play hide-and-seek
15. Play tag
16. Do a handstand
17. Climb a tree
18. Have a dance party
19. Create a time capsule
20. Read for one hour [Also read: Tips for Reading Aloud to Your Kids]
21. One hour of video games
22. Have a thumb wrestling battle
23. Make an obstacle course
24. Learn the alphabet in a different language
25. Play basketball
26. Play soccer
27. Run outside for 15 minutes
28. Play kickball
29. Draw a picture
30. Create your own board game
31. Make paper airplanes
32. Make a collage from magazines [Also read: Magazine I Spy Game With Printable]
33. Do a puzzle
34. Make a musical instrument
35. Draw a comic book
36. Have a crab walk race
37. Watch an educational movie
38. Make slime
39. Learn the alphabet backwards
40. Recreate a classic art piece
41. Plant a seedling
42. Make a scrapbook
43. Go bird watching
44. Write a short story
45. Write a poem
46. Draw your favorite animal
47. Draw the solar system 
48. Ride your bike for one hour
49. Make your family tree
50. Count to 10 in a different language

Adding chores 

If you want, you can even add a few household chores into the bored jar. Consider incentivizing these tasks with treats or prizes, so your kids will be excited to pick one out of the jar. [Also read: Chore Charts for Kids (Free Printables) + Why Kids Need Chores]

1. Wash the car
2. Sweep the kitchen
3. Clean the windows
4. Vacuum the floors
5. Clean the bathroom
6. Clean your bedroom
7. Pull weeds in the garden
8. Sweep the hallway
9. Clean your closet
10. Make your bed

Print your bored jar activity ideas, including blank activity slips here.

Activity Printables 

Activities can be a fun opportunity for your kids to learn new skills. We’ve included some fun, printable activities below.

Plant a Garden

Gardening is a great activity for kids. Not only does it promote a love for the outdoors, but it can also teach kids responsibility and patience. Print out these garden labels and printable growth trackers to add an element of art and care to your garden. Recommended herbs and vegetables for kids: basil, beets, and radishes.

Bury a Time Capsule

To make your own time capsule, first get a tin or box that can withstand being buried, then fill it with fun objects from your current life and this letter to your future self. Decide on a time that your family will dig up the capsule then plant somewhere in your backyard — then enjoy the wait! 

Perform a Puppet Show

A puppet show is a great way to get the family together and allow your kids to be creative. First, have your kids design their own puppets, or grab these printables puppets, then attach them to straws or sticks. Create a makeshift stage from a table or box, and have the family come together to watch your kids perform their own puppet show. 

Refresh the Activities

These bored jars can provide hours of entertainment for your kids. To keep things fresh, consider filling the jar with 20-30 activities at a time, and rotating them out every month. This way, your children will continue to be excited to pick new activities!

Also read —
Family Movie Night Ideas + Create Custom Movie Tickets
Energizing Brain Breaks + a Free Printable
Fun With Food (Free Printable)

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