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.

30 minutes of TV time
Make a pillow fort
Finger painting
Make masks out of paper plates
Draw with your left hand
Play dress up (dress-up clothes for kids)
Have a picnic
Call a relative
Make a puppet show with dolls or socks
30 minutes of computer time
Draw a constellation
Play a board game
Pillow fight
Play hide-and-seek
Play tag
Do a handstand
Climb a tree
Have a dance party
Create a time capsule
Read for one hour [Also read: Tips for Reading Aloud to Your Kids]
One hour of video games
Have a thumb wrestling battle
Make an obstacle course
Learn the alphabet in a different language
Play basketball
Play soccer
Run outside for 15 minutes
Play kickball
Draw a picture
Create your own board game
Make paper airplanes
Make a collage from magazines [Also read: Magazine I Spy Game With Printable]
Do a puzzle
Make a musical instrument
Draw a comic book
Have a crab walk race
Watch an educational movie
Make slime
Learn the alphabet backwards
Recreate a classic art piece
Plant a seedling
Make a scrapbook
Go bird watching
Write a short story
Write a poem
Draw your favorite animal
Draw the solar system
Ride your bike for one hour
Make your family tree
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]

Wash the car
Sweep the kitchen
Clean the windows
Vacuum the floors
Clean the bathroom
Clean your bedroom
Pull weeds in the garden
Sweep the hallway
Clean your closet
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.

How to Create a Bored Jar For Your Kids (+ Activity Ideas & Printables) | #kids #free #printables Click To Tweet

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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