Although past studies found that boredom leads to frustration, there is now proof that constructive boredom can be beneficial. Indeed, research now shows that while parental intervention is not always beneficial when your kids claim to be bored, children need unstructured but stimulating environments to arouse their creativity.
Some studies have found that children who engage in unstructured play are better able to develop their decision-making skills and discover their own areas of interest. They also have more creative freedom.
According to one study reported on BBC, “children need to have stand-and-stare time, time imagining and pursuing their own thinking processes or assimilating their experiences through play or just observing the world around them.” In other words, you don’t have to feel guilty about not entertaining your kid.
There are doubts, however, about children’s ability to manage unstructured time. Although Professor McNamara has primarily analyzed boredom in school environments, she joins a number of researchers who argue that the lack of structure and the absence of organized activities can lead to frustration: “children need guidance, role models and activities that help them connect and maintain their friendships”.
Constructive boredom, therefore, means providing opportunities that allow your child to use his/her creativity.
Below are 100 activities that focus on creativity for both boys and girls. Most of these activities require minimal intervention from adults.
1. Do a puzzle
2. Make an animal sculpture out of clay. A Little Bit of Dirt
3. Play LEGO. Get tips on how to choose appropriate construction toys here.
4. Come up with a secret language or a secret code
5. Play with Playmobil
6. Fold origami. You can find free instructions for origami for kids here or get Creativity for Kids Origami
7. Write a story
8. Create a picture story
9. Be a reporter for a day (come up with a storyline/interview family members)
10. Make a video
11. Make a documentary about things found in your external environment (garden, park)
12. Make a documentary about things in the house
13. Paint seashells
14. Play Simon says
15. Use Youtube to learn a magic trick
16. Plant a garden
17. Colour a Mandala. You can make some yourself, download free models here or get the Kids’ Magical Mandalas
18. Plan a meal that doesn’t need cooking
19. Prepare a meal that doesn’t need cooking
20. Take a walk and count all the insects (animals, trees …) you see
21. Create something using recycled material
22. Take a picture of insects in your environment
23. Pick and dry leaves.
24. Make a rainbow. You can find easy instructions here.
25. Write a comic strip
26. Measure grains (such as rice) to learn about volume
27. Put up a teepee tent using sticks and old clothes/material
28. Read.
29. Prepare a picnic
30. Finger paint using Washable Paint
31. Take a walk and name all the colors you see
32. Play hide and seek
33. Make shapes with dry spaghetti and play-doh
34. Paint rocks
35. Play with leaves
36. Pick flowers
37. Put up a tent using recycled carton
38. Play “I-spy”.
39. Do exercises that strenthen focus and concentration. The exercises in the guide “Nurturing Constructive Boredom: Over 101 fun activities to boost your child’s concentration and autonomy” are specially designed to help kids work on important skills such as focus, concentration, working memory and autonomy.
40. Color
41. Invent a board game
42. Explore using a magnifying glass. The Curious Kid’s Science Book
43. Play a board game
44. Make a costume
45. Make ice lollies
46. Make a monster from recycled items (tin foil, cardboard, old clothes)
47. Record a song
48. Make leaf prints. Easy instructions here
49. Invent a ball game
50. Play a ball game
51. Draw a picture from a model
52. Play with stickers
53. Make a still-life painting
54. Make a pearl bracelet or necklace
55. Draw using rice grains
56. Organize an obstacle race
57. Use Google Maps to find favorite places (your home, relatives homes, school, library, etc.)
58. Organize a treasure hunt
59. Participate in a treasure hunt
60. Build a den with recycled carton
61. Make a string phone using paper cups
62. Make a robot from recycled items (tin foil, cardboard, old clothes)
63. Try the “does an orange float or sink” experiment
64. Play inside a cardboard box
65. Start a collection (stamps, coins, insects…)
66. Participate in a scavenger hunt. 30 great free printable scavenger hunts for kids available here. Scavenger hunts the whole family can participate in are available here
67. Pretend you’re an explorer
68. Make a card game
69. Draw a picture of the house’s exterior
70. Make a kite
71. Make fruit skewers
72. Come up with a dance choreography
73. Prepare a skit
74. Prepare for a show (make tickets, prepare snacks)
75. Use a globe to find five countries in each continent.
76. Search the Internet to find out how people from a different culture live (how they dress, what they eat, etc)
77. Make homemade bubble solutions. Different ways to make solutions here.
78. Make sandwiches for lunch
79. Write a poem
80. Make a mask from cardboard and other recycled materials
81. Find the capital cities of 10 countries and memorize them
82. Draw a portrait
83. Draw an imaginary planet
84. Create a pretend restaurant
85. Make a lemonade stand
86. Make up a song
87. Organize a family night
88. Design and build a house using recycled materials
89. Come up with a puppet show
90. Disguise yourself
91. Invent a scent
92. Do a crossword
93. Speak “in rhymes” for the next 20 minutes
94. Learn how to create something from Youtube
95. Invent the next episode of your favorite program
96. Turn recycled water bottles into bowling pins. Ideas here
97. Make a postcard
98. Make an animal using paper rolls
99. Do a paper collage using recycled paper
100. Cut out shapes (or trees, or flowers…) from old magazines
Still short on ideas? Check out 150+ Screen-Free Activities for Kids
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