Updated Sep. 11 2019.  Originally published May 26, 2015.

From “I’m Bored” to “Doing Something Constructive”

I know my kids are not the only ones who complain that they’re “bored.”  Or they “hover.”  This is hard to explain, because it sounds a little like I don’t want to spend time with my kids, but that’s not it.  There’s a difference between when they want to be with me, even if they aren’t doing anything in particular with me, and when they’re just hovering in my space because they’re aimlessly idle.

It’s hard to put into words, but I can sense the difference the same way you can sense when someone’s watching you.

I got tired of telling my kids to “find something constructive to do” and sent them off one day to make a list of all the different constructive things they can do.  That way they could hang it on the wall and when they can’t think of anything it can jog their memories.  The best part is, since they made the list, none of it included things they hate to do.

(Note that, in our house, taking a nap or daydreaming may be considered “constructive.” Rest and relaxation are good, and so is time to process!  Pestering your sibling, though, for instance, is not constructive.)

With summer coming, and along with it breaks from school and long daylight hours, the cry of “I’m bored!” will only get more frequent around the country — so I thought I’d share our list.  This is not the list my girls made; it’s one I made (I worked on a list while they did, on the off-chance that they really couldn’t come up with anything), but there’s a lot of overlap between the two.  There’s even a printable version at the bottom of this post that you can download.

If your kids have a favorite activity we’ve missed, please share it in the comments!  I’m sure we could all use a longer list. 😉

Thirty Constructive Things that Kids Can Do

1. Read.
2. Write poetry.
3. Write stories.
4. Draw.
5. Color.
6. Art journaling (or clip pictures for later journaling)
7. Jump rope.
8. Ride bicycles.
9. Organize and/or decorate something.
10. Play make-believe. (orphanage, school, Boxcar Children, Chuck, Psych, etc.)
11. Memorize a verse.
12. Sing.
13. Dance.
14. Garden. (plant something, weed something, arrange flowers, etc.)
15. Plan for Christmas.
16. Dress up.
17. Play with toys. (dolls, doll house, blocks, Littlest Pets, etc.)
18. Cuddle a sister or brother.
19. Play a card/board game.
20. Create a new card/board game.
21. Look through cookbooks for recipes to go on the menu.
22. Work a puzzle. (jigsaw, or brainteaser-type)
23. Practice hairstyles. (braiding, etc.)
24. Outside games (hopscotch; Mother, May I?; etc.; or do cartwheels, etc.)
25. Learn about something. (study)
26. Pray.
27. Create/perform a skit or puppet show.
28. Do an experiment or build something.
29. Look for a way to bless somebody.
30. Help around the house. (tidy up, match socks, fold laundry, etc.)

Download a printable version