40 of the Best Family Boredom Busters and Activities
We’ve all heard those three dreaded words “I’m so bored!” So use these 40 Boredom Busters to keep you and your family entertained with fun things to do during the slower days and free time.
Boredom doesn’t have to fill you with a sense of dread– it can be a useful way to spark creativity. Whether you’re doing things with other people or tapping into a newfound hobby, there are lots of ways for you to funnel those dreary days into meaningful times.
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Outdoor Boredom Busters
- Have your own Easter egg hunt with plastic eggs. You don’t need to fill them up with anything, or you could add small things inside, like stickers or any small change you might have.
- Try Geocaching. This might be your favorite new activity as you and your family go on your own type of treasure hunt.
- Explore nature. Visit your local State or National Park. Go to the beach. Visit Botanical Gardens. You can keep a healthy distance from others around you and enjoy the beautiful world around you.
4. Go on a family bike ride. With spring flowers starting to bloom, you’ll feel a sense of joy and freedom as you explore on your bikes together.
5. Get out the sidewalk chalk and make a masterpiece! Or, a hopscotch court, checkers, tic-tac-toe, and more!
6. Play Four-square. Find a hard surface and get out a four-square ball. You don’t need a ton of space or skills to get a good game in! And you can create a court with sidewalk chalk.
7. Take a walk. Go for a hike, or listen to music while you take in the beauty of the world around you.
8. Work in the garden. Whether you’re growing flowers or vegetables, it’s a wonderful way to get in touch with nature. Plus, you can get a decent workout pulling all the weeds!
9. Play in the sprinklers. Provided the weather’s nice outside, put on your bathing suits and have at it!
Educational Boredom Busters
10. Watch a movie in another language with/or without subtitles. It’s a great way for your kids to listen to a new language while watching TV.
11. Play a card game like Memory, Go Fish, or War. It’s a great way for younger guys to play and work on their math skills.
12. Create your own comic strip. Download a blank comic book template, and create a storyline with pictures.
13. Look into your whole family tree. With different sites like MyHeritage or Ancestry.com, you can get a quick glimpse to better understand
your roots.
14. Take an online class. It’s easier than ever to learn online, and whether you learn through a university or masterclass, it’s a fun way to learn.
15. Watch a TV show or movie on mute with only subtitles. Your kids will enjoy it, and they’ll brush up on their reading skills.
16. Download a new educational app. There are so many fun and educational video games that make learning fun, such as Khan Academy and Duolingo.
17. Tour a virtual museum. Even if you can’t see the art up-close and personal, you can choose nearly any museum in the world to learn about art, history, and culture.
18. Play it loud. Have you ever wanted to learn a musical instrument, but never had the time? Now’s your chance! There are multiple easy-to-use online resources as you start your musical journey. You can even use a tablet as a keyboard if you don’t necessarily have a piano at home.
19. Watch a documentary together. Were your kids’ science classes canceled? No problem! Learn about different types of animals or people all over the world. There are countless options on Netflix, Disney+, or Amazon Prime to keep your whole family entertained.
Active Boredom Busters
21. Three Words: Family. Dance. Party. Not only is it fun, but also a great way to burn off energy when you’re housebound. You can also use this time as a reward after cleaning the kitchen.
22. Try a new recipe. Have you ever wanted to bake your grandma’s famous brownies yourself? Or wanted to teach your kids how to bake? Now’s your chance!
23. Solve a puzzle together. Get the whole family in on the action, or let your little guys do a larger jigsaw puzzle on the floor while adults work on some with smaller pieces. Liberty Puzzles are especially fun, and boost your analytical thinking skills!
24. DIY Upcycle Project. Do you have a vase that needs a little TLC? Get out the Modge-Podge and give it a makeover!
25. Play Hide-and-Go-Seek or Sardines. This game works really well inside or outside, and choose if you want everyone to hide with one seeker, aka ‘hide and go seek.” Or, you can do the inverse, where one person hides, everyone else becomes a sardine with them, and the last person to find them is the next person to hide.
Indoor Boredom Busters
26. Have a family fashion show. Go through the dress-up box or the box of clothes you’ve decided to give away after organizing your house, and vote on your favorite outfit combo.
27. Family Game Night– Pick your favorite board game or card game and get ready for some friendly (or insanely intense) competition!
28. Create a time capsule. Add in some photos, favorite things, and notes, and set a date to open it ten years in the future.
29. Clean your closet. While organizing isn’t everyone’s idea of a fun activity, it’s a great way to stay focused and occupied when you want to do something productive.
30. Call a friend. There’s something so beautiful when you talk to an old friend you haven’t seen in a while but really gets you. Take time to connect with some of the people you love. You can also set up a FamilyApp chat to reconnect with your favorite family members and friends.
31. Sing your hearts out with Karaoke. Even if you’re totally tone deaf, you can always crank up the volume and sing to your heart’s content.
32. Take a bath. Whether you’re giving your kids a bubble bath, or taking advantage care of yourself with an indulgent Epsom salt bath, enjoy some quiet time to unwind.
33. Do a workout video. Get the whole family involved- you can find some fun dance video options or stretching activities with everyone together. Bonus points if you can get a vintage copy of Richard Simmons’ Sweatin’ to the Oldies!
34. Start scrapbooking. It’s a great way to commemorate many of life’s moments.
Indoor Boredom Busters
35. Paint. Grab a canvas or canvas board, some acrylic paints, brushes, or even a crayon or colored pencil, and let your imagination run wild!
36. Make your own cartoon. You can copy some favorite Disney characters or design your own.
37. Bake cookies. Spend time designing your own sugar cookies with different cookie cutters and icing.
38. Decorate pancakes. Along the same lines, get some whipped cream, sprinkles, chocolate chips, and let your imagination run wild!
39. Play with make-up. Have you ever wanted to wear that crazy blue eyeshadow that’s been in your drawer for a while? Now’s your chance to experiment with a crazy cat-eye liner or a bold red lip.
40. Make origami. If you have extra paper lying around, experiment with different origami animals, designs, and step-by-step tutorials. Who knows what you’ll come up with?!
Are We There, Yet?
Whether you’re hunkered down inside or exploring the great outdoors, there are so many ways to keep your mind and body active. Let us know about your favorite boredom busters on your favorite family app!
