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Search Results for: Summer Boredom Buster Jar

July 14, 2014 by Krista

Washi Tape Summer Boredom Buster Jars

Well, hello friend! I’m so glad you came to visit today! Looking for a boredom buster activity to help you out with the kids? Thousands of people on Pinterest have loved this Washi Tape Boredom Buster Jar and I know you will too.

Here’s a question for you…Can you feel it? Feel what? The warmer weather, the longer days. The school bell’s last ring of the year.

It won’t be long now before school is out and the kids are home!

Every. Single. Day.

Does that make you a little nervous? Because it makes me nervous.

Day after day after day of refereeing the Brother Bickering Match isn’t my idea of a good time. Back when I didn’t spend my days chasing three little hooligans and trying to keep them entertained all day, I lived for summer. Now, I’m a little apprehensive when summer hits full force.

We live in the desert, which means that it’s too hot to play outside from about 11 am until around 5 pm.  That’s a lot of hours inside. Climbing and bouncing off the walls. Pulling out every toy we own, all at once. Hiding in the closet eating chocolate.

That last one might be me.

I have a hard time coming up with ideas of things for us to do on the spot and my boys get tired of the same thing all the time. So, I put together a list and then made us our very own Boredom Buster Jar. Actually, two jars… they wouldn’t all fit in one! There’s no excuse now. Let the fun begin!

WASHI TAPE BOREDOM BUSTER JARS

 

 

Materials:
– Craft sticks
– Permanent Marker
– Washi Tape in seven designs
– Jars or containers to hold your sticks

Directions:
– Gather ideas of activities your kids would like to do. Include things like projects you can make together, things they can do on their own, activities that will help get the wiggles out, and even places to go. I had a running list on my phone that I kept adding to for about two or three weeks. When I came upon something else I thought my kids would enjoy, I’d add it to the list.

Want a great list in just a few seconds? Check out my list with 168+ activities and ideas of things to put on your craft sticks!

– Write each activity on a craft stick with a permanent marker. Doesn’t need to be fancy, just legible. You could type them up on the computer, print them out and then glue them on the sticks – but that’s too time intensive for me.

 

 

DIVIDING THE ACTIVITIES INTO CATEGORIES

I divided the categories up so that my kids would be able to use the boredom jar on their own.

By putting the activities into categories, I was able to control the kind of activity and still allow my kids to choose what they wanted to do, randomly or by picking sticks until they found something they liked.

I thought about our typical day and the kinds of activities we like to do. Then I considered how involved I am in different parts of my children’s days. I came up with seven categories.

My categories were:

  • Things we can do
  • Things we can make
  • Energy Bug – activities that help focus their bouncing off the walls into something a little less destructive
  • Quiet time activities – things for my preschooler to do on his own while his brothers nap
  • Family activities – things we wanted to do as a family, like outings. This was perfect for weekends!
  • Outside play time – activities to do outside. A lot of these involved water
  • Fun with food – activities to do with food, often ending with snack time

– Tape each stick in a single category with the same color washi tape. You could also paint the ends or use some other method of distinguishing the sticks.  Washi tape was quick, easy, and mess-free. If you have a problem with the tape sticking, a small piece of scotch tape or a swipe with a glue stick should fix the problem.

– Store your sticks in a jar (or jars…) and the next time boredom strikes, prepare to be a superhero!

Did you download my list of 168+ activity ideas to put on your craft sticks?
GET IT NOW!
I did the hard part for you, the rest is cake. And you’ll be so glad when you need a distraction and you can just grab the boredom jar and quell the storm.
Maybe the jar is too much? Just print the list!

PROMISE, it’ll be a lifesaver.

June 8, 2018 by Krista

168 Kids Activities that will Rock Your Summer

I love summer. Usually. Some times, it gets a little crazy, but that’s why I put together a fun Summer Boredom Buster Jar full of kids activities for my boys (and me!) to use when things were just a little too relaxed.

Or we’re a little too tired and it’s not quite nap or bed time yet. Or when things get a little too wrestle-y. Because… boys.

It saved my bacon more than once last summer.

I have plans this summer and our kids activities jar has a starring role in my attack on unruly boys. I divided the activities into seven categories.

If you’re looking for some fun things to do this summer, take a look at this huge list and then make your own Summer Boredom Buster Jar with the ideas.

168 KIDS ACTIVITIES TO TRY THIS SUMMER

168 Things to do This Summer

Affiliate Link Disclaimer

FUN WITH FOOD KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Make popsicles.  Get as creative as you little heart desires.
– Banana Boats in the fire pit.  Don’t know what banana boats are, check out the link.
– Make ice cream in a bag
– Fruit Loop necklaces
– Make peanut butter play dough
– Make S’mores

DIY Monkey Cupcakes
– Decorate cupcakes
– Make colorful cookies
– Create a new smoothie flavor
– Make Jell-O
– Build with marshmallows
– Make popcorn necklaces
– Create the ultimate ice cream sundae!
– Edible finger painting

Strawberry Lime Slush
– Make slushies
– Make Jell-O play dough
– Roast hot dogs over a fire
– Make candy bars
– Make a banana split

 

QUIET TIME KIDS ACTIVITIES:

Creating Story Stones are a favorite on this HUGE list of fun Kids Activities

– Story stones or tiles
– Write letters
– Felt fishing game math practice
– Googly eye drawings
– Write in your story journal
– Movie Marathon!
– Illustrate a picture book
– Get a new ebook or learning app – Our favorite ABC apps, preschool apps

ABC Apps Alive Alphabet
– Play with blocks.  Creation Blocks, Tinkertoys, Cardboard Blocks and our Wooden Blocks are time-tested favorites.

– Do a practice worksheet.
– Play with Water Beads
– Do puzzles
– M&M math practice.  Add and subtract with the candies.  You can also practice colors.  Of course, you’re finished when you’ve eaten all the candies.
– Draw with the Window Markers
– Play learning games on the tablet
– Make a straw bead necklace
– Build with sponge building blocks – cut several sponges into strips and stack them
– Read stories with Mom
– ABC match game
– Practice with the lacing cards

 

 

OUTSIDE KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Make a fun obstacle course with PVC pipe sprinklers
– Water gun tin can target practice
– Water balloon towel toss
– Garden for letters: dig & spell
– Target sponge toss
– Have a picnic on the swing
– Go on a walk
– Have a bike wash.  A car wash… for bikes.
– Make mud pies
– Create a water wall with plastic bottles
– Water balloon pinata
– Create a tin foil river.  Float paper boats in them.
– Water balloon fight!
– Blow bubbles
– Go on a nature scavenger hunt
– Ride bikes

Digging-for-Pirate-Treasure
– Sand box treasure hunt
– Create a chalk maze
– Ice boat races
– Sponge water fight
– Play in the pool
– Ice block toy rescue
– Play in the sprinklers
– Draw with chalk on the sidewalk

 

ENERGY BURNING KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Glow balloon ping pong
– Paper plate ring toss

GoGo's Disc Toss
– Masking tape bean bag toss (or paper plate toss)
– Sing songs!
– Dinosaur fossil hunt
– Super chore race!
– Masking tape maze
– Paper plate frisbee

Create a fun Indoor DIY Mini Golf using things you already have! A fun afternoon activity
– Make a mini golf course
– Dance Party!
– Duck, duck, goose
– Go on a treasure hunt
– Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
– Build an obstacle course
– Put on a circus
– Nerf gun wars
– Glow in the dark bowling

 

THINGS TO MAKE KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Make a wind chime
– Construct a city for your cars from cardboard boxes
– Paper Airplane Races
– Make Olliblocks

TP Roll Rain Stick Noise Makers
– Make a rain stick
– Make DIY paint with water pages
– Tin can telephones
– Make a musical instrument
– Make a lemonade stand
– Bow & Arrow practice.  Not a real bow an arrow.  There’s lots of fun ideas for DIY toys.
– Make sugar cube castles
– Q-tip painting.
– Make an I Love You chain
– Make a shoe box shape sorter for a baby
– Draw a treasure map!
– Make a marble maze
– Make pet rocks
– Masking tape city and roads
– Trace around your body and make a “Flat Me”
– Make toilet paper tube race cars

Recycle those old broken crayons into a fun and pretty project. DIY suncatchers are fun for everyone!
– Use old crayons and make sun catchers
– Make straw rockets
– Masking tape maze
– Macaroni noodle necklace
– Make constellation cans
– Make slime!
– Use popsicle sticks to make puppets.  Have a puppet show.
– Make shadow box piggy banks
– Make Gak

DIY Cardboard Box Cars
– Cardboard box cars
– Paint rocks for the garden
– Salt painting
– Make paper
– Build something with a box
– Corn syrup paintings
– Make paper dolls

 

THINGS TO DO KIDS ACTIVITIES:

– Go on a monster hunt
– Learn some words in a new language
– Mess-free finger painting
– Make “potions”
– Play with letter magnets (these are my favorite, though kinda pricey)
– Build a fort!
– Clean something

This simple and inexpensive felt fishing game is a great afternoon DIY project the kids will love. A fun kids activity DIY!
– Play with the felt fishing game
– Have a science day
– Dress Up!
– Bathtub fishing
– Balloon Rocket Races
– Shaving cream bath tub painting
– String maze
– Photo booth
– ABC scavenger hunt
– Play with the Gizmos
– Play with the Pattern Blocks
– Make a life-size board game.
– Pajama Day!
– Take photos for an ABC book

Kid's Science Experiment Kit
– Do a science experiment
– Ivory soap clouds
– Write invisible letters and mail them
– Stay/day-cation
– Play with Legos
– Make and play with a sensory bin
– Camp out in the family room
– Act out a story
– Play on the Wii
– Make shadow puppets
– Play a board game. Junior Suspend is one of our favorites!

 

FAMILY ACTIVITIES (this is great for weekends!):

Soft Pretzels

– Make pretzels
– Movie night on the big screen
– Go bowling!
– Launch rockets
– Have a fire and star gaze
– Go to the drive-in
– Go to the marina or river park.
– See a movie at the theater
– Go to the Discovery Museum

Big Hero 6 Party Popcorn Bar Hack - Keeping the Butter Melted
– Have a popcorn bar!
– Play in the fountains
– Fly a kite
– Star gazing
– Go to the library
– Camping
– Go to the beach
– Go to Sonic!
– Get ice cream
– Go to the splash pad

 

 

 

You can check out some of our favorite summer products on Amazon. These are all things we own and love and can’t live without when the days are long, the air is hot and the sky is sunny!

What’s your favorite summer time kids activities? I’m always looking to add to our collection.  Leave a comment and let me know!

July 21, 2014 by Krista

{Printable} Boredom Buster Jar

Have you gotten over the excitement of summer yet?  Sunshine, pool parties, beach trips, family reunions… and bored kids.  My kiddos aren’t in school yet (Kindergarten starts next month!  Whaaaaaat?!), but my boys are driving me crazy with their antics.  A big part of the problem is that they are bored.  Now, I am all for letting kids figure out how to entertain themselves, but when they keep falling back on the pastime of fighting and bickering it’s time for a little intervention!  For the sake of my sanity, if nothing else.  And I don’t want to be the mom that yells all the time…

So, I created our Boredom Buster Jars.  If you were around last week, you saw that I actually made ours from craft sticks… because I have high hopes they will last longer that way and I can add to them as I need to.  But, I also made a printable version.  Because, let’s face it, it took me FOREVER to write out all those darn sticks.  Seriously, probably about four hours.  No lie.  So, if you have better things to do with those four hours of your life, maybe a printable version is the way to go, eh?  You’ve got a paper cutter and a DVR’d show to keep you company and speed the process along, right?  Not necessary, but it may help.

The Sneak Peek version (this freebie I offer here on my blog) has 24 activities.  There are four activities in six different categories.  The label page has labels that will fit both a narrow mouth or a wide mouth canning jar lid.  A clean, plastic peanut butter jar is a great way to go too, and a little more kid-friendly.  Follow this link to download a single PDF with the three pages you’ll need to complete your sneak peek jar.

PRINTABLE SUMMER BOREDOM BUSTER JAR
(SNEAK PEEK/FREE VERSION)

Materials:
– A clean container for your boredom jar
– Scissors or a paper cutter
– The Printable Boredom Buster Jar 3-page PDF
– Tape, glue or string

Directions:
– Download and print out the PDF Boredom Buster Jar Printables.
– Cut the activity cards apart with the scissors or paper cutter.
– Fold them in half or quarters and put them in the container.
– Choose which labels you want to use from the print out.  Cut them out and adhere them to the container with tape, glue or string.

That’s it.

This post was written by Krista and originally appeared on While He Was Napping.

I'm Krista. Ringleader here on While He Was Napping, wife to my handsome Mr. Right & momma to my THREE energetic boys, Big J (9), Little J (6) & Little N (4). We FINALLY added a beautiful little girl to our family last December.

I’m knee-deep in Tonka trucks & Thomas trains. I survive our crazy days with Vanilla Coke, Sonic slushies, sweet snuggles and little giggles. When I tuck them in tight & kiss them good night, I get a little time to create & just be me.


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