FFTC’s Guide to Family Boredom Busters

unexpected boredom busters

Sometimes boredom is a reality. The Coronavirus pandemic has hit Minnesota, and therefore, we are watching everything cancel and stay canceled before our very eyes.  While the reasons for the closures and cancellations are valid–top priority is keeping everyone as safe and healthy as possible–our lives are in a state of disruption.  As parents of kids, we want to help them use this time constructively and wisely. And keep everyone sane. Learn the facts about CoVid-19 (Coronavirus)We have collected 10 Ideas for Boredom Busters for your family to use to be productive and create some fun memories together. Keep scrolling for details.

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Our Top 10 Boredom Busters:

  1. Create an Experience
  2. Explore your own backyard
  3. Watch the airplanes take off and land
  4. Experiment with science
  5. Play games – indoors & out
  6. Try something new
  7. Join BookHounds Family BookClub
  8. Have a movie night: find age-appropriate movies and shows
  9. Make a craft
  10. Serve others

Looking for educational ideas while the kids are off of school?  Check out our tips on how to do school at home


Ideas for Implementing These Boredom Busters 

Create an Experience

Our homes provide a safe haven, but after a while the same ol’ thing bores even the most patient person. Set up an obstacle course in your backyard (or even in the living room, if you’re up to it.). Create a spa in your bathroom. Have a soda taste test. Build a library complete with a shelving and cataloging system.

FFTC's Guide to Family Boredom Busters
HearthSong® Balance Rope Bridge, Children’s Backyard Playground Equipment, Approx. 8 ft Long – Amazon link

Explore Your Own Backyard or a Park

twin cities parks and playgrounds - FFTC's Guide to Family Boredom Busters

Honestly, I’m so glad this pandemic didn’t happen in the middle of January like it did in China.  Being that it’s spring and the weather is fairly cooperative (at least this year), we are able to go outside. Find a patch of green grass, pull out a magnifying glass and observe the trees, count the birds each day and create a chart. Whip out our big list of 65 Fun Nature Play Ideas for Kids.

You can do this in a nearby patch of nature if you don’t have a yard. Or, if you’re up for it, parks across the Twin Cities are still open for the exploring. Our Parks Search tool can connect you some new options. (Keep in mind that playgrounds are currently closed.) Take 20 minutes every day and search for spring.

Watch Airplanes

Aircraft Viewing Area - FFTC's Guide to Family Boredom Busters

Drive to your local airport and watch the airplanes take off and land.  Pack a lunch and count the number of planes that land in 10 minutes.  I love going to Post Road, a designated aircraft viewing spot near the Minneapolis-St Paul airport, where you can watch all the action.  There are no restroom facilities, so plan accordingly. This fantastic activity gets you out of the house but not into the middle of the masses.

Do Science Experiments

While the thought of this makes me cringe, if you can get past the imminent mess this will probably be one of the most thrilling things you do with your kids. We have collected a lot of different ideas in our Science at Home roundup. Make rainbow snakes out of bubbles, make a mess with sudsy eruptions, concoct homemade ice cream or even host a mini science fair at home!

Play Games

FFTC's Guide to Family Boredom Busters
Image courtesy LTD Brewing – Visit them on a family night out for games, popcorn & root beer

Both indoor games and outdoor games!  We love playing different games as a family.  Many times we need to set our own house rules for games to help our kids feel like they’ve got a chance.  But as they get older, we can readjust those rules.  Here are some of our ideas.

Outdoor Games – Kickball, Four Square, hopscotch and jump roping are just the beginning. We have 60 games or activities on this list that will keep them entertained outdoors for hours. Or, ’tis the season for spring yard cleanup and gardening prep!

Try also our list of 45 Fun Physical Activities For All Ages! It’s got tons more ideas on getting the heart pumping.

45 Fun Physical Activities For Kids of All Ages - FFTC's Guide to Family Boredom Busters

Indoor Games – Balloon games, tape games, indoor scavenger hunts, charades and dozens more. This massive list of 75 indoor games and activities will banish boredom for a long stretch.

Try Something New

This is the perfect time to learn how to do something alongside our kids. Need some ideas?

  • Finger knitting
  • Basketweaving (I’m not even joking)
  • Write a poem or a script to perform
  • Choreograph a dance routine
  • Scrapbook a memorable family vacation

BookHounds announcementStart a Family BookClub

While we love our BookHounds Family BookClub, you can create your very own family book club.  Read a book together, make a snack that would fit the book’s theme, and while you are eating your snack, chat about your book.  So much good comes from families bonding over stories (and food). 

Family Movie Time

Pop some corn, break out the movie candy/healthy snacks, pull up a classic on one of the streaming apps (or go to the library.  OR I have a novel idea, watch the movies you already own!), and snuggle on the couch.  Make it a fun family film so that you can relax in the midst of the chaos.

Family Movie Night - FFTC's Guide to Family Boredom Busters

FFTC Recommended (and maybe forgotten)

  • The Parent Trap
  • My Neighbor Totoro
  • Akeela and the Bee
  • The Adventures of Milo and Otis
  • Newsies
  • Babe
  • Spy Kids
  • Wallace and Gromit
  • The Sound of Music
Crafting at Lakeshore Learning
Crafting at Lakeshore Learning

Make a Craft

Easter

The great thing about crafts is that there are lots of different kids of crafts you can make simply out of paper.  Or order in a few supplies from Amazon.  I’m really excited to have a reason to do some of these crafts together, especially crafts for the Easter holiday or a celebration of spring.

We’ve collected a lot of ideas to keep you busy in our Arts and Crafts Throughout the Year article.

Serve Others

This is a time of anxiety for many people in our neighborhoods.  How can your family serve those you love and/or are around you?  Serving others helps us to keep busy and active and keep fear at bay.

Bake cookies for your neighbors. Make a toilet paper run for your grandparents. Write a letter to your cousins (yes, an actual letter! Resist the email or text, if possible.)


CoVid-19 (Coronavirus) is not going to have the last word in our house and we hope that these ideas for boredom busters will help you to take back the time for your family, too.   Let’s look at this as a blessing.

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Family Fun Twin Cities receives a small portion of any sales.

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