Tips for children with ‘nothing to do’

CAROL TRICE/Early Childhood Committee

I’m bored! There is nothing to do! Parents are bound to hear this phrase several times a year: during the summer, on long holiday weekends, or during the school year when schools are closed for bad weather. Although it is tempting for parents to respond with a list of things they would like a child to do, such as help with the laundry, clean up the child’s bedroom, have them play with a younger brother/sister, vacuum the carpets – these chores will not eliminate a child’s boredom. However, if a parent needs help making cookies or making other foods, children might like to get involved.

It is good for parents to keep some ideas, and possibly some supplies on hand, to provide unusual ideas to the children when they are bored.

For households that have a computer at home, there are several interesting things a child can do. How about writing an email to the President? Go to www.whitehouse.gov/contact, fill in the information regarding name and address, and type a message to the President. If a child prefers to handwrite a letter to the President, mail it to: The President, The White House, 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20500.

An older child with Internet access could be given a budget, and asked to plan a family weekend getaway.  Parents could set any limits or guidelines needed, and ask children to investigate places to go, to stay, to eat, and their costs. Later the family could discuss the potential weekend away and then actually experience the planned vacation.

Encourage a child to make a present for grandma, such as a calendar with all of the family members’ birthdays written on the calendar. A child may enjoy using magazines, colored paper, or prints from the Internet to make greeting cards to give to grandma for her to use.

Another suggestion for a child? How about taking a long bubble bath after lunch, then putting on a pair of favorite pajamas? Read some books to the stuffed animals and dolls and put them to bed for the night.  Cuddle up with a blanket and watch a favorite movie.

Younger children love “to help” parents with routine chores. Perhaps a child would like to “wash dishes?” That is, fill a sink or pan with soapy water and let children wash their play dishes and other toys they have that could be washed.

“Invent” physical activities that will encourage children to move, such as a race in the hallway or other safe place for some physical activity – but each child must walk backwards. Think of different challenges for each race, such as take off one shoe, and hop on that foot to the other end of the hall; carry a stuffed animal and sing a song to it while walking sideways down the hall; race with hands around ankles (see which child can think of the “craziest” race).

Be sure to have many ideas for activities on days when the children are “bored” to continue to challenge them to be creative and active.