300 Things to do when your kids say "I'M BORED." by Kathy Peel

I was listening to a radio program and heard this:  Kathy Peel talking about Summer Survival.  We all need it, no matter what age child we have.  Here are a few of the 300.  I would encourage all of you to check out more HERE for GREAT IDEAS for summer "Boredom."

• As a family, work and frame a jigsaw puzzle each summer. Hang it in a child's room or game room. Be sure to write the date on the back.

• Make a family member feel special. Decorate his or her room with balloons, crepe paper, and signs.

• Have the children record interesting sounds in the neighborhood on a tape recorder. Ask them to play it back to you and have you guess the sounds.

• Have a family watercolor night. Each person paints his or her favorite vacation spot or place the family has gone on an outing.

• Cloud watching: Lie on a blanket in the backyard with your child. Look at the clouds and see if you can pick out the shapes of animals, faces or objects.

• Treasure Hunt: Post clues, such as pictures, words or silly rhymes to direct your kids from one location to another until they find the treasure. Use picture clues for preschoolers, and let them hunt for their afternoon snack. Your kids will enjoy hunting for a birthday gift, money for an ice cream cone, coupons for miniature golf or other special treats.

• Bigger and Better: Divide into two or more teams or two to eight players. Give each team a penny. Set a time limit for forty-five minutes, then send the kids into the neighborhood to ask neighbors if they’ll give them an item in exchange for the penny. The kids then take the item they received to a second house, and ask if they’ll give them something bigger and better in trade. The team that comes home with the biggest and best item wins. Don’t be surprised if they return home with some big white elephants.

• Babysitting Kit: Make up a box filled with creative projects for the little ones. Include some of the easy crafts from this book. (Young people can take this kit with them when they babysit.)

• Invent a new flavor of ice cream. Begin with a plain flavor and add nuts, chocolate chips, crumbled candy bars, crushed cookies, chocolate-coated candies, or peanut butter. Brainstorm together about what you’ll call it.

• Save coins in a jar. Count and roll them. Then use the money at the end of the summer for a family outing to the ice-cream parlor.

• Make a "because we love you" box for a family member who has had a hard week. Write notes and buy small, inexpensive gifts.

• Cook breakfast at a park. Let your kids help as much as possible.

• Make a family tree. See how far back you can trace your ancestry.

• Start a lunch club for your daughter's friends. Take turns preparing lunch with other moms and rotate homes. Concentrate on manners, menu planning, and table setting.

• Summer is a great time to develop good personal hygiene grooming rituals in your pre-teenagers. They're old enough to understand that appearance and personal habits tell others a lot about how they feel about themselves. Teach your children to make the most of the equipment God has given them by learning to take good care of their skin, hair, and body. Make a personal hygiene drawer or basket for each of them.

• Watch the stars. Lie on a blanket in the backyard with an astronomy chart and flashlight.

• Play charades.

• Picnic at a different park each week.

• Go exploring one afternoon on the back roads; see what you can discover. Take along a snack.

• Make a family video of your summer. Tape fun things each week.

Now go out and have some fun!  Report back all the fun things you do this Summer!  Don't forget to join in on Spoleto and Piccolo Spoleto events until June 10th.  They are all great fun!