By Jeanni Ritchie
By now you’re probably up to your ears with cries of “I’m bored!” echoing throughout your house. I never could understand how the same kids who began the countdown in February to the last day of school could be completely in the doldrums by the second week of June.
I don’t remember ever being bored during summer vacation. Our days were spent swimming. Skating. Biking. Climbing trees. Skipping rope. Tying one end of a Chinese jump rope to a chair when there were only two of us. We played Atari in the rain and hosted lemonade stands in the sun.
I know, I know. I sound like the dad who walked five miles to school uphill, both ways. But these aren’t false memories or rose-colored rearview glances, this was life in the summer in the 70’s and 80’s. We had FUN!
Our kids are growing up in an instant gratification society where everything is immediate. I admit, I like finding what I need on my phone in two seconds as opposed to searching through the alphabetized World Books on the shelves for information that’s likely outdated. Technology is good.
But it isn’t everything.
Kids need to use their imaginations. We all need to experience life outside of a screen, both indoors and out.
Here are some ways to beat the boredom blues in July, with or without kids, without breaking the bank:
- Catch a movie. Many theaters offer free summer kids movies or discounted matinee showings for adults.
- Go to the park. Plan a picnic or spread out a blanket and read that novel you’ve been meaning to start.
- Visit a local art exhibit. Many museums have discounted days or free passes available.
- Check out your local library. There is a wealth of programming at publicly funded libraries, not to mention all the books!
- Catch a local production at a theatre. From community theatres to college productions to touring Broadway shows, there’s sure to be a show within driving distance.
- Meet a friend for lunch or dinner. Arrange a play date for both the parents and kids. Socialization is good for us all.
- Invest in a new hobby. Pick up some gardening shears or buy materials to start scrapbooking all the photos you’ve thrown haphazardly in a box.
- Dust your dreams off the shelf. Always dreamed of being an artist? Buy a canvas and some paints. Dreaming of writing the Great American Novel? Carve out some time to write each day.
- Turn dinner into family time. Enlist the family to help with prep or baking a dessert. Spend time talking as you prepare a meal together.
- Create “fun” baskets for your kids. Create a scavenger hunt or utilize flash cards to learn a new language. Change the baskets out daily with new activities.
- Host fun days in your own home, like a backwards day. Everyone wears their clothes backwards and walks backwards. Serve dessert before the main meal.
- Volunteer somewhere. From food pantries to animal shelters, there is always a need for an extra pair of hands. You often make lifelong friendships volunteering while making a difference in the world.
- Get crafty! Many home improvement stores and libraries have free take-home craft kits to put together with your loved ones.
- Host or attend a game night. Game nights are proven to be a powerful stress reliever.
One of my personal favorites was Friday Family Fun Night. With four kids it was hard to get them to agree on anything, from meals to entertainment. So every Friday night, each child had a turn choosing the meal and the activity (game night, movie night, etc) and everyone had to cheerfully participate or waive their next turn. We made some great memories.
Stop the cries of boredom in your kids and in your own mind by participating in one of these activities or creating your own. Share them on social media with #AntiBoredomMonth.
Jeanni Ritchie welcomes all invites to game nights at jeanniritchie54@gmail.com!