10 Things You Never Thought of to Combat Summer Boredom

You will someday become a great mom. Take the kids to the thrift store, you will be amazed as to what you can find there. Also, my grandbabies love to go to the park. You can have a picnic and they will love you for it. I pack my cooler with water bottles small enough for their hands - the ones with the pop up top. I have two grandchildren ages 2 and 3 - they think they are really cool with their own water bottles. A couple of p&b sandwiches and fruit are great for snacking on too. I bought a vinyl tablecloth with fish and that makes it special. Oh and long walks are great for everyone and don't cost a penny. And the library is one of their favorite places to go. I could go on and on but I'm sure you get the picture. If you don't have a car find someone to carpool with, take the bus, ride a bike or walk. Good luck and they are very lucky to have you in their lives.

just print out some pages for your little ones and they will be ok.

A watermelon eating and seed-spitting contest in the back yard, a scavenger hunt outside, a backyard water battle, picnics in the neighborhood, excursions on public transportation, cooking classes on their level, laying on a blanket in the back yard looking up at the sky and spotting interesting shaped clouds, cover the dining room table with blankets to make a tent or cave, declare at least a couple of days a week to be technology free-no video games, no cell phones, no computers, a food fight with groceries bought at the dollar store, volunteer work

Hello. Most of these ideas seem to be for older/bigger kids. Any ideas for a two year-old? I realize that, at that age, it is quite different. We do spend much time just playing with toys (and he plays on his own some); outdoors in nature and water; reading books, some art time - but the attention span at this age is limited and I just feel like I am out of ideas, and being repetitive. Anyone have any thoughts, ideas? Or know of some good resources for info? Thanks..

I don't know how old the children are. But I have two girls and the simplest things excite them, just takes some imagination. With summers over 100 degrees, we do fun inside activities. Like packing up the picnic basket laying a sheet in the middle of the living room floor and having an inside picnic. I let them put on make up and dress up in my clothes and shoes and we have a tea party... with REAL tea (green tea is caffeine free). We will have living room camp outs, pull out sleeping bags, make smores, and let them sleep in the living room. Some of the easiest simple things will make their day wonderful!

Alicia, I know what you mean. My nephew will be 3 soon and all he relies on is TV for enjoyment. Its no good. I think its good for people to interact with the child. Read, play, educate them on certain things. Because its been shown that statistically children who were interacted with more showed healthier psychological development. Thats why I am transforming my nephews usual routine. I know it sounds dumb but i sit down and try to have a conversation with him. I know he blabbers only phonemes but it still gets him involved. We color together and rehearse words and numbers. The alphabet and all kinds of things. I know my nephew will grow as a more educated individual just by afew of these changes. We cant let corrupt TV and video games bring our youth up! -Jah Irie

or how about atempting to raise your own kids within the family if possible instead of dumping them at a camp everytime you get tired of them. most parents have to work that is understandable. what makes me sick is how with the little time parents spend with kids as it is now days, that any parent would want to just dump them on someone else most of the year including during the summer when parents should be taking time away from work to spend it with their children. we need to repriorotize and realize what is more important. we have become too materialistic and think that we need that house with the 2 car garage and all the fancy stuff along with it. so we end up spending more time working to pay for those things and less time raising our own children.
there are quite a few children that i have heard of not liking camp and actually wanting to be home with their family and for those kids, it is no fun to be forced to go somewhere against their will . not every child enjoys being away from home all of the time and may even feel that their parents are pushing them aside . if you asked a child what they really wanted they would say that they wanted to spend more time with their mom and dad. they would like to come home from school or day camp and have at least one parent home to greet them. parents really do need one swift kick in the behind for how they are/not rasing their children

Don't know about you, Toby, but where we live camp will run us upwards of $1,500/week for two children! With the economy in the hole, that kind of money is out of the question this year:-(

Amen to that!

To ELVIA - I totally agree with you. It is great to ask the kids what they would like to do. And, GOOD for you, being able to spend this time now as grandma. I think that is wonderful for kids. I retired and now care for my grandkids while their parents work. Contrary to what some people seem to think by some comments here, many parents truly must work to support their families - it is not to live lives of luxury, it is just to get by. That's the way it is in the world now, for many. And it's great if a grandparent can step in to help. Of course, that is not possible in many familes. I feel blessed that I get to do this - be such a big part of my grandkids' lives.

I take it you don't have children - and perhaps are still one yourself.

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