5 Creative Ways to Help Kids Beat Summer Boredom (and Spark Joy, Curiosity, and Connection)

By Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino

The school year ends, and with it go the routines, structure, and schedules that have kept our kids occupied for months. Summer rolls in with all its promise—long days, sunlit evenings, and endless possibilities. But somewhere between the popsicles and pool days, we’ve all heard the classic refrain:

“I’m bored.”

As parents, grandparents, caregivers, and mentors, our response to this matters—not just for the moment, but for the development of a child’s creativity, independence, and joy. Instead of seeing boredom as a problem, what if we saw it as an invitation?

Here are five intentional, engaging, and uplifting ways to help your kids move through summer boredom with curiosity, purpose, and a little magic. These ideas don’t require perfection or Pinterest-level prep. They’re designed to help you connect, laugh, and maybe even discover something new—together.

1. The Summer Adventure Jar: Because Surprises Never Get Old

Children thrive on novelty. The Summer Adventure Jar is a simple, joyful way to keep options fresh and eliminate the decision fatigue that sometimes comes with open-ended days.

Here’s how it works:

• Grab a mason jar or small box.

• With your kids, brainstorm 30–50 fun, screen-free activities. (Think: “Build a fort with blankets,” “Go on a neighborhood scavenger hunt,” “Try a new smoothie recipe,” “Write a letter to someone you love.”)

• Write each idea on a slip of paper and pop them into the jar.

• Let your child draw one when boredom strikes or set a regular time each day to pull a new adventure.

What makes this work isn’t the complexity of the activity—it’s the anticipation and ownership. Kids feel empowered when they know they helped create their own summer experience.

2. Theme Days That Give Each Week a Rhythm

Without school bells and homework deadlines, summer can quickly feel shapeless for kids. Enter: Theme Days—a light structure that brings both freedom and fun.

Here’s an easy weekly flow to try:

• Make-It Monday: Bake something, build something, or get crafty.

• Try-It Tuesday: A new food, a new park, a new game—anything novel.

• Water Wednesday: Sprinklers, beach, water balloon fights, or a DIY car wash.

• Thoughtful Thursday: Acts of kindness like painting kindness rocks, donating old toys, or writing gratitude notes.

• Feel-Good Friday: Dance parties, family movie night, or a picnic in the backyard.

Theme days don’t need to be fancy to be effective. Even a simple plan helps kids wake up excited for what the day brings. Consistency offers comfort, and a rhythm gives them something to look forward to.

3. Let Boredom Breathe: It’s a Pathway to Creativity

It may feel counterintuitive, but one of the most powerful things you can do for your child is to let them be bored without immediately solving it.

When we constantly rush to fill silence or entertain, we unintentionally teach kids that discomfort must be avoided. But boredom is often the spark before brilliance.

Encourage your kids to sit with their boredom and ask:

• What can I create?

• What story can I tell?

• What haven’t I tried yet?

• What can I build with what I already have?

Leave out open-ended materials—blank paper, cardboard boxes, art supplies, costume bins, or nature objects like sticks and stones—and watch what unfolds.

When kids learn to self-direct their creativity, they’re not only entertained—they’re empowered.

4. Plan Together: Involve Them in Shaping Their Summer

Kids are far more likely to stay engaged when they feel like their voice matters. That’s why planning summer together can be both practical and empowering.

Here’s how:

• Sit down with your child at the start of the week.

• Ask: “What are three things you’d love to do this week?” Let them choose activities within your family’s limits and resources.

• Make a Summer Bucket List on a poster board or chalkboard, and check items off as you go. Let them add new ideas along the way.

Some goals might be small (mastering a cartwheel) or ambitious (learning to ride a bike or start a lemonade stand). It’s not about doing everything—it’s about making space for their ideas to lead the way.

When kids co-create their summer experience, they stay more present—and more proud of what they’ve done.

5. Balance Screen Time with Real-Life Experiences

Let’s be honest—screens are part of our lives. And during summer, when parents are juggling work and household responsibilities, a little screen time can be a blessing. The goal isn’t to eliminate it. It’s to balance it intentionally with meaningful, real-world fun.

Some tips to try:

• Create a Tech Ticket System: Kids earn screen time by completing creative or active tasks. For example: 30 minutes outside = 30 minutes of screen time.

• Try "Screens After Sunsets" rules where screen time is saved for the evening after a day of play.

• Designate one tech-free day each week for total unplugged connection.

Use screens when you need them—but also carve out time for laughter, movement, quiet, and togetherness. That’s the stuff that makes childhood sparkle.

A Final Thought: Summer is a Season for Connection

Summer isn’t just a break—it’s a season of becoming. Kids grow in big and small ways when the pressure is lifted and their hearts are open to wonder. Boredom isn’t the enemy. It’s the space where imagination blooms.

So give yourself permission to keep it simple. These tips aren’t about being the “perfect parent.” They’re about showing up with love, presence, and a little intention. The memories your children carry won’t be about the most extravagant activities. They’ll be about the days you were together—present, playful, and at peace.

And who knows? In the quiet moments, you might just rediscover a little of your own childhood magic, too.

Let us know your favorite summer boredom buster!

Tag us on Instagram @BestEverYou or share your ideas using #BestEverSummer so we can keep inspiring one another to grow, play, and shine—one day at a time.