Summer Boredom Busters Your Tween Should Know

Kids look forward to summer vacation, all year long. But by the time the third week of vacation rolls around, many children are bored and looking for something to do. Your preteen is old enough to entertain himself now, but you can provide a little inspiration. Share these boredom busters with him, and then send him along his merry way.

Boredom Busters for Summer Fun

Ride a bike

Go for a walk

Read a book

Go to the pool

Write a story

Keep a diary

Host a scavenger hunt

Campout in the backyard

Start a book club

Make S'mores

Plan a sleepover party

Start a hobby or a collection

Climb a tree

Cloud watch

Go rollerskating, skateboarding or roller blading

Make your own pizza

Visit a relative

Invent a new snack

Plant a tree

Donate old toys and books to a thrift store

Draw or paint a picture

Tale pictures of your neighborhood

Make a birdfeeder

Decorate a beach bag with fabric markers

Design your own postcards or stationery

Play a video game

Go to a minor league baseball game

Hold a limbo contest

Play tag

Play flashlight tag

Make homemade popsicles

Have a water balloon fight

Run around in the sprinkler

Skip rocks

Go fishing

Play a board game

Take a snooze

Clean your bedroom

Catch fireflies

Go to the mall

Go canoeing

Make jewelry

Paint your toenails

Redecorate a room

Visit a museum

Bake cookies, brownies or a cake

Throw an un-birthday party

Learn how to read palms

Jump rope

Bird watch

Play horseshoes

Tell ghost stories

Take a hike

Learn how to whistle with two fingers

Make your own sling-shot

Make sun tea

Design your Halloween costume

Learn all the state capitals

Plan the family dinner menu

Research the family's history

Play hopscotch

Throw a Frisbee

Tie-dye a T-shirt

Call a friend

Learn origami

Write a song

Commit a random act of kindness

Learn pig latin

Find a pen pal

Build a fort with blankets and sheets

Give yourself a makeover

Make homemade bath salts

Make homemade bubble soap

Visit a local park

Make a paper airplane

Invite friends over for a movie festival

Make a video

Talk like a pirate

Read your horoscope

Fly a kite

Go bowling

Wash the car

Make your own first-aid kit

Play cards

Play with the cat, dog or other pet

Start a pet sitting business

Create a game for younger siblings to play

Set up a lemonade stand

Volunteer at local animal shelter, church or school

Garden

Make homemade ice cream

Play tic-tac-toe

Create a family scrapbook

Learn an instrument

Organize his/her room

Visit the library

Learn a foreign language

Identify the constellations

Learn about a different country

Play charades with a friend

Start your Christmas wish list