100 Kid-Tested Adventures for Meaningful Fun & Hard Work

When kids say “I’m bored” that’s code for “I crave meaningful work.”

I crave hard work.

The kind of work that enables me to build pride into my accomplishments. Work that fuels my curiosity and allows me to explore the depths of my creativity. Work that instills a sense of responsibility and contribution, shaping me into a confident and capable individual.

However, in today’s age, this innate desire often succumbs to the allure of endless screen addiction and the frantic pace of over-scheduled kids rushing from one pre-planned activity to another.

How did we transition from free-thinking individuals to those who can’t sit alone for more than five minutes?

Welcome to the new age, where a simple swipe right can fulfill our grocery needs, entertainment is a click away, and advertisements greet us at gas stations.

In America, physical toil for survival has become a rarity. And then, there are the kids — the next generation most profoundly affected by this era of soft living.

So how do we give kids what they need if you constantly hear them say “I’m bored”?

The first way we got our kids to feel the satisfaction of hard work is the obvious but its allowing them to be bored in the first place. Decreasing screen time has been life changing for us. The second is to go take notice of their interests based off their personality traits. Usually it takes one idea to stimulate their brains to want to learn more about a topic. We will usually introduce something new (like starting a baking business lets say), then get books on the topic, watch a short YouTube video showing kids actually running a successful business (like this one), and that gets the ball rolling!

For example our oldest loves people and being a leader.

This summer we started a business selling cookies. She baked dozens of cookies, gave samples to the neighbors, learned marketing, sales, fulfillment, and best of all what failure felt like, which is a reward to give your kid in and of itself. 

Failure means you’re closer towards figuring out what’s wrong. 

Here’s our list of 100 boredom busters:

1. Create a Scrapbook of Memories
2. Start a Vegetable Garden
3. Organize a Neighborhood Clean-Up
4. Bake Cookies from Scratch
5. Build a Treehouse or Fort
6. Learn a Musical Instrument
7. Participate in a Science Experiment
8. Write and Illustrate a Short Story
9. Volunteer at a Local Animal Shelter
10. Set Up a Lemonade Stand and Donate Profits
11. Learn to Sew and Make Simple Clothes
12. Create an Art Gallery at Home
13. Organize a Family Movie Night
14. Join a Sports Team
15. Start a Book Club with Friends
16. Learn to Cook a Full Meal
17. Collect and Press Leaves or Flowers
18. Build a Model or Puzzle
19. Start a Blog or Vlog
20. Create a Family Cookbook
21. Learn Basic Coding or Programming
22. Paint a Mural on a Blank Wall
23. Participate in a Charity Run or Walk
24. Compose and Record a Song
25. Set Up a DIY Science Fair at Home
26. Create a Miniature Garden
27. Learn a New Language
28. Build a Birdhouse and Document Visitors
29. Start a Journal or Diary
30. Organize a Garage Sale and Donate Earnings
31. Learn to Knit or Crochet
32. Experiment with Photography
33. Participate in a Community Art Project
34. Create a Vision Board
35. Start a Monthly Book Exchange
36. Build a Mini Model of the Solar System
37. Design and Paint Custom T-Shirts
38. Learn Basic Carpentry Skills
39. Create a Comic Strip Series
40. Organize a Talent Show with Friends
41. Learn Basic First Aid Skills
42. Make Homemade Playdough or Slime
43. Participate in a Local Theater Production
44. Create a Time Capsule
45. Learn to Skateboard or Rollerblade
46. Build a Bird Feeder and Document Visitors
47. Start a DIY Home Décor Project
48. Learn Origami
49. Participate in a Community Gardening Project
50. Create a Family Cookbook
51. Set Up a DIY Photo Booth at Home
52. Learn Basic Yoga or Meditation
53. Design and Build a Board Game
54. Organize a Clothing Swap with Friends
55. Start a Club with Friends (Book Club, Art Club, etc.)
56. Create a Family Newsletter
57. Learn to Play Chess
58. Set Up a DIY Spa Day at Home
59. Build a Model of a Famous Landmark
60. Participate in a DIY Home Improvement Project
61. Learn to Juggle
62. Create a Family Tree
63. Organize a Neighborhood Sports Tournament
64. Learn Basic Graphic Design Skills
65. Start a Podcast/ Vlog
66. Design and Paint Rocks for Garden Decor
67. Set Up a DIY Indoor Obstacle Course
68. Learn to Ride a Bike
69. Create a DIY Board Game
70. Participate in a Local Cooking Class
71. Build a Robot from Recyclables
72. Start a DIY Fashion Show at Home
73. Learn Basic Calligraphy
74. Organize a Family Game Night
75. Create a DIY Treasure Hunt
76. Start a Collection (Stamps, Coins, etc.)
77. Learn to Roller Skate
78. Design and Plant a Butterfly Garden
79. Participate in a DIY Home Science Experiment
80. Create a Family Time Capsule
81. Learn to Hula Hoop
82. Build a Model of the Human Body
83. Start a DIY Jewelry Making Project
84. Learn Basic Astronomy
85. Organize a Family Talent Show
86. Create a DIY Escape Room at Home
87. Learn to Sew Buttons and Basic Repairs
88. Build a Model of a Historical Event
89. Start a DIY Card Making Project
90. Participate in a DIY Home Fitness Challenge
91. Design and Paint Flower Pots
92. Learn Basic Gardening Skills
93. Organize a Family Olympics
94. Create a DIY Puzzle
95. Start a DIY Craft Night at Home
96. Learn Basic Pottery Skills
97. Build a Model of the Ecosystem
98. Participate in a DIY Home Coding Project
99. Create a Family Recipe Book
100. Learn to Fly a Kite

So, the next time you hear “I’m bored,” remember, it’s not a lack of things to do; it’s a call for meaningful work.