We parents can become pretty predictable and when that happens, boredom can set in around our households (of course we can‘t be the only ones to blame for the “I‘m bored“’s!). I’ve found over the years that it is helpful to have a few fresh activity ideas tucked away in my back pocket for when things get mundane. It also helped when one of my children had guests over and things got bogged down and stressed. I could suggest one of my hoarded activities and it might mean the difference between a successful or failed play date.
Let’s face it, we get in a rut. Our kids–adventuresome and creative as they might be–also get in ruts. However, by brushing up on ideas and activities, we can have a little “stash” to pull out and suggest when the need arises. I found that parenting magazines and educational magazines geared toward various age groups to be a great source of fresh ideas. They often have parent’s tips sections or even activities suggestions and a parent can glean some great ideas while waiting in the doctor’s office or standing on line at the grocery store.
The internet is a boon for activities and ideas to keep kids entertained and not bored–some educational and some just plain fun. A trip to the library can also be an opportunity to scan through periodicals and books for activity ideas. Most libraries have a photocopy machine right there where you can copy anything that looks good for ten or fifteen cents and then file it away for later. For some reason, I found some of the handiest activity ideas in OLD books–old school books, parenting books, and books of experiments and such. I think the fact that they were forty or fifty years old made them seem novel and less likely to be duplicated in a trendy, hip publication.
I kept an ordinary black, plastic binder when my kids were small (I still have it as a matter of fact) and tucked in recipes for play dough and finger paint, activity ideas, etc. That way, when things got kooky, I could go to my “black book” and come up with a fresh activity.
Also: Don’t Overlook the Simple, Cheap Deck of Cards
Add a Little Writing Into Play
The Joy of Found Toys and Made-Up Games