DIY "I'm Bored" Jar Tutorial to Keep Kids Self-Entertained

Thirty Ideas to put inside your own “I’m Bored” jar. Keep kids self-entertained this summer with some fun activities and a few “not so fun” chores.

This past weekend was a long weekend. A very long weekend. They say that it’s toddlers that need to be entertained every minute, but really, it’s 8-year-olds. Isabella was great at independent play when she was younger, but it seems the older she gets the more she wants me to be her social activities director. Right now it’s mainly just the weekends that we have issues, but summer is right around the corner. In anticipation of the many waking hours we are about to be spending together, I decided to head off her “Mom, I’m bored!” and “What can I do now?” by making this easy DIY Washi Tape I’m Bored Jar.

What you need:

Jumbo Wood Craft Sticks
Washi Tape
Mason Jar
Label maker or black marker

I used my Brother P-touch Home and Office Labeler (PT-D200) to print the activities and taped bright, colorful Washi Tape around the opposite end.

I found that 30 sticks fit perfectly inside the Mason Jar, so I decided to split that up between 20 fun activities and 10 chore-like tasks. I made sure that there were a few of each type for each color. Isabella is definitely smart enough to not pick another pink one if it contained a chore the first time. I think another key to the success of this jar is that there will need to be rules that you must complete the activity on the stick before drawing another one. She is also the type that would pull one, decide she didn’t like that one, and try to put it back. There will also be a time component to each activity- probably around 20 minutes.

Here’s the list of activities I included in our “I’m Bored” Jar:

Write a story
Draw a picture
Write a letter
Empty all trash cans
Practice math
Assemble a puzzle
Make jewelry
Draw with chalk
Sweep the porch
Play the Wii
Watch a movie
Pick up toys in the backyard
Play balloon volleyball
Blow bubbles
Brush Emme (the dog)
Brush Missy (the dog)
Color in coloring books
Swing outside
Dust furniture
Play with Play-Doh
Play a computer game
Dust baseboards
Have a dance party
Clean sinks
Jump rope
Service project
Take a bubble bath
Service project
Nature photoshoot in backyard
Read a book

(Read more about the service projects that I’m implementing with her and our weekly schedule here.)

I’m really hoping that this “I’m Bored” Jar will help solve some of our daily battles. This way she is responsible for her own fate, without me having to tell her what to do or come up with suggestions… AND she won’t be telling me she’s bored every five minutes. I’m determined to be more organized this summer, not only to save my own sanity and not have the usual summertime struggles, but to also be able to enjoy our time together and provide more opportunities to be a “yes” Mom. Next up: a system for earning screen time.

What are your tips to combat the inevitable “I’m bored”?