Bored Kid? The Best 30 Ideas for Your Bored Jar

Inside: A bored jar will save you the next time your child says “I’m bored.” To get started, here’s a free printable of 30 ideas for your bored jar.

When our oldest first entered the phase of proclaiming “I’m bored” on a regular basis, I’d cheerily rattle off a couple ideas for something fun she could do. She’d pick one and disappear for 30 minutes, and I gave myself a pat on the back for a job well done.

But then she’d boomerang right back to me with another “I’m bored,” and the cycle would repeat.

So when I came across the idea of a “bored jar,” I knew I had to make one.

Bonus: As a bonus for joining my weekly newsletter, get a free printable of the best 50 bored jar ideas.

How to Make a Bored Jar: Non-Crafty Edition

Here’s the basic idea:

1. Get a jar^† and some jumbo popsicle sticks.

^† This site is reader-supported. When you buy through our links, we may earn an affiliate commission.

2. (Optional) Decorate one side of the popsicle sticks with washi tape. (Note: I am not a crafty person, but I figured even I could handle sticking washi tape on popsicle sticks. It’s not necessary for your Bored Jar—some people even use slips of paper instead of popsicle sticks.)
3. Write ideas for fun stuff to do on the popsicle sticks, and put them in the jar (hereafter referred to as the Bored Jar).
4. When your kid says they’re bored, point to the Bored Jar.
5. Your kid picks a stick and does what it says. PROBLEM SOLVED.

What I spent:

• Jar: $4.18
• Popsicle sticks: $3.74
• Washi tape: $6.03
• Total: $13.95

Here’s how my Bored Jar turned out. Not quite as adorable as my inspiration, but it’ll do.

But Will It Work on a Bored Kid?

Short answer: Yep! What’s surprised us is how seriously our daughter has taken the Bored Jar.

This weekend, she pulled out a stick that said “Do something nice for someone you love.”

Her: “What does that mean?”

“Just something you think would make someone smile, like drawing them a picture or doing them a favor,” I explained.

She disappeared for a while.

Then she came strutting out of my bedroom with a big grin on her face.

I was a little nervous. So I hurried into the bedroom, and this is what I discovered:

• She had pushed the cat beds under the dresser to get them out of the way.
• She moved a stray empty box from some recently ordered baby must haves into a corner.
• She’d taken the clean duvet cover from the laundry basket off the floor and spread it over the bed. The king-sized bed on a platform frame. With only her two little 5-year-old hands.

Related: Keep Your Kids Happy With This Road Trip Experiment

Our Own Special Twist

Sometimes I’m perfectly happy to play a game of Qwirkle per the Bored Jar, but other times I just need my child to entertain herself while I get something else done.

So for the activities that she can’t do on her own, we added a star on the popsicle stick. Before she draws a stick, she asks whether we can do something with her. And if not, she knows to keep pulling sticks until she finds one without a star.

Or Just Forget the Popsicle Sticks

To save you time, I made a handy printable of 50 activities for your bored kid—the 30 activities listed in the next section plus 20 more bonus activity ideas. Scroll to the end of this post to get the printable, cut it into cards, pop them into a jar, and you’re done.

Here’s a sneak peek of your printable:

30 Fun Activities for Bored Kids

1. Have a picnic for lunch or after school
2. Write or make up a story
3. Listen to a podcast
4. Play hide-and-seek
5. Solve a puzzle
6. Read a book or magazine
7. Make art
8. Play a card game or board game—Here are the best board games for all ages.
9. Go for a walk
10. Play catch
11. Take photos

12. Do yoga (our daughter loves this YogaKids DVD)
13. Write a letter or thank-you note
14. Design an obstacle course
15. Listen to an audiobook—Get a membership to Audible or Libro.fm so they can listen to the best audiobooks. (By the way, Libro.fm is the same price as Audible, and you’ll support a locally owned bookstore with every audiobook you choose!)
16. Build something with LEGOs
17. Design a postcard, then mail it to someone
18. Play dress-up
19. Make food
20. Do five nice things for someone you love
21. Paint rocks
22. Plan a treasure hunt
23. Build something with boxes
24. Take a bath
25. Watch a documentary
26. Turn on the sprinklers
27. Write in a journal—Here are the best journals for kids.
28. Chat by video with a friend or relative
29. Build an epic fort
30. Wash the car

Get Your Free Printable: 50 Bored Jar Ideas

1. Get the free printable of 50 bored jar ideas for kids. Join my weekly-ish newsletter and as a bonus, you’ll get the printable! Just click here to get it and subscribe.
2. Print. Any paper will do the trick, but card stock would be ideal.
3. Cut into cards. Don’t worry if you don’t cut them perfectly straight. Your bored kid won’t care!
4. Pop the cards into an empty mason jar or bowl, put it on your dining room table, and you’re DONE.

Your Turn

What do you do when you have a bored kid on your hands? Share your tips in a comment below!