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What To Do When There Isn't Anything To Do

Bring a Boredom Bag.

By Melissa Shrader Editor Publisher Fort Collins Macaroni KID January 9, 2023

If you are a parent you hear this from time to time. " I'm board. There's nothing to do. I want the phone." 

If you aren't wanting to hand over the phone or if your child has hit their time on the phone I've got a fun way to give them something to do. 





It's the Boredom Bag. 

The idea is to fill it with things that will keep your kid busy, entertained, and educated. You can make it age appropriate very easily and you can have 2 bags. One for your child alone and one for your child to pick from that you will be part of too. 





Child Boredom Bag (a few suggestions) 

  • Empty Bags (Can be used to collect treasures of all kinds, rocks, twigs, bugs etc) 
  • A Deck of Cards (they can build towers with them)
  • Small building blocks (they can build something and put it in a bag to keep it safe) 
  • Markers (depending on the age you can make them washable or not) 
  • Pens (you can use crayons too) 
  • Paper (various kinds and colors make it fun) 
  • Graph paper (they can color in the blocks and create drawings like Minecraft or Lego) 
  • Coloring Book/Activity Book (great at any age) 
  • A Joke book or favorite book
  • Magnetic game boards or mini game boards 
  • Small Ball ( they can do this alone or with someone) 
  • Small toys (little dolls, army men, cars, bugs, animals etc) 
  • Snack (always a hit to keep them from getting hangry)
  • Most importantly make it customized to your child's interests.




Child boredom bag to use with someone else (parent, guardian, friend, sibling) 

  • Empty Bags (Can be used to collect treasures of all kinds, rocks, twigs, bugs etc) 
  • A Deck of Cards (they can build towers with them)
  • Small building blocks (they can build something and put it in a bag to keep it safe) 
  • A Joke book or favorite book
  • Magnetic game boards or mini game boards 
  • Small Ball ( they can do this alone or with someone) 
  • Small toys (little dolls, army men, cars, bugs, animals etc) 
  • Snack (always a hit to keep them from getting hangry)
  • Most importantly make it customized to your child's interests.




Fun ideas to keep kids busy and still 

Have them pretend to be a cat (have them tuck their paws in and curl up in a chair in the sun) 

Rock but don't roll ( Rock in the rocking chair or pretend) 

Blow one big bubble. (See how big of a bubble they can blow) 

Bird-watching (see how many birds or animals can they find out the window) 

Counting clouds ( see how many clouds are in the sky) 

Stay still (see how long they can stay still. Try to make each time longer than the last) 

Sit and watch it snow/rain the sunrise or sunset. 

Create a comic book or a story


No matter what you put into your boredom bag it is sure to be a hit. I bring one with me everywhere I go. 

I love to use our when we are at restaurants.