Boredom Buster Activity Jar

Bust boredom with this color-coded activity jar. Kids pull a stick (based on the color you tell them) and instantly have something to do!

If I hear “Mom, I’m bored” one. more. time.

Geez!

I love my kids. L-O-V-E my kids. But this introverted mom needs some time to focus and work and not be running the road every day.

Plus, we live on a budget. I can’t keep my children entertained with expensive trips and camps all summer long.

Do you feel my pain?

The good news is… I have a plan that can save us both from the endless moaning and sing-song “I’m bored” cries of our beloved kids.

Boredom Buster Activity Jar

To create this easy escape from the whining, you will need:

• craft sticks
• tape or glue
• colored permanent markers
• a short glass or jar
• ideas (Out of those? Don’t worry! I have you covered with a freebie below.)

Start with your color coding system.

I gave our potential activities three categories:

• Free and at home (orange)
• Under $10 (blue)
• Expensive trips (purple)

You can divide your categories any way you please. Then, mark the craft sticks so you know which will be in what category.

Next, label your stick with ideas. As I mentioned, I have tons of summer bucket list ideas and placed several on the free printable pages you can receive below.

I cut the ideas apart, trimming off a little extra to make the slips fit on my skinny craft sticks. You can attach them with glue but I prefer clear tape as they end up with a laminated look and last longer.

Finally, place all your boredom busting activities into a short jar or glass.

Remember to make note of your categories so you don’t accidentally have a child pull an expensive stick on a day when the bank account is empty.

Boredom Jar Rules

For our activity jar, I had to add a few rules to keep the children from pulling multiple sticks each day.

1. Only one stick for the entire family per day.
2. Everyone must do the activity.
3. Mom and dad have the right to veto any activity without explanation.
4. You MUST do the activity chosen and cannot pick again until another day.

Free Boredom Buster Jar Printables

Now for the ideas… I have tons but could not fit everything on these pages. So, I left plenty of blanks for you to create your own.

Click to download the printable here.