Jean in Newcastle Posted June 8, 2013 Share Posted June 8, 2013 when dh is busy studying, I'm going to be gone, and ds is sick with a fever. Her bff moved out of the neighborhood and there are no other kids around her age. There is a library and a park within walking distance but she does go to both of those places on her own quite often so they aren't very special. She is grumpy and soooooo booooored. I'm escaping in an hour and won't have to put up with her griping but did want to give her a couple of suggestions before I go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NorthwestMom Posted June 8, 2013 Share Posted June 8, 2013 Duct tape crafts? Yard work? Create a crossword puzzle with clues for the sick sibling? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted June 8, 2013 Share Posted June 8, 2013 Have her sign up for diy.org and earn some badges! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted June 8, 2013 Author Share Posted June 8, 2013 Great ideas. Dh has taken her jogging for now. That should tire her out some! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted June 8, 2013 Author Share Posted June 8, 2013 Great ideas. Dh has taken her jogging for now. That should tire her out some! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted June 8, 2013 Author Share Posted June 8, 2013 I have given ds a stack of post-it notes with "assignments" (like making brownies) to hand her at regular intervals. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DawnM Posted June 8, 2013 Share Posted June 8, 2013 I am dealing with boredom right now as well. Dh just took the boys golfing and oldest threw a 2 year old tantrum because he didn't want to get off the computer game. By the time they left he had lost some privileges! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
happi duck Posted June 8, 2013 Share Posted June 8, 2013 Have her sign up for diy.org and earn some badges! This sounds intriguing...wish I had time to check this out right now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyontheFarm Posted June 8, 2013 Share Posted June 8, 2013 We send ours out to muck out stalls. Apparently, after the first time, our teens are never bored again! :laugh: They also freak out if their friends ever say they are bored at our place.... something about me telling them I have a job for them out in the barn... city kids love getting a chance to work out in the barn. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DianeW88 Posted June 8, 2013 Share Posted June 8, 2013 Chores. I never hear those words in my house. The consequences are swift and sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SKL Posted June 8, 2013 Share Posted June 8, 2013 Bored children need more chores. Let your children know that you have a list of projects for them to work on should they ever appear to be bored / idle. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ottakee Posted June 8, 2013 Share Posted June 8, 2013 We send ours out to muck out stalls. Apparently, after the first time, our teens are never bored again! :laugh: They also freak out if their friends ever say they are bored at our place.... something about me telling them I have a job for them out in the barn... city kids love getting a chance to work out in the barn. Amy, I LOVE this. We have 3 horses they aren't stalled so rarely have poop in the stalls to clean..........but as we only have about 2 acres in pasture for them, we do have to scoop poop out of hte pastures and arena. usually after 1 load or so they have figure out something else to do. I also make the kids that come here for pony rides help me with chores--water, feed, hay, poop scooping, etc. as well. They may as well know what is REALLY envolved in having a horse. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy101 Posted June 8, 2013 Share Posted June 8, 2013 I'm with Amy. Work. I tell my kids boredom is just a sad lack of ingenuity and initiative. ;p Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy101 Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 There's always something. Oiling the woodwork, dusting ceiling fans, bathing a pet, paint a room or clean the walls, clean out and organize closets or drawers or garage, mow the yard, pull weeds.... Has she no hobbies? Interests? Art supplies? Electronics to play? Deck of cards? Is there no one she can help or create a gift for? Cross stitch something for someone? Crochet a baby blanket for someone? Volunteering at the library? Or church? I've got nothing against giving her some ideas. I simply think the general idea is best to be only a starting point. So what does she want to do? There has to be something she wants to do. As a tween, I would expect to start giving them more ownership of themselves and their environment. I don't expect them to just wander the neighborhood either. They should have some basic purpose to it. Playing at the creek is a purpose. Walking to target to check out the $1 bins is a purpose. If she is otherwise very active and purposeful, then purposeful nothingness for an afternoon isn't all that bad a thing. We all need some down time that's just down. In my house, those days are when we catch up on an entire season of Dr Who. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tammi K Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 I just walked through the house and saw ds1 working on a composition he's writing on piano. Ds2 is about to play cribbage with dad. And, dd is making a necklace with her wire tools. (They learned a long time ago not to tell me they are bored because I will ALWAYS find something for them to do :lol: ) We have a shelf full of craft kits, a few klutz press books (camera tricks ans stop-motion are on tap for summer), and lots of logic games that are fun for an hour or two. If you have time to gather supplies, wool needle felting is fun for a careful minded tween. Maybe something here will spark an idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Excelsior! Academy Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 Only boring people get bored. I have some toilets to scrub or a toddler to watch if you need a job. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted June 9, 2013 Author Share Posted June 9, 2013 Have her sign up for diy.org and earn some badges! Sparrow - this was one of the "assignments" on the post-it notes I gave her and she absolutely loved it! Thank you so much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coffeemama Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 Have her sign up for diy.org and earn some badges! What a terrific site; full of fun ideas! Thanks for sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy101 Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 That does look fun! What a terrific site; full of fun ideas! Thanks for sharing! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChristusG Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 Have her sign up for diy.org and earn some badges! This looks so neat!! I just downloaded the app onto my iPhone and I plan to put it on kids iPod Touches tomorrow....looks like a really neat summer fun activity! My girls will be all about earning the badges! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 I had a relative who was fond of saying "No intelligent person should ever be bored" or something like that. It got parroted throughout the family enough that, if I was bored, I was too proud to admit it. As an adult, I WISH I had enough downtime with NOTHING hanging over my head to do that I could get bored. Would it work to say "If you get bored, clean and organize the linen closet."? It's not a punishment, but meaningful work has a way of making time pass so that you feel you've accomplished something AND you appreciate idle downtime more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MooCow Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 I give them chores! Or make them play with little brother. It works every time. :laugh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PinkyandtheBrains. Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 I usually find something (chores) for them to do if they are so bored they are complaining. Occasionally I'll try an suggest a show, or activity they can do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
albeto Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 Curiosity is the cure for boredom. The cure for curiosity is knowledge, creativity, exploration, expression, love of learning. Giving a child chores will teach a child to avoid parents when they need advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murphy101 Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 Hogwash. Hasn't kept any of my kids from asking me anything. But whatever. Curiosity is the cure for boredom. The cure for curiosity is knowledge, creativity, exploration, exp<b></b>ression, love of learning. Giving a child chores will teach a child to avoid parents when they need advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chris in VA Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 My 11 year old likes to video record himself cooking things. Cracking.Up. I call this "playing Cooking Show." I do this when I'm alone and making dinner...:-) Eta--I should add that I don't film myself! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AmyontheFarm Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 Cracking.Up. I call this "playing Cooking Show." I do this when I'm alone and making dinner...:-) Eta--I should add that I don't film myself! Hey Chris can we dare you to film yourself! LOL You could make video yourself making "The Well- Trained-Mind Bean dip" Then when a newbie asks what does "pass the bean dip" mean we could point them to your cooking class video and the meaning behind the phrase. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassenach Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 Like others, I offer chores. I do feel for them sometimes, especially when a sibling is away and none of their friends are available. Baking seems to be a favorite boredom buster. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kewb Posted June 9, 2013 Share Posted June 9, 2013 Telling me you are bored equals a dust rag and the vacuum in my house. It is amazing how they are able to find something to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KungFuPanda Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 Curiosity is the cure for boredom. The cure for curiosity is knowledge, creativity, exploration, exp<b></b>ression, love of learning. Giving a child chores will teach a child to avoid parents when they need advice. I have not found this to be true. The questions don't stop, but complaints of boredom do. "I'm bored." is not a question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mom0012 Posted June 10, 2013 Share Posted June 10, 2013 My dd loves to do Window Art (Klutz kit) while listening to audiobooks. I stock up on extra paint. She also loves the Usborne Sticker Dolly books and does them while listening to audiobooks as well. I know those books may sound young, but my 11 1/2 year old still loves them, and when I spoke to the woman at the Usborne booth she said that was typical and that even her dd who was a year or two older still loved them. I just gave this one to my dd today after her ballet recital and she was thrilled. http://www.amazon.com/Sticker-Dressing-Shopping-Usborne-Activities/dp/0794532543/ref=pd_sim_b_13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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