
As summer and social distancing stretch on, it’s becoming increasingly difficult to find ways for kids to spend their time. It can also be tricky to find a balance between active, healthy activities and screen or playtime. That’s where a bored jar comes in. A bored jar is a fun resource that kids can turn to when they run out of activity ideas. They’re a low-cost way to produce hours of entertainment for your kids, and the activities inside can blend traditional playtime activities with educational, healthy and productive tasks.
A Bored Jar

All you need to get started on your bored jar is a mason jar, shoebox, coffee tin or anything else that can hold the activity ideas inside. Start by having your kids decorate the jar however they’d like, and consider attaching a label to the jar with your kid’s names on it for a personal touch.
The Activities
Download printable label/activities HERE
Once you’ve created the jar, it’s time to fill it with fun activities that your kids will love. We’ve compiled a list of ideas for you to get started brainstorming:
- 30 minutes of TV time
- Make a pillow fort
- Play dress up
- Have a picnic
- Call a relative
- Make a puppet show with dolls or socks
- 30 minutes of computer time
- Play a board game
- 1 hour of video games
- Have a thumb wrestling battle
- Pillow fight
- Play hide-and-seek
- Play tag
- Do a handstand
- Run outside for 15 minutes
- Have a crab walk race
- Climb a tree
- Have a dance party
- Ride your bike for 1 hour
- Make an obstacle course
- Play basketball
- Play soccer
- Play kickball
- Draw a picture
- Create your own board game
- Make paper airplanes
- Finger painting
- Make masks out of paper plates
- Draw your favorite animal
- Draw with your left hand
- Make a collage from magazines
- Do a puzzle
- Make a musical instrument
- Draw a comic book
- Make a scrapbook
- Create a time capsule
- Read for 1 hour
- Watch an educational movie
- Make slime
- Learn the alphabet backwards
- Recreate a classic art piece
- Go bird watching
- Write a short story
- Write a poem
- Draw a constellation
- Draw the solar system
- Make our family tree
- Plant a seedling
- Learn the alphabet in a different language
- Count to 10 in a different language
Productive Activities
Considering putting household chores and other productive activities into the jar. You can incentivize these activities by rewarding completed activities with treats or rewards.
- Wash the car
- Sweep the kitchen
- Clean the windows
- Vacuum the floors
- Water the plants
- Clean the bathroom
- Clean your bedroom
- Pull weeds in the garden
- Organize the book shelf
- Set aside toys and clothes to donate
- Sweep the hallway
- Dust the surfaces in the living room
- Pick up trash in the yard
- Clean your closet
- Make your bed
Printable Activities
There are many fun activities that can take your bored jar to the next level. We’ve included some fun printables to help you get started.
Plant a Seedling
Download Printable Garden Labels and Growth Tracker HERE
Planting an herb or vegetable seed is a fun way to teach kids about science, patience and responsibility. Use the garden labels for a fun art project and to label your seeds, then use the printable growth trackers to keep track of your seed’s growth over the weeks. A few easy herbs and vegetables to grow are basil, beets and peas.
Put on a Puppet Show
Download Printable Puppets HERE
A puppet show allows your kids to flex their creative muscles and provides entertainment for the whole family. Have your kids draw their own puppets or use printables ones and attach them to straws, sticks or popsicle sticks. Have your kids write a silly script for the show and perform it for the family!
Make a Time Capsule
Download Printable Time Capsule HERE
A time capsule provides entertainment for now and later. All you need is a box or tin that can withstand being underground, some fun objects to place inside and a letter to write your future self about your current life. Decide on a time that your family will dig up the capsule then plant somewhere in your backyard.
Get creative with your bored jar ideas and tailor them to your kid’s interests and hobbies. To keep it fresh, you can even replace some of the activities every few months so the bored jar remains entertaining and exciting.
A bored jar is a fun resource that kids can turn to when they run out of activity ideas. What are some of your favorite boredom resources?

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