A Summer List for Students: Ways to Keep from Getting Bored

When I taught 3rd grade, one activity we always did at school during the waning days of the school year was to have a brainstorm: Ways to Keep from Getting Bored this Summer.  I would ask the students to post it on their refrigerator and always consult the list for something to do before bugging their parents with the time honored "I'm bored."

The list was student-generated, though I was allowed to make suggestions, too.  Each year's list was different, but certain favorites always seemed to appear.  Maybe you have school-age children this would be helpful in keeping productively engaged-- or at least entertained (we do what we have to).  This is my list from 2008, the last year I taught.  The list is not categorized, nor did I delete some items that didn't happen to be my favorites. 

• Watch TV
• Play video games
• Make snacks
• Draw, sketch, or color
• Make crafts out of recyclableds
• Make a fort or playhouse (indoors or out)
• Practice Math
• Play sports
• Board games
• Ride bikes or dirt bikes
• Read books
• Write or add to your autobiography
• Make a humor magazine
• Call a friend
• Pick flowers
• Write poems or stories
• Jump rope
• Exercise
• Have a sleepover
• Dance
• Catch bugs or small animals
• Swim
• Make up home water games
• Write a letter to a friend that moved
• Earn money
• Start a collection
• Camp out
• Sell lemonade
• Invent a game
• Play all kinds of card games, including solitaire
• Practice somersaults, headstands, and gymnastic stunts
• Entertain a friend or neighbor
• Help your parents
• Watch videos
• Explore the internet (with permission)
• Learn about your family history
• Hot Wheels Races
• Imagine --- anything
• Walk a dog
• Do pet activities
• Go fishing
• Clean your equipment
• Listen to the radio

As you can see, the list is both random and ECLECTIC.  Maybe that's why I love it.  The activities require varying amounts of supervision and equipment.  Some can be done alone, others require more children.  I think I could brainstorm another 15 or 20 right now (learn to make hand shadows, learn string tricks, blow bubbles. . . )  If you use this list or make your own, be sure to make rules and boundaries very clear to your child.   Hope this saves someone from pulling out their hair or from having that last nerve trampled on.