Good Old Fashioned Boredom Busters
Are your kids getting bored this Summer? Here’s a few ideas that are so old they might just seem fresh and new.
Old fashioned games are usually inexpensive… perfect for “Make it Do.” And they take me back to my childhood (does that make me old?) But best of all they are really fun.
Jump Rope
My kids have had one player jump ropes for a few years. But this Christmas, Emma received a wonderful long Jump Rope, just perfect for multiple jumpers… I got out and jumped rope with the kids today, and holy cow it is good exercise. Plus jumping rope is a great way to teach your kids to cooperate.
So just is case you’ve forgotten, here are a few jump rope rhymes to play:
Cinderella, dressed in yellow
went upstairs to kiss a ‘fella
made a mistake
and kissed a snake
how many doctors
did it take?
[count until someone messes up]
Strawberry Shortcake, Blueberry Pie
I got the name of the cutest guy
And his name begins with
A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J…
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Turn around
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Touch the ground
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Tie your shoe
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, That will do
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Go upstairs
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Say your prayers
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Dim the lights
Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear, Say good night
We have also loved playing hopscotch… making the course with sidewalk chalk and a hoppy taw.
And don’t forget jacks… it’s way harder than I remember, but that’s what makes it fun.
I also recently purchased 2 long jump ropes at Utah Idaho Supply so I could teach my children Double Dutch.
2 more favorites of my children:
* Shooting and collecting marbles
* Painting rocks found around the yard to decorate my flower beds. They are tucked in an around plants all over the place, and this way rocks aren’t an irritation.
What a good mom you are. How many mothers out there are just happy letting their kids watch tv or video game play. Yayy for old school fun. I would go on about my childhood but I consider playing outside every single day of the summer (allowing for rain of course, and it did rain in the east where I grew up) the greatest treasure of my life. Well after having my children and stuff like that! ha We had a playground near us and I was there everyday or playing with my friends to the simple pleasures like these.
I was great at jacks as a kid!
Here’s another thing that was fun for us kids–although it may not be PC nowadays. We would catch Junebugs (huge version of japanese beetle) and tie a sewing thread to one of its sturdy back legs. Then we would follow it around the yard as it flew. Later we would take off the thread and release it.