End-of-Summer Boredom Bingo (FREE PRINTABLE)

A few months ago around the dinner table, the topic of conversation landed on what Disney character best described each of us.

My husband was Mufasa from the Lion King; my oldest has always born a resemblance to Cars’ Lightning McQueen, while my second son makes us laugh like Tow Mater (and happens to be going through a Duck Dynasty phase? I digress.) I may have had some references to Mary Poppins, or Ms. Potts from Beauty and the Beast. (Sigh.) The jury’s still out on my daughter (maybe Belle, maybe Lilo).

But my youngest son is a whole lot like Dash from The Incredibles–often seen merely in a blur. Friends have likened him to a cartoon character before, so this isn’t new. He’s also my two-sports-at-a-time kid nearly every season.

Allow me to compare:

That said, I’ll give you a free guess on which of my kids is the hardest to entertain.

Like, since he was born.

When Summer Boredom is Real

As a toddler, he busied himself unscrewing the tops of the bottles in the tub (so one might dump three months’ worth of conditioner into one’s hand).

He unloaded my appliance cupboard twice a day to assemble all the parts (I had long since removed the blades).

And while I was in the bathroom, pulled up a stool to the toaster oven, where I’d set drink packets. He punched them open with his teeth and sprinkled them around the first floor like fairy dust. (Woe to the mother who takes a bathroom break with this child.)

Now, he just wrestles with run-of-the-mill summer boredom.

After the church’s hot-dog picnic lunch in the park on Sunday–where he rode his bike, mingled for two hours, introduced his puppy, and messed around on the playground–he slammed the door, ran upstairs, and fell on the bed. “I’m bored.”

Oh, help.

End-of-Summer Boredom Bingo

So today, we landed on a summer-boredom solution.

I’ll give you two versions of this game: mine, and a make-your-own version.

If you’re interested in creating your own:

Complete a brain dump of activities.

Mix up fun activities with those that are educational, spiritual, or requiring some discipline or service. On our list

• pool
• jigsaw puzzle
• have quiet time with God
• pitching/shooting soccer goals/warming up for the cross-country season
• bike ride
• make plans with a friend
• cookout
• Legos
• memorize Bible verses
• make popsicles
• build something in the garage
• play an educational computer game
• library
• grab a slushie
• draw
• act of service
• cook something new
• sudoku
• light-saber battle
• make a fort
• camp in the yard
• rollerblade
• go for a hike
• skate park
• practice an instrument
• read a book
• create your own video

Grab more ideas at

• 60 Easy Ways to Make Summer Special with Kids!
• 71 Ideas for Bored Teens & Tweens
• Child’s Play: 65 Non-Screen Ideas for COVID Closures
• Guest post: 30 Activities for Kids in March

Arrange your Bingo grid.

Here’s one premade.

Write in your own activities in the white spaces, or have your kids write in their favorite activities. Ask that at least one challenging or less-fun activity show up in each row.

Print the blank version of Summer Boredom Bingo.

Print the filled-in version of Summer Boredom Bingo.

Incentivize.

If you’re that kind of parent–as I shamelessly am–consider light incentives for each row, then for completion of the whole sheet. Are there better incentives for the more rows your child completes?

Your turn. What’s helping you flip summer boredom on its head?

Comment below!

Like this post? You might like

• 60 Easy Ways to Make Summer Special with Kids!
• Spring [or Summer] Break Kids’ Activity: The Newlywed Game (FREE PRINTABLE)
• Spiritual Disciplines for Real Families: Service
• Guest post: 25 Low-prep Service Projects for Kids that Teach Gratitude
• Do I let my kid veg out all summer?