Keep summer boredom at bay with the “Mom I’m Bored” Jar! Any time your kids say they’re bored they can pick an activity from the bored jar. It could be something fun or it could be a chore. It’ll make them think twice before saying they’re bored!
You might also like these Summer Boredom Busters – B-O-R-E-D ACRONYM PRINTABLE, Printable Summer Schedule, and our Printable Summer Journal
Bored Jar
By about the second week of summer, moms all over the world have one thing in common-
we are all sick and tired of the phrase, “Mom, I’m bored!”
My friend told me that every time her son said he was bored, she would give him a baby wipe and pick a room of the house and have him dust all the baseboards in that room! It didn’t take him too long to find something else to do and stop telling his mom he was bored! I decided I needed to come up with something of my own to keep my kids busy, and that is when I created this “Mom I’m Bored” Jar:
They might get “Make cookies with Mom”, or they might get “Pull weeds.”
They could get “Play in the sprinklers”, or they could get “Do a chore of Mom’s choice!”
I made the boredom busters into a printable so you all can download the activities I used and make your own jar!
The “Mom I’m Bored” Jar
Our bored jar printable kit includes 2 different colored labels, over 50 suggested boredom activities, and some blank tags so you can customize the activities for your own family.
MATERIALS NEEDED:
- 1 jar
- printable label and activities (download below)
- scissors
- tape
DIRECTIONS:
- Download and print the printable and then cut them out.
- Tape the label to the front of the jar and place the activities inside the jar.
Easy Peasy!
my little brother kept telling me he was bored so I created a “sis I’m bored” jar he was ok with that
LOL, you’re a wonderful big sister!
I put a coloring book and colored pencils in a brown paper bag. When oldest granddaughter states she’s bored, I give it to her, with an estimate of how long it took her to become bored. If she complains I mention there are clothes in the dryer!!! But I really do love the jar!
Carrie Krumrie
Talking back gets the weed pulling detail!
LOL, thanks Carrie!
What a GREAT idea! Thanks for sharing.
You’re so welcome!
Such a cute idea! I know that if I were the kid, went to Mom and told her I was bored…..and then pulled the “Clean one toilet” activity, I would not get bored again! LOL Dropping over from the Link Party Palooza
Thanks for stopping by Kim! Have a great week!
I love this idea!
Thanks Jenny! 🙂
Thank you so much for sharing!!!! Especially the PDF! 🙂
You’re welcome Laurie! Thanks for stopping by!
So clever. Thanks for sharing. Love you gals!!
Thanks Ashley!
OMG Thank you so much for sharing the idea and for sharing your “idea cards”… It’s a great idea and I can’t wait to try it this summer!!
Thanks Alaina!
Hi I would like to sign up for ur newsletter and free printable I have two daughters and one on a son ok n the way and love ur ideas.
Thanks
Chany
This jar is a great idea and I’m adapting it for our summer camp program. Every so often the schedule has a lapse and now the children can pick what to do. It should make more fun!
Have fun with it Pat! Thanks for stopping by!
Another idea for this could be putting a small metal ring or magnet on each idea in the jar and, if the jar is large enough, the kids have to go fishing for what to do!
What a fun idea! If you get a chance, please share this on my linky party: http://suburbsmama.blogspot.com/2013/06/sunday-linky-party-12.html
I really thought that by the teens years, I would be free of the “I’m boreds” ~ turns out, I was wrong! I love the idea of adding a few chores in there…gets the kids to start thinking independently about managing their own time, before they come to you! Going to make it for sure, teen ideas already flooding my brain! Thanks!
Very clever idea! I should make one of these soon … my kids only have 5 more days of school left!
What font did you use? I love it…and to be able to make up my own things…fun!!!
Thanks- that font is one of my favorites too! It is called CAC Pinafore, and I could’ve sworn I got it from dafont.com, but it has been years and I don’t see it on there anymore. I am sure there are other font websites that carry it- good luck!
I would love to receive “mom I’m border” Thanks! Cute & Fun Idea!!!
Thank you very much. I am sharing these ideas with my daughters.
I would love for you to send me the~
I’m bored Mom
Thank you for sharing your list of ideas! I’m making a bored jar right now, and your list was very helpful 🙂
Wondering if I am the only one that can’t make these print? they boxes are printing but no words?
Steph, featuring this post on the blog tomorrow! 🙂 ~ Mariel
But you need two,
Mum I’m bored and you’re busy
Mum I’m bored and we should do something together.
I LOVE this idea. I saw it on Pinterest and I think it might actually be the first project I’ve ever completed. We went to IKEA this week and I bought the same cookie jar pictured above (without realizing it :D) but my daughter broke it when we were walking out of the store so I went back and bought a cut little stacking tin set they had, I think it will last longer in my house. lol. My only regret is that I didn’t see this sooner as it would have come in handy at the beginning of her 3 week winter break. I just got around to making it today and she goes back to school Monday. Oh well though! Boredom still hits in the evenings and weekends. 🙂
Ha ha ha- your story had me laughing! Im so glad you made this- and yes, it will definitely come in handy!!! 🙂 Have a great evening!
Too funny! Another fun Jar idea is to grow a pet TickleMe Plant and smile when you stick your hands inside the grow to Tickle the leaves as they will move and close up.!
Thanks for this great idea. Found it on Pinterest and immediately went to the store and bought supplies for my own Bored Jar. Love it. <— link for MY Bored Jar. Thanks for the inspiration.
Saw this on Pinterest and just printed out my activities. Can’t WAIT to start this with the kids because I’m hearing “I’m bored” constantly. Such a great idea! Thank you!!!!
with 8 kids I hear I’m bored a ton! Love this idea!
THIS IS A TERRIBLE IDEA!!!
Why? It makes my kids think twice before uttering the “b” word. My grandfather always said there is no such thing as “I’m bored, only boring people”. It makes mine reach for their imagination all the more.
well, then yeah, fair enough, for some families this may work, but as the kid get older, their not going to gain anything from having a jar full of activities for them. they will get bored of having the ‘I’m bored’ jar sooner or later.
Fair Enough but you could always switch it up every once in a while
Wow! Great project! Link it up with me on my Wow Us Wednesday, ok? Over at http://www.familyhomeandlife.com
I do this with chores around the house.
I have different things like vacum , dishes,
Dust, mop etc…every morning after we are
Up and getting our day going we all get around
The jar and see what everybody picks. To the
Kids it makes doing chores seem a little more
Fun and I get atlest 3 things done a day.
What a totally cute idea. This is the first summer I will be a SAHM so I will for sure need this. I would love if you linked it up to my new link party.
~Taylor
PS…pinned this to make before summer starts.
I JUST LOVE IT.
Love this. I’m half way through making my own one of these
Natasha xx
what a fantastic jar!
Now this is a cute idea– I was just looking for summer ideas for my sweet pea yesterday. Going to have to try this out. Thanks for sharing!!!
Mandi
I have tried to print the lists by clicking on the image to enlarge it, but it is not working for me! Could you send it to me another way or maybe help me troubleshoot? Thank you so much for sharing your idea! It is so cute!!
I, too, blogged about my own Bored Jar and linked back to you. 🙂 Thanks for the great idea.
http://www.nearnormalcy.com/2012/03/love-letters-to-and-from-bored-jar.html
Love your ideas and lists for this. Just blogged about an “I’m bored” jar on our blog. Linked your project on the post. Check it out:
http://sistersplayinghouse.blogspot.com/2011/10/im-bored-mom_24.html
I would like a copy of that cheap dates list… It sounds great.
I did a similar thing when my hubby and I were dating. I made slips with little things we could do on the cheap, decorated a recycled jar and gave it to him for a gift. He still has that jar on his desk 6 years later. Really cute idea. Thanks for sharing.
That is such a cute idea! I am always looking for ideas for me and my husband to do!
Steph – if you’re interested you can email me stacy{at}slmpetersen{dot}com and I’d be happy to send you the doc I created for the slips.
I think this is very clever. I giggled when you gave the dusting solution – my mom would totally have done that! My daughter is too young for this now, but I’ll certainly do this when she’s older.
This is great! I’m adding chores to the activities too!!!
I wanted to thank you for this idea. I was so happy when someone pointed me to your blog. I just made a boredom box and blogged about it here…
Thank you again! =)
We did a picture printout of each of the kids toys & they draw one when they’re totally bored & then go play w/that toy. Somehow it makes it more exciting. Your idea is GREAT & we’ll certainly use it this summer. Thanks for sharing!
LOVE IT! I will sooo be using this idea! 🙂
loved reading this, it reminded me of my childhood. My mother made a bored box for me, and before we complained we had to choose 3 from the box and try them.
🙂
This is gold. Thanks for sharing! Holidays start in 2 days!!!
I'm just now coming back to this post to actually copy your ideas and try this idea out for the summer. Thanks for the great lists! I really enjoy your blog- your simple, thoughtful ideas really fit real life!
This is s asuper cute idea! I wonder if it would work for my husband =) Love the concept. Thanks so much for joining the Sunday Showcase Party! I greatly apprecite it. Hope you are enjoying your week. ~ Stephanie Lynn
hey I saw your idea on that the tatertots and jello blog (i think) and I made one today! I hope you don't mind I put a link on my blog to yours. Thanks for the idea. Blogland is a wonderful place.
hey I saw your idea on that the tatertots and jello blog (i think) and I made one today! I hope you don't mind I put a link on my blog to yours. Thanks for the idea. Blogland is a wonderful place.
I'm visiting from Jen's site…great idea. I am so doing that tomorrow!!
cool idea! Happy Transformation Thursday <3
What a great idea! I may be copying this!
I love this idea and am totally going to do this!!!!! So glad to have stumbled upon your blog!
Jen
WOW! I love this! and I am going to let my girls make it…
Thank you for the tip… 🙂
Becci
http://www.Something2BragAbout.com
very creative!! love your work
Cute idea! Going to send it along to my sister who has four kids!
I made a summer fun jar with activities for us to do this summer. I never thought to make a I'm bored jar with some chores in it. Our girls are still pretty young, but I'm going to keep this in mind for future summers!
Loved this idea so much I put this link in a blog post. Thanks for sharing!
Loved this idea so much I put this link in a blog post. Thanks for sharing!
super love & utilizing!!
Very clever!
Great idea! I have been hearing I'm bored since they walked out of school last Tuesday. I wish the weather was better, it would make it a lot easier. Thanks for sharing your idea.
Have a great week.
Jessica
Great idea! I'm sure this time of year lots of moms will be hearing those exact words :o)
I came here via Met Monday. Hope you can visit me sometimes over at Pittypat Paperie.
Love this idea! We have banned the "b" word in our house.
Beautiful jar and awesome idea!! Thank you!!
I've been meaning to make such a jar. Thanks for showing how you made yours so colorful! I already have a list of ideas I came up with last year, "69 Ways to Get Outside and Play." You can google it if you want more ideas. =)
One of my kids is done with school as of last friday, and another will be done at the end of this week. This idea jar could not have been posted at a better time! Thanks!!!
This is a fantastic idea! Loooooooove it and I'm so gonna copy it!! LOL. Thanks for providing the downloads! What a treat! 🙂
Love it!!
This is a great idea!