It always hits when you least expect it - on the first real day of the weekend.
Breakfast is cleared. The toys are sprawled over the entire house. The cushions from the couch have disappeared onto the floor. And then, all of a sudden, from the other side of the house:
"I'm bored."
Every parent knows that sentence.
Fortunately, boredom doesn't have to equal a screen. A few ideas, some creative thinking and one or two quick activities on hand will help you make the most of a slow weekend.
Here are some simple things to do when your kids are bored on the weekend.
1. Begin Baking
Baking is one of the simplest weekend activities for kids -it's a project, a game, and a treat all wrapped up in one.
Kids get to pour, mix, stir, scoop, decorate, sprinkle and taste. Parents get one more activity that provides some entertainment for everyone and a tasty ending.
Have fun baking and decorating cookies, cupcakes, brownies, muffins, cake pops, or use a HomeBaker baking kit to take the hard part out!
A kids baking kit is great for a "what should we do today" sort of day as the kids already have an activity planned for you. No hunt to find a recipe and a shopping list of ingredients and then no wondering how to adapt it for the kids.
Simply open the kit, go through the steps, and enjoy the wonderful memories.
2. Make a Weekend Activity Jar
When kids are bored, picking something can turn into a whole conversation.
Yes! An activity jar is so easy. Just jot down lots of activities on pieces of paper and pull one out of the jar for your little one when they're bored.
Add ideas like:
Bake cookies
Build a fort
Decorate cupcakes
Create a craft
Play a board game
Enjoy an indoor picnic
Build an obstacle course
Create cards for grandparents
Do a puzzle
Have a family baking challenge
This is working because when kids get to pick they think they are choosing, but the parents still get to decide.
3. Create a Cookie Decorating Station
One of the best screen-free activities for kids is decorating a cookie as it's easy to do, colorful and almost impossible to get wrong.
Arrange plain cookies, icing, sprinkles, candy eyes, chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, and any other toppings that you have around your house.
Then give everyone a theme.
Try:
Funniest cookie
Most colorful cookie
Silly face cookie
Animal cookie
Rainbow cookie
Cookie with the most sprinkles
The goal is not perfect cookies. The goal is laughter, creativity, and a table filled with happy little bakers.
4. Build the Ultimate Indoor Fort
Another Option If the weather isn't cooperating this weekend, bring the fun indoors.
Get blankets, pillows, chairs, couch cushions, stuffed animals, and flashlights. Encourage the children to make a fort in the living room, then fill it with whatever they want: a castle, a cave, a bakery, a spaceship, a reading nook, or a secret clubhouse.
After build up the fort, add snacks and name it fort picnic.
Additional points if these are snacks you made together in the kitchen.
5. Make Lunch An Activity
One of the best ways to overcome boredom is to take whatever needs to be done and make it fun.
Lunch is a perfect example.
Kids can create their own mini pizzas, wraps, sandwiches, fruit kabobs, snack boards, or yogurt parfaits. They pick their toppings, name their snack, and then "serve" it, like they're at a small diner.
This is a fun one of those stay at home activities for kids that is dual purpose. It'll keep them preoccupied and allows you to make lunch at the same time.
6. Participate in a Family Baking Challenge
A family baking challenge transforms a regular weekend into a special occasion.
Provide the same cupcake, cookie or brownie to all and let people decorate them as they like. These are some categories you could use:
Most creative
Best use of sprinkles
Funniest design
Most colorful
Best teamwork
Treat most likely to disappear first
This is a good activity for all age levels as your youngest can be decorating, with maybe the older kids assisting with the baking or mixing, and then having the older kids decide who wins.
These kits from HomeBaker are perfect for that because they make setup a breeze and activity easily accessible for beginners.
7. No Rules Crafting Table
Crafts do not need to be complicated.
Bring paper, markers, crayons, stickers, glue sticks, kid scissors, cardboard, tape, and recycled boxes to the table. And that's it. Now the kids can start creating anything.
No Pinterest-perfect plan required.
They could be creating a crown, robot, card, make believe menu, cardboard house, or just something that seems completely bonkers but they're really proud of.
That is the magic.
8. Plan One Screen-Free Hour
You don't have to be screen-free the whole weekend. Just one hour.
Pick one hands-on activity and make it feel exciting:
Bake something
Build a fort
Decorate cookies
Play a board game
Create mini pizzas
Make a craft
Build an obstacle course
Screen free activities for kids work best when they're perceived as something fun rather than as something punishable.
Offer options such as, "No screens," instead ask, "What fun thing can we do first before watching screen time?"
9. Design An Indoor Obstacle Course
Kids need to move when they've got energy to burn.
Create an obstacle course using pillows, painter's tape, chairs, baskets, teddy bears, and blankets.
Jump over Pillows Kids can leap over pillows, crawl underneath the table, walk the line of tape, knock over socks into the laundry basket, or sprint from station to station.
Let Them Help Build It Half the fun of creating the course is in the building.
10. Create a Weekend Memory Jar
A memory jar makes a special keepsake for children to remember some of their simple family activities at home.
Whenever you do something that is fun, write it down on a small piece of paper and put it in the jar.
Examples:
"Being in the kitchen, with a cookie sheet fresh out of the oven."
"We built the biggest fort ever."
"We brought cupcakes, and everyone chose their own flavor."
"We had an indoor picnic."
"We made a big mess and we had a big laugh about it."
Read the memories aloud together when the month ends.
A gentle reminder that we don't have to make our weekends a fancy occasion.
Why Boredom Can Actually Be a Good Thing
As a parent, it's so tempting to fix boredom in a snap. However, a little boredom may just be the key to good behaviour.
It provides the children with opportunity to think, explore, create and discover what they love to do.
The key is having a couple of simple bored kids activities in mind so they don't turn to screens every time.
Baking, crafting, building, decorating and playing are all great ways for kids to put their hands, minds, and imaginations to good use.
Why HomeBaker Kits Are Perfect for Bored Kids
HomeBaker is perfect for the everyday.
That style where weekends are already booked, the kids are bouncing off the walls, and we need something super easy that doesn't require hours of planning.
Every kit offers a fun baking experience for kids, and ease for parents. They are perfect for weekend fun, rainy days, playdates, birthdays, holidays, family nights and non-screen fun at home.
Most importantly, they generate beautiful memories for the entire family to enjoy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Can I Do When My Kids Are Bored On The Weekend?
Engage in easy hands-on projects such as baking, decorating cookies, constructing a fort, doing crafts, playing board games, creating an obstacle course, or designing an activity jar.
What are activities to do on the weekend without a screen?
Healthy screen-free weekend ideas include: Kids baking, decorating cupcakes, making mini pizza's etc. Building forts, doing craft, playing table top games and or creating family challenges.
Are baking kits ok for bored kids?
Yes. Baking kits for kids are perfect for bored kids as they are creative, practical, simple to get started, and have a tasty treat at the end.
How do I keep kids busy at home without screens?
Have a few easy activities around such as Home Baker kits, craft supplies, puzzles, board games, supplies for decorating cookies, and activities to do from jar ideas. Offering kids choices helps them stay entertained too.
Final Thoughts
When the kids complain about boredom on the weekend you don't have to plan a whole day of entertainment.
Start small.
Bake a treat. Construct a fort. Decorate some cookies.
Do a craft.
Play a game. Make a mess. Have a chuckle about it.
The most fun weekend activities for kids are the simple ones that get everyone involved.
And when you want to make a quick save, just grab a HomeBaker baking kit, and let the good times roll.
Because boredom is not the problem.
And sometimes, it's just the start of a great memory.
