If you have spent more than five minutes at home self isolating with your family, you are probably desperately looking for creative things to do when bored at home, am I right? No need to look any farther, I’ve got you covered!
Why Does Being Stuck at Home Feel So Hard?
Living in America today, there are opportunities around every corner! We are never short on things to do!
We wear our busyness like a badge of honor, don’t we?
Our list of to-do’s is always a million miles long and our activities and obligations seem to always exceed the amount of time we actually have available.
We are not used to doing life in place.
That is…until we are forced to slow down and stay put due to an invisible enemy that is threatening the health and safety of the land and life we so desperately love.
Living in the midst of a global pandemic was definitely something I NEVER saw coming!
Who could’ve imagined that this would be something we would be shepherding our families through. But, here we are…praying and pedaling on through together!
So, now that we have considerably more time on our hands at home together, what exactly can we do?
How Can We Make the Most of Our Time Together at Home?
I don’t know about you, but I desperately want to use this time well.
I don’t want to look back on this season with any regret! I want to seize the gift of time and use it for cultivating connection with the Lord and those that I love.
I want to take advantage of more quality time with my family.
I want to stimulate my mind and my body.
I want to be more creative and productive.
I want to spend more time being kind and compassionate!
I want to focus on developing consistent rhythms for my life while also learning how to rest and be still.
This time we are experiencing in our world right now is challenging, scary and uncertain. However, if we allow the Lord to work in and through us during this time, he can bring about precious gifts.
I’m choosing to see this time as an invitation and an opportunity to live and love in full surrender to the Lord.
66 Creative Things To Do When Bored at Home (the Whole Family Will Love!)
Just because we cannot venture out right now, does not mean we cannot have fun at home!
All it takes is some intentional thought and you can probably come up with hundreds of things to do when bored at home. Here are some of the most creative ideas I came up with that I hope your family will love!
Spiritual Things To Do When Bored at Home
Have Family Devotional Time: As we are self isolated as a family, we obviously have less distractions and more time to connect on a deeper level as a family. I want to be sure we use our time wisely and prioritize our time to grow in our relationship with the Lord. Why not pick up a new family devotional to help keep your focus on the MAIN THING and help guide your every day conversations!
Random Acts of Kindness: During these challenging times, think of ways you can serve others as a family and be the body of Christ to those most in need.
Mentally Stimulating Things to Do at Home When Bored
Lego Free Building Competition: Grab all your miscellaneous lego pieces and have each member of the family build their own creation! Or if you would rather work on a Lego Set together, consider a larger group project to pass the hours as you are stuck inside together!
Game Time: Board games and card games are a fantastic way to bust boredom for the entire family. Check out this post with some of our family’s favorite games to play inside! Have each family member take turns choosing the family game of the day!
Do a Puzzle Together:
500 Piece Puzzle: There are so many great puzzles of all shapes and sizes available on Amazon. Take advantage of the time at home and work on a fun project together as a family!
Mr Mystery Invisible Ink Activity Books: My kids love these books! They are great for quiet time and can keep the kids engaged when Mom and Dad need a time out!
Suduko Puzzles: While we are all home together for the foreseeable future, it is very important to keep our minds engaged and challenged. I’ll be honest, I’m not the most proficient Suduko-er. When I attempted my first few puzzles, I truthfully wanted to throw the book out the window. However, with practice, I have begun to really enjoy the challenge! There are great puzzle books for adults and kids alike!
Children’s Suduko Puzzle Books
Physical Things to Do to Keep the Whole Family Engaged
Dance Party (Glow Party): Crank up your family’s favorite tunes, turn down the lights and have a glow and the dark dance party! Grab some fun glowsticks and these super fun LED glow gloves for the whole family!
Indoor Spa Day: This might be more for the ladies in the house, however, it can be a fun, relaxing activity for the entire family to enjoy! You can take turns doing facials, painting finger nails or doing a calming foot spa. Even though you have to stay indoors, it doesn’t mean you can’t treat yourselves to a day at the spa from the comfort of your own home!
Scavenger Hunt (Indoors/Outdoors)
Relay Races
Family Game of Hide N Seek
Build an Indoor Fort
Movie Marathon: When our family began self isolating due to COVID19 we decided to get Disney+ for a few months so we could enjoy some of our Disney family favorites! We don’t have cable so this was a relatively inexpensive way to enjoy family time while we are at home together.
Family Pajama Party: Who says PJ parties are only for birthdays or Christmas time? Designate a full day PJ day or have a special PJ party after everyone get’s their work done! Consider popping some popcorn or grabbing a fun snack and watching a family flick together!
Theme Days: To lighten the mood in the house and make being at home together more fun, consider making theme days for your entire family to participate in.
Let every member of the family create a theme of their choice for each day of the week. You could have crazy sock day, twin day, Taco Tuesday, Make it Monday. The sky is the limit. Let your creativity fly!
Pool Party in the Bath Tub: If you have younger kiddos at home, why not have a pool party in the bath tub? Let them get their bathing suits on, bring out your favorite pool toys and goggles and let them pretend it’s a fun day at the pool!
Bake a Treat Together: Throw on a cute apron and grab your favorite sweet treat recipe and get the family in the kitchen to create something delicious for everyone to enjoy!
Declutter a room or space in your home: I’m sure we all have a room or a space in our home that can use a little extra TLC during this time!
Play Charades
Creative, Hands On Things to Do When Bored at Home
Family Hand Casting Kit: Our family has the XL cast and we also have the smaller one, for kids or couples. I had originally purchased them last year, prior to my Mom’s death, so we could create a lasting treasure. This would be something unique and fun for the entire family to participate in and it will produce a priceless keepsake for a lifetime.
Make Soap: Not only is this a fun activity but a very practical one during these uncertain times where hand washing is critical. Check out this easy DIY recipe from my friend Karin over at Witty Gritty Life. The base for the soap is my family’s favorite, Dr. Bronner’s Castile Soap.
Make Essential Oil Diffuser Jewelry: As someone who is passionate about using essential oils, this is one of our family’s favorite activities! You can create some beautiful pieces of jewelry that can be worn during these times to support your mood.
Family Read Alouds: Grab a fun picture book to share aloud as a family or consider reading a chapter book from cover to cover! Take turns reading!
Family Interviews (Topic of the Day): Have members of your family take turns being a “reporter” and interview other family members about a particular topic of the day. This is also something fun that can be done over Facetime, Zoom or Skype! While this is a super fun activity, it can also build great communication skills!
Family Show and Tell: Have each member of your family grab something that they love and have them tell why it means so much to them or have them share a story about that particular item. There is great power in story telling. You never know what you will learn about your family members!
Make Your Own Terrarium and add indoor plants to your interior home environment. They will add instant pretty to your home while putting a smile on your face!
Have a Family Coloring Contest: Grab your favorite colored pencils and Coloring book and color as a family. Fun and relaxing!
Make a Photobook
Try a new recipe and have a family cooking class
Learn Origami
Learn a new skill (crochet or sewing)
Create a family handshake
Keep a Personal or Family Journal: This global pandemic is definitely something to chronicle for your family now and for the future. Even though times are incredibly challenging, beautiful memories can still be made at home with family.
Make a collage/vision board
Write a Book
Make a scrapbook
Write letters or send cards to friends: I am a HUGE fan of the written word. Call me old fashioned but there is nothing like receiving a hand written letter or card in the mail.
As our world is at a temporary standstill why not send someone you love some snail mail as a way of connecting during this time where everyone feels a bit disconnected! Snag a box of inspirational all occasion cards from Amazon and have a family card writing party! There are so many things to do when bored at home but I love the activities that can bring light and love to others!
Take a Nap
Create Something Out of Recyclables
Create a Family Bucket List
Have a concert, family sing a long, or make a music video
Have a Painting Party: Grab some inexpensive canvases and your favorite color palette of paint and have your own family paint party! You can take turns designing the featured paint project.
Have a Tea Party: Gather the family together and have an old fashioned tea party! You can get fancied up and drink your family’s favorite beverage out of some super cute tea cups and definitely don’t forget the snacks! Take this chance to have some fun family conversations while making memories!
Virtual Things To Do When Bored at Home
1 Second Everyday App: This is a free app that can be downloaded to your device and it will allow you to record 1 second snippets from your daily life and it will compile them into a personal movie so you never forget a day in your life. This was something on my list of things I wanted to do this year and I can’t think of a better time to start documenting than right now!
Virtual Meet Up with Friends and Family
Virtual Dinner Party/Happy Hour/Playdate: Staying at home can be hard and can lead to feelings of isolation and disconnection. Get creative with some of the free technology applications such as ZOOM and Marco Polo that are available and be intentional about gathering VIRTUALLY with those you love! It may be different but it can still be fun!
Have a Fancy Dinner Party: Get your family a fun, new table cloth, break out your Sunday best and bring fancy back! Just because you can’t dine out at a fancy restaurant, doesn’t mean you can’t have fancy at home! What about hosting a Family Fondue Night?
Outdoor Boredom Busters
Butterfly Garden: A good friend of mine told me that one of her family’s favorite activities to do together is raising butterflies every year. Since we have more time on our hands and are at home for a while, I thought this was a great time to get some for our own! In three short weeks, we will be adding some beautiful Painted Lady Butterflies to our family! Check out this cool Butterfly Garden from Amazon and start raising your own team of butterflies! This activity is one of the most exciting things to do when bored at home that I cannot wait to try!
Praying Mantis Farm: This was another super fun, unique idea that my friend shared with me. Now, if you have some insect loving kiddos in your home, then I think they will LOVE this activity! Great way to brings science lessons to life and get kiddos more interested in the outdoors! However, if bugs aren’t your jam, you might consider a different activity!
Take a Nature Walk
Sidewalk Chalk can allow a family’s creativity to shine through! Consider drawing scenes and including your family members to pose as part of the chalk drawn scene and make a photo book of your creations! Check out this post for some creative chalk ideas!
Have a Picnic: Grab a super cute picnic basket and your family’s favorite snacks and have a picnic lunch or dinner outside in the yard!
Gather and Paint Rocks: Gather some beautiful rocks from outdoors and your favorite paint markers or paints and create some beautiful, eye catching designs as a family. When life returns back to “normal,” have a family adventure and go hide the hand painted rocks around your area for others to find!
Wash the Cars
Pitch a Tent Indoors to Play: Our kids love pitching a tent in the dining room to play. It is a great indoor activity and something that can keep them busy for hours! They can even sleep in it for something different!
Have a Fire Night with Smores: Grab a skewer and your favorite smore supplies and you are ready to sing Kumbya around the firepit!
Family Camp Out: Set up your family’s campsite in your own backyard. Enjoy the great outdoors without having to pack the car and leave your home! Pitch your tent, set up your hammocks, grab your favorite camping chairs, stoke the fire and enjoy time out under the stars with your family! If you have a telescope, enjoy some star gazing and a constellation competition!
Catch Lightning Bugs
Have a Family Nerf Gun War
Start a Garden: This could be a great collaborative family project to build and maintain throughout the spring and summer months! Not to mention, the produce that you grow will cut down on your trips to the grocery store! Nothing beats the taste of food you grow yourself!
Why We Should Make the Best of Our Time at Home Together
Trust me, social distancing and self isolation have been challenging for this people loving, extrovert! However, there has been something really beautiful about slowing down, simplifying life and making presence my priority with those that I love. Just because our days look a bit different than they did before this virus descended upon our world, it doesn’t mean that our time together has to boring! I pray this guide of creative things to do when bored at home will be a blessing to you and your family during this time!
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