25 Summer Boredom Busters

Don’t let summer boredom get the best of your family. Use our boredom busters to get creative, make some memories and end the summer with a bang!

Go Outside

1 Stargaze.

2 Blow bubbles.

3 Take a nature walk.

4 Have a water fight (parents, too)!

5 Plan an outdoor movie night. If you don’t have an outdoor screen or projector, sit in the backyard with a laptop, movie treats and popcorn.

6 Decorate your bikes; then take a family bike ride together while playing music.

7 Start a garden. Try planting cucumbers, beans, beets, potatoes or squash (pumpkins for Halloween!). Check with your local nursery for guidance. No yard? Get tips on patio gardening at www.sandiegofamily.com/for-thekids/family-science/plant-a-patio-garden.

Connect with Others

8 Learn about another culture. Sign up with Kids for Peace (based in Carlsbad) to get connected with a pen pal in another country. Get details at www.kidsforpeaceglobal.org/peacefulpenpals.

9 Host an “Our Family’s Got Talent” show where everyone participates. Sing, dance, read a poem, play an instrument, tell a joke, etc. FaceTime distant relatives so they can participate.

10 Bake cookies for a neighbor.

11 Paint rocks with happy faces and words; place them around your neighborhood for people to find.

12 Have a dance party with friends on Zoom.

Want to be connected to San Diego's parenting community? Sign up to receive weekly tips, ideas and events at https://www.sandiegofamily.com/things-to-do

Plan Ahead

13 Browse ideas for a future trip. Find inspiration at www.sandiegofamily.com/things-to-do/travel.

14 Spearhead a school supply drive for local families who need extra support.

15 Brainstorm family Halloween costumes or yard decorations; Strive to have the most fun house on the block.

16 Suggest the kids make Christmas or holiday wish lists.

17 Have a “life skills day” when parents teach kids how to do things like change the oil in the car, do laundry and cook spaghetti.

Play Around with Food

18 Make homemade ice cream or snow cones.

19 Choose one key ingredient and challenge the family to a cooking competition.

20 Turn snack time into playtime. Visit www.sandiegofamily.com and put “Snacking with Joy” in the search bar for inspiration.

21 Carve watermelons into fun shapes. Instructions: www.sandiegofamily.com/things-to-do/dining-andrecipes/watermelon-cat-carving

Get Creative

22 Go on a photo scavenger hunt. Then make a summer scrapbook out of a paper bag. Learn how at www.sandiegofamily.com/for-the-kids/crafts-for-kids/ recycled-craft-memory-book.

Missed last month’s article about fun scavenger hunts? Find it in the digital edition of our July issue at www.sandiegofamily.com/magazines/san-diegofamily-digital-issues.

23 Draw a mural in the driveway with sidewalk chalk.

24 Make (and play) a life-size game of Candy Land. Learn how at www.sowingseedslibrarian.com/ 2018/07/12/life-size-candyland.

25 Build a kiddie car wash for neighborhood kids to drive through with their bikes, scooters or mini cars! Find full instructions at www.sandiegofamily.com/ for-the-kids/crafts-for-kids.

Once the car wash is built,

• Make suds in a bucket with dish detergent and water.

• Grab sponges and a hose.

• Put on swimsuits and sunscreen.

• Let the fun begin!

Brought to you by Soapy Joe’s Car Wash, where good clean fun is just as important as our commitment to building community and giving back. San Diego Family readers are invited to be part of the #SoapySquad community. Join the Unlimited Wash Club and save! Visit www.SoapyJoesCarWash.com — You could win a car!