I remember when Charlie and Suzanne were little and they would be out of school for the holidays. More times than not, I would hear, “I’m bored,” or “There’s nothing to do.” Or I’d hear, “Can we go here, here and here?”

Back when Suzanne was little, I didn’t have a car. Even when Charlie was little, we only had one car, and David would be at work more times than not. So, with the holidays right around the corner, I thought I would share some Holiday Boredom Busters with you and also remind you that it’s okay if children become bored.

Actually, boredom can be a good thing. It can be when children learn something new, use their imagination, or figure out what they can do without someone else telling them what to do. Before you ask yourself, “How can a child possibly be bored during Thanksgiving or Christmas?”

It could be because their friends might be traveling for the holidays. Or they might be spending the holidays at another parent’s home if their parents were divorced. And there I would be, trying to get my own work done, take care of the house, get ready for the holidays, or whatever else needed to be done.

Then Charlie would appear. “I’m bored.” So I’d stop what I was doing. I’d try to think of something for him to do. I’d suggest a game. I’d suggest a book. I’d suggest going outside. I’d suggest going down to his grandmother’s because she lived at the end of the street.

If that didn’t work, I’d suggest all sorts of other things. And then one day, a light finally came on. Why was it my job to find something for Charlie to do? Which, I have to admit, I wish I had thought of when Suzanne was little.

Because both of them had toys and they had books. They had games and they had art supplies. They had bedrooms full of things they could play with. They had imaginations and they were old enough to figure some of it out for themselves.

So I changed my answer. When one of them would tell me, “I’m bored,” I’d say: “Okay. It’s okay to be bored.” And if they really couldn’t think of anything to do, I’d remind them that they had plenty of things in their room.

They could read or they could play with the thousands of toys they had. They could draw or they could build something. They could go outside. or they could clean their room. Or, depending on how much complaining was going on, I might say: “You can paint the house.” Or: “Go dig ditches.”

Funny how quickly children sometimes discover something else to do when Mom starts suggesting chores. As a parent, I hate to admit it, but this is the way my sister, brother and I as well when we were growing up. I bet if we asked David’s mom, she would say David and his brothers were the same way.

One day I was watching Roseanne, and she told the kids to go play on the freeway. Now, before anybody gets concerned: No. I would never send my children to play on the freeway. Because knowing my children — especially Charlie — he probably would have.

But I have to admit, there were days when the kids had told me they were bored for what seemed like the hundredth time, and I understood where that joke was coming from. There were moments when “Go play on the freeway” didn’t sound so bad either.

I’m laughing about it now, but there really was a lesson in all of it. It wasn’t my job to entertain my children every minute they were home. And it wasn’t going to hurt them to be bored once in a while. In fact, I think learning how to be bored was an important part of growing up.

Somewhere along the way, we’ve gotten the idea that when a child says, “I’m bored,” Mom or Dad needs to immediately solve the problem. I hate to admit it, but I used to believe it was my job too. I don’t believe that now. Do you?

Children need time when nobody is telling them what to do. They need time to wander around their room and eventually decide what sounds interesting. They need time to pull out an old game they haven’t played in months.

They need time to pick up a book and they need time to create something that wasn’t planned for them. And sometimes they need time to simply sit there and be bored. Because boredom can lead to creativity. It can lead to imagination and it can lead to a child discovering something they didn’t even know they enjoyed.

Now, I’m not saying we should send children off for an entire Thanksgiving or Christmas break or any #Holiday with absolutely nothing to do. Because the holidays are a wonderful opportunity to make memories together and learn something new.

There are also going to be those afternoons when everybody has been home for several days, the weather isn’t cooperating, you’ve heard “I’m bored” approximately 47 times, and you’re beginning to wonder if digging ditches really is an appropriate holiday activity.

That’s when having a few ideas can help. And these don’t have to cost much money. In fact, many of them don’t cost anything at all other than the time it takes to do them. Just remember to put down the phones and be in the moment as you’re working through the list and creating new memories.

Holiday Boredom Busters

1. Let Them Become the Holiday Helper– Don’t just tell a child to “help.” Give them a real job.

They can:

• Make place cards for Thanksgiving or Christmas cards for friends and family. Even Halloween cards can be fun.
• Help decorate the house for Fall or Halloween or put up the Christmas tree.
• Make treat bags for Halloween or gift tags for Christmas.
• Set the table for dinner and use the real plates and candles.
• Choose holiday books to put in a basket. And don’t forget Fall books.
• Help wrap presents because, if you shop all year like I do, it’s never too early to get started.
• Create a centerpiece from things you find outside.
• Help decorate cookies for all the upcoming holidays, including Fall.
• Decide where a few decorations should go for next year.

And while you’re working together, talk. Tell them about holidays when you were growing up. Tell them where an old decoration came from. Ask them what they remember from previous Halloweens, Falls, Christmases and Thanksgivings. Sometimes the conversation becomes the memory.

2. Make Homemade Decorations -You don’t have to buy another craft kit.

Look around the house and find all kinds of paper then look for crayons and markers. Scissors and ribbon. Old wrapping pape or greeting cards. Calendars and cardboard. And whatever else you already have laying around.

For Thanksgiving, children can make leaves, turkeys, place cards or signs. For Christmas, they can make ornaments, paper chains, snowflakes, cards or decorations for their bedrooms. For Halloween, they can make ghosts.

And don’t worry about whether they look perfect. They don’t need to. Sometimes the crooked little homemade decoration becomes the one you don’t want to throw away — and becomes one of the stories you remember years from now.

3. Have a Holiday Book Hunt– Instead of simply saying, “Go read,” turn it into a challenge.

Tell children to find:

• A book with a red cover.
• A book they’ve never read.
• A book with an animal on the cover.
• A book they remember loving.
• A book they think Mom or Dad would enjoy.
• A book with a character they’d invite to Thanksgiving dinner.

Then everyone can settle down and read. Which works well with our 30-Minute Reading Challenge. You could even make a special holiday reading hour. You don’t need a television. You don’t need an activity. You just need books and a comfortable place to sit. And maybe a cup of hot chocolate and a snack.

4. Make Cards for Somebody– Children can make cards for grandparents, neighbors, friends, teachers or someone who might need a little encouragement.

They can draw pictures and write notes. Decorate envelopes. Make homemade postcards. And while they’re doing it, talk about why you’re sending the card. The holidays aren’t just about receiving things. They’re also about giving.

5. Have a Holiday Scavenger Hunt– This one can be as simple or elaborate as you want.

Hide clues around the house. One might be under the Christmas tree if it’s up or under a Fall or Halloween decoration. Another could be beside a favorite book. Another might be near the refrigerator and another could be tucked inside a mitten.

The final clue could lead to a small treat, a book or simply the next family activity. For Thanksgiving, you could make the clues about family memories. Find something that reminds you of Grandma. Find something that makes you think of Thanksgiving. Find something that belonged to Mom when she was little.

For Halloween, find a Halloween book or decoration. For Fall, find different-colored leaves. For Christgmas find a decoration you didn’t remember having. You don’t have to buy anything. The fun is in the searching. Invite your friends and family to join in and, yes, the dogs can help too.

6. Let Them Help in the Kitchen– Holiday cooking can take hours.

Why not let children become part of it? Depending on their age, they might:

• Wash any of the foods you’re preparing that need to be washed.
• Measure ingredients.
• Stir.
• Decorate cookies.
• Assemble simple foods.
• Set the table.
• Help make a family recipe.

And, Buttercup, remember to wash your hands too! Then older children can learn more complicated cooking skills. And while you’re in the kitchen together, tell stories. Ask questions. Let them see that preparing a holiday meal isn’t just another chore. It’s something families do together. This can also be a #Homeschool lesson.

7. Have a “Yes, You Can Make It” Afternoon– Give children permission to make something.

A cardboard box can become a Christmas village. Blankets can become a holiday fort. Paper can become decorations. Popsicle sticks can become ornaments. Empty containers can become pretend food. Old wrapping paper can become craft material.

The point isn’t what they make. The point is that they get to decide what to make. That’s where imagination comes in. That is also where memories are made when you invite your friends and family to make something with you.

8. Play the Games You Already Own– Before buying something new, open the closet where the games are stored or the toy chest.

You might find:

• Board games.
• Cards.
• Puzzles.
• Dominoes.
• Building toys.
• Memory games.
• Games nobody has played in years.

And if the children don’t know how to play one of the games you remember from your childhood? Teach them. Now you’ve got an activity and a memory all at once. Again, invite your friends and family over to play games with you. Sometimes having more people makes an old game feel brand new.

9. Have a Family Movie — But Make It an Event– I’m not against television.

As you know, I love television. But let’s be realistic. A family movie during Thanksgiving or Christmas break can be perfectly fine. The difference is whether the screen is the only thing happening when the movie is playing.

Choose one movie. Make popcorn. Turn off the lights. Grab flashlights. Pile up the blankets. Watch the movie together. Then talk about it. What was your favorite part? Which character did you like? Would you change the ending?

Again, invite your friends and family over. Once the movie is over, the kids can draw their favorite scene afterward. It’s about balance. Its about spending time together while creating new memories with your friends and family.

10. Make a Holiday Jar– Fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas can each have their own version of a jar.

You could have:

• A Fall Activity Jar.
• A Halloween Boo Jar filled with ideas or recipes.
• A Thanksgiving Thankfulness Jar.
• A Christmas Jar filled with events and things to do when children are bored.

Put a jar somewhere everyone can reach. Give everyone scraps of paper. Throughout the holiday, add things to the jars. They can be big things or they can be little things. They can even be funny things. Then sit down and read them together. And you don’t have to put the jars away when the holidays are over. Keep adding to them. At the end of the holidays, you’ll have months of little reminders of the good things that happened.

11. Make a Holiday Memory Jar– Christmas can have its own version. Instead of writing what you’re thankful for, write down something memorable. The funniest thing somebody said. A favorite meal. A funny gift-opening moment. A family joke. Something a child did. A special visit. At the end of the holiday, read them together. It’s amazing how the little things can become the biggest memories.

12. Give Them a “Somebody Needs This” Mission This is one of my favorites because it takes the focus off being bored and puts it on someone else.

Ask your child: “Who could use a little Christmas cheer?” Maybe it’s a neighbor or Grandma. Maybe it’s somebody who lives alone or maybe it’s a friend who couldn’t travel for the holidays. Maybe it’s an older person spending the holidays alone.

Then decide what you can do. Make a card. Bake something. Make a phone call. Write a note. Put together something small. And remember, it doesn’t have to cost money. Sometimes making somebody else smile is the best boredom buster of all.

13. Recreate Something From Your Childhood– Ask Mom, Dad, Grandma or Grandpa:

“What did you do when you were my age during Christmas?” Then try it. Maybe it was a game or a recipe. A craft or particular Christmas tradition or a silly family activity. This is a wonderful way to connect generations. And you may discover that what sounded boring when you were growing up suddenly becomes pretty fun.

14. Give Them a Mystery Box– Find five completely ordinary things around the house.

A spoon or a sock. A ribbon or cardboard tube or a toy. Put them in a box or paper bag. Let the child choose three without looking. Then give them 20 or 30 minutes to create something using those objects. Don’t tell them what they’re supposed to make. Letting them use their imagination is the whole point.

15. Have a Ridiculous Family Challenge– Sometimes you just need to be silly.

Give everyone 15 minutes to create something ridiculous. Build the tallest tower you can or make the funniest paper hat. Invent a new holiday song or create a new board game. Build a blanket fort or make up a family award. Give a prize for the funniest creation. It doesn’t have to make sense. That’s what makes it fun.

And because I know there are going to be parents who read this and say, “Okay, but give me something I haven’t already thought of,” I put together five unique and unusual ideas you can print and hand to the kids.

1. Go on a House Treasure Hunt– Ask the children to find something older than you are. Then find something nobody remembers buying. Now it’s time to find something red. Then find something that belonged to Mom or Dad. Then find something that makes you laugh.

2. Interview an Older Family Member– Ask a older person five questions about their childhood holidays.

What did Christmas look like? What did they eat? What was their favorite gift? What did they do for fun? What do they remember most? Write down the answers. You may end up with a family story you’ll treasure.

3. Make Something From the Recycling Bin– You have 30 minutes.

You can’t buy anything. Use cardboard, paper tubes, containers and whatever else is safe and available. What can you create? How long did it take you to make it? What else could you have made and why? What can you do with the leftover pieces?-

4. Recreate a Childhood Favorite– Ask an adult what they loved doing when they were your age.

Then try it yourself. You might discover a new family tradition. Or a new recipe, game or activity to the whole family can do together. Remember to turn off the screens and to put your phones down so you can spend time together and create new memories.

5. Start Your Own Family Memory– Do something silly, sweet or completely unexpected.

Take a picture and write down what happened. Give it a name. Then add it to your Christmas or Thanksgiving, Fall or Hallowee memory jar. Because someday, that might be the story everybody remembers.

Again I wanted to remind you to let them be bored. I think this may be the most important part of the entire article. Your children do not need an activity every minute of Christmas break they need downtime.

They don’t need you to schedule their entire day and they don’t need you to spend money every time they’re bored. And you don’t have to stop what you’re doing every time someone announces: “There’s nothing to do!”

Sometimes you can simply say: “I know. It’s okay to be bored.” Then let them figure it out. Let them play and let them read. Let them rest and let them help. Let them use their imagination and let them be uncomfortable for a few minutes while they figure out what comes next. Because learning how to entertain yourself is a pretty useful life skill.

I think we put a lot of pressure on ourselves during the holidays but the Holidays don’t have to be perfect. You may want the perfect meal and the perfect decorations. The perfect presents and the perfect family gathering with the perfect memories.

But children don’t need perfection. They need connection. They need time and they need laughter. They need to know they’re loved. So when your children eventually look at you during Thanksgiving, Christmas or any other holiday break and say: “I’m bored.”

Don’t panic. You don’t have to save the holiday. Look around. There are probably books to read, cookies to make, decorations to create, games to play, people to call, chores to share and memories waiting to happen.

And if they still can’t find something to do? That’s okay too. Because boredom isn’t an emergency. Sometimes boredom is simply the space a child needs to come up with their next great idea. And if you’re still frustrated… just don’t send them to play on the freeway like Roseanne did. I never did.

Although, I have to admit, there were days when I understood the temptation. Now go find something to do. And if all else fails… there’s always a ditch that needs digging. A room that needs cleaning or a book to be read.

Grateful, Thankful, Blessed.

Thank you,

Glenda, Charlie and David Cates