We all know the words are coming: “I’m bored.” It’s inevitable that at some point during winter break, kids surrender to boredom and lay the problem in your lap. What can you suggest that they haven’t done before? Tuck one or two of these ideas away for a dull, wintry day when your kids need a spark to light their imaginations.
LEGO®. LEGO is one of the best boredom busters ever created, but telling kids to “go build LEGO” may not be enough. Instead, encourage them to build the tallest building, a collection of animals for a zoo, or even a miniature golf course! Another crafty way to use LEGO is to recreate 2D images or patterns onto brick bases. They can fashion family portraits, more animals, monsters, robots, or seasonal patterns with bricks.
Air Guitar Concert. Do you remember how popular air guitar concerts were way back when? Kids today may not even know what they are, but they won’t be able to deny how fun one can be once they find out. Pick a playlist of favorite songs, send them off to practice, and then let the show begin.
Living Room Circus. What child doesn’t love a circus? Invite friends over, and have them put together circus acts either solo or in teams. Performances could include a magic show, dance routine, acrobatics, juggling, clown antics, or hula hoop tricks. Let your kids set up a stage and distribute hand-drawn tickets. Include some treats like popcorn, peanuts, and cotton candy, and then gather to be amazed at what your spectacular circus stars can do.
Create a Board Game. Ask your kids if they’d like to invent their own board game. If the answer is yes, guide them through a brainstorming activity. What’s their favorite game? What makes it fun? What do they like or dislike about it? After a loose plan has been made, instruct them to design prototypes for a gaming board and pieces such as tokens, standees, and cards. Maybe they want to borrow dice or a spinner from another game. Next, write up a rulebook. When the planning phase is complete, lay out supplies like cardboard, cardstock, paper, paint, markers, scissors, and glue. This project may take a few days to finish, but once it is, it’s time to play!
YouTube Movement or Brain Breaks. As much as we would like to keep screen time to a minimum, sometimes a little positive screen time is okay. When the temperatures dip below minus 20 but the wiggles have consumed your kids, search for a few online activities. Some popular content channels that even teachers use include GoNoodle, Cosmic Kids Yoga, Danny Go!, or UJU Videos. Participating in a few of these videos is a great way to use up all that extra energy bothering restless kids.
Ninja Warrior Obstacle Course. Use what you have inside your home – couch cushions, chairs and stools, and even stuffed animals. Hang balloons under a table and instruct kids to slither beneath without touching them. Crisscross yarn down a hallway to create laser beams that must be avoided. Painter’s tape is also fantastic to stick on the floor in zigzags, Xs, squares or lines, or lay out hula hoops, pool noodles, and skipping ropes as fun obstacles. Incorporate other physical challenges such as, “Stop and do ten jumping jacks” or, “Walk like a crab from Point A to Point B.” Pretending to be a ninja warrior is a terrific way to burn off energy.
Art For Kids Hub. Sometimes our budding artists want to draw but don’t know where to start. The Art For Kids Hub channel on YouTube will teach your kids how to draw, paint, and express their creativity through guided videos. It may involve screen time, but it provides an activity that multiple ages can enjoy at once. It’s also something that is less likely to end up in any sibling arguments!
Box Fun. Save all your holiday shopping boxes. Flatten and store them away. On a gloomy day, pull them out and tell your kids to put on their thinking hats and get busy. Large cardboard boxes are perfect for castles, forts, tunnels, pirate ships, airplanes, and rocket ships. They can also be used to make dollhouses or furniture, miniature towns, or even a barn and farmyard. Shoeboxes and tissue boxes lend themselves well to dioramas, aquariums, toy car washes, and stuffed animal train cars, among other things. The options are endless – if they can think it, they can make it!
Bonus Ideas. Create a comic book. Sing karaoke. Have a photoshoot. Go on a photo scavenger hunt. Make a stop-motion animation film. Have an at-home paint night. Or, make a snow slushy as a treat (using clean snow!). Above all, encourage fun, imagination, and creativity!
Born in the prairies, Stephanie is a mother, cancer-survivor, cat lover, and avid traveler. Stephanie is also the creator of the family travel blog Next Family Getaway, nextfamilygetaway.com, where she shares trip ideas and travel advice for those traveling with kids.
See our related articles:
Calgary’s Child Magazine © 2026 Calgary’s Child
