“I’m bored!” – Sound familiar? Here’s a wide range of free ways to keep the boredom at bay.
Summer vacation means a break from school and academic routines, but it doesn’t mean a total break from structure. Even during vacation, every household should maintain ground rules—like curfews, bedtime, and limits on spending for outings.
Children share some responsibility for deciding what to do, when, and how much. This list of free activities can help combat the “I’m bored” complaints—and also save money.
Share This List With Your Kids
- The beach is free, so is the neighborhood park or garden.
- Set up a camp—build a tent in the living room or backyard, make fondue, sing songs, and play group games.
- Bake cookies or cakes and share them with elderly neighbors or grandparents.
- Print coloring pages, enrichment sheets from the internet.
- Treasure hunt—write riddles, hide clues, and invite family or friends to join.
- Find a summer job—babysitting, pet-sitting, or running a mini day-camp for younger kids.
- Create a home spa—play relaxing music, light incense, mix DIY creams, masks, and scrubs (recipes online), place cucumbers on your eyes, sip herbal tea—and relax.
- Host a MasterChef-style family cooking contest—use ingredients available at home and enjoy the results as a family meal.
- Connect with nature—plant herbs or flowers in a pot or garden and learn how to care for them.
- Clean and organize your room—make space for new school books and supplies.
- Prepare donation bags of clothes, books, and toys.
- Have a dance party—clear the room, turn on music, and dance freestyle or follow YouTube tutorials.
- Find a place to volunteer—even remote options like weekly calls with a senior or tutoring via Zoom.
- Research a topic you’re curious about online.
- Read a book, solve puzzles or crosswords, or work on summer activity booklets.
- Rediscover forgotten games or toys—search drawers and shelves for hidden treasures.
- Turn your living room into a cinema—darken the room, pick a movie, make popcorn, and enjoy.
- Sort through family photos—ask your parents how to organize them, and maybe even design a digital album using simple apps.
- Help tidy the house—ask your parents for household or garden tasks, and discuss a reward system—points or pretend money to spend on a shared family outing at the end of summer.
- Watch plays and performances online.
- Help with shopping—compare prices at local supermarkets or online.
- Play budget and financial games (you can find those online).
- Create a savings jar and try to save money over the break.
- Explore online financial education platforms for kids.
- Host a family karaoke night.
- Set up a kiddie pool on the balcony or in the garden, and make homemade popsicles with fruit and juice.
- Organize a creative workshop—collect scraps and packaging, pull out glue, scissors, and craft supplies, and build something.
- Travel the world from home—make “passports,” explore countries via Google Earth, learn about cultures, languages, landmarks, and cook or craft something related to your “destination.”
- Exercise at home—use video tutorials and household items like canned goods as weights or a jump rope.
- Have a picnic in the living room, garden, or a nearby park.
🎉 Want more ideas? Check out the big thread of free summer break activities on our Facebook page.
📅 Plan your summer break wisely—Download the Paamonim Summer Calendar (in Hebrew only) for organized fun and structure.
