20 Parent-Approved Summer Boredom Busters to Keep Kids Active, Creative and Entertained
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Every time I look at this photo, I smile.
It's my son and his cousin years ago at the beach. They spent the better part of an evening hanging from this pull-up bar, dropping into the sand, challenging each other, laughing hysterically and making up games as they went along. Not once did they ask for a screen.
As a mom of three, I sometimes miss those simpler moments. Not because I think childhood was perfect back then, but because kids seem to have fewer opportunities to be bored—and boredom, it turns out, is where a lot of the magic happens.
Don't get me wrong. I'm not anti-screen. My kids have devices, and there are plenty of days when technology saves my sanity. But I've also learned that some of the best summer memories happen when kids are given a little space, a little freedom and a fun idea to run with.
The challenge, of course, is getting past the inevitable chorus of "I'm boooored!"
That's where this list comes in.
Over the years, I've tested countless toys, games and activities for the TODAY show , Good Housekeeping, Woman's Day and my own family. Some were instant duds. Others became the things my kids reached for again and again—whether we were in the backyard, at the beach, on vacation or trying to survive a rainy afternoon.
These are the boredom busters that earned a permanent spot in our lives. They spark creativity, get kids moving, encourage connection and, best of all, help create the kind of unplugged summer memories that last long after the season ends.
Bunch O Balloons Balloon Bonanza
Refresh Sports Underwater Action
Kinetic Sand Sensory Superstar
flyballgame Boardwalk Classic
PaddleSmash Pickleball's Cousin
YardGames.com Putter Pong
Monster Jam Monster Splash
Little Tikes Classic Car
Hackees Lacrosse Lax for All
GOTRAX Freedom on Wheels
Funboy Strike Up Fun
Bounce Back
Melissa & Doug Pavement Parlor
Swimways Just Keep Swimming
Aerobie Bounce Factor
Little Kids Bubble Trouble
SwimWays Pool Goals
Little Tikes Water Works
Stomp Rocket Blast Off
Secret Headquarters
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