Summer Boredom Busters for Teens

 

• Go to a concert

• Have a movie marathon of really bad, tacky scary movies

• Learn to cook something new each week.

• Read 100 books

• Learn to read a map (NOT the GPS kind, the actual paper kind)

• Visit a National Park

• Train for a 5k, hike, walk, etc

• Learn new songs or learn to play an instrument

• Bake cookies

• Go to the beach

• Mow the grass, wash the dishes, clean your room (ie: chores..not fun, but it helps the time go by)

• Invite your friends over and have a picnic

• Stargaze, learn the constellations.

• Find a new hobby

• Ride your bike

• Start a blog

• Create decorations for the next holiday/event

• Play tennis

• Start a business (dog walking, lawn mowing, babysitting, etc)

• Turn up the music and dance

• Go bowling

• Visit a museum with some friends

• Jump rope, hula hoop, skip

• Go to the library

• Attend a summer festival

• Sleep in a little. It can be hard for teens to get up early during the school year, so take this chance to get a little more rest. Just don’t sleep the day away! Set your alarm so that you get up at a consistent time.

• Get a part time job. Working, even just a couple of days a week, can get you out of the house and keep you from being bored. Plus you’ll earn some money. Maybe it’s time to start saving for holiday gifts!

• Take on a project or two. Do you hate the color of your room? Save some money to buy paint and give it a fresh coat! Want to eat healthier? Try growing your own veggie garden!

• Exercise. nothing helps kick boredom like working up a sweat. You’ll feel better and have more energy for everything else you’re doing during the summer. Even riding your bike or taking a walk can help energize you.

• Plan something fun! Why not plan a fun trip with your family, and another with your friends? Maybe you can all go camping, or have a family picnic. Ask your parents if you can help organize and plan a get together or vacation over the summer.

 

With a little bit of planning, you can have a summer vacation that’s fun and exciting. Enjoy the time off and try something new! What kind of plans do you have for your summer vacation?

 

 

Fun Food

 

Ice Cream in a Baggie - You can make your own sundaes with this fun ice cream project.

 • 1/2 cup milk

 • 1/4 cup half and half

 • 1 tablespoon sugar

 • 1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

 • 2 sandwich size Ziploc bags

 • 1 one gallon size Ziploc bag

 • 2 cups ice

 • 1 tablespoon coarse salt

 

Put one small Ziploc bag inside the other and add the milk, half and half, sugar, and vanilla extract to the inside bag. Seal both bags securely, removing excess air. Add ice and salt to larger bag and place smaller bag inside. Seal firmly. Let the kids shake themselves silly -- shaking, tossing, and turning the bag. Ice cream will be soft and ready to eat in 5 to 10 minutes. Enjoy!

 

Top this off with chocolate syrup made from scratch.

 • 2 cups sugar

 • 1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

 • 1/4 tsp salt

 • 1 cup cold water

 • 1 tbsp vanilla

 

Mix together cocoa and sugar; blend until cocoa is smooth and lumps are gone. Add water and salt; mix thoroughly. Cook over medium heat, bring to a boil. Boil until thick, keep stirring so that it doesn't burn or overflow! Remove from heat; let cool. After the mixture has cooled, add the vanilla.

For another refreshing summer treat, try these icy cool drinks.

 

Slushies

 • 1 package of unsweetened Kool-Aid drink mix, any flavor

 • 2 cups of water

 • 1/2 - 3/4 cup sugar

 • 4 cups ice

 

In a blender, combine Kool-Aid, water and sugar. Blend. Add all the ice and blend. That's it! Pour into cups, add a straw and enjoy on those hot summer days. Great for Mom and Dad too. For Coca Cola, simply add one can of Coke and enough ice to cover and blend.

Here's a great recipe for your family picnic or just snacking after lunch!

 

Granola Fruit Kabobs

 • 1 cup granola

 • 1 medium apple, cut into chunks

 • 1 small banana, cut into chunks

 • 1/2 cup fresh pineapple chunks

 • 1/2 cup fruit flavored yogurt

 

Place granola in shallow bowl. Toss fruit with a small amount of lemon juice to deter browning. Insert toothpicks into each piece of fruit. To serve, dip fruit in yogurt, coat all sides. Roll in granola. When bringing these kabobs to a picnic, pack the granola, yogurt and fruit separately in tightly covered plastic containers. Keep cold in a cooler until ready to serve.

 

 

More Boredom Busters:

 

​ • Read a book • Go to the pool • Write a story • Keep a diary • Host a scavenger hunt • Campout in the backyard • Start a book club • Make S'mores • Plan a sleepover party • Start a hobby or a collection • Climb a tree • Cloud watch • Go rollerskating, skateboarding or roller blading • Make your own pizza • Visit a relative • Invent a new snack • Plant a tree • Donate old toys and books to a thrift store • Draw or paint a picture • Take pictures of your neighborhood • Make a birdfeeder • Decorate a beach bag with fabric markers • Design your own postcards or stationery • Play a video game • Go to a minor league baseball game • Hold a limbo contest • Play tag • Play flashlight tag • Make homemade popsicles • Have a water balloon fight • Run around in the sprinkler • Skip rocks • Go fishing • Play a board game • Take a snooze • Clean your bedroom • Catch fireflies • Go to the mall • Go canoeing • Make jewelry • Paint your toenails • Redecorate a room • Visit a museum • Bake cookies, brownies or a cake • Throw an un-birthday party • Learn how to read palms • Jump rope • Bird watch • Play horseshoes • Tell ghost stories• Take a hike • Learn how to whistle with two fingers • Make your own sling-shot • Make iced tea • Design your Halloween costume • Learn all the provinces, territories and their capitals • Plan the family dinner menu • Research the family's history • Play hopscotch • Throw a Frisbee • Tie-dye a T-shirt • Call a friend • Learn origami • Write a song • Commit a random act of kindness • Learn pig latin • Find a pen pal • Build a fort with blankets and sheets • Give yourself a makeover • Make homemade bath salts • Make homemade bubble soap • Visit a local park • Make a paper airplane • Invite friends over for a movie festival • Make a video • Talk like a pirate • Read your horoscope • Fly a kite • Go bowling • Wash the car • Make your own first-aid kit • Play cards • Play with the cat, dog or other pet • Start a pet sitting business • Create a game for younger siblings to play • Set up a lemonade stand • Volunteer at a local animal shelter, church or school • Garden • Make homemade ice cream • Play tic-tac-toe • Create a family scrapbook • Learn an instrument • Organize your room  or that famous junk drawer! • Visit the library • Learn a foreign language • Identify the constellations • Learn about a different country • Play charades with a friend