Do you ever think, “I’m so bored!” Well, with a little creativity and energy, you will never be truly bored again! Here are some great ways to have fun (and be a little more mindful) when you feel boredom creeping up
Cloudy days are good for something!
The (585) can always be counted on for some summertime clouds. Make the most of them. We’ve all spent time watching clouds float by and naming them. Name a cloud then name it again and again and again. See if there are any other clouds that look similar. There may be a whole family of penguins in the sky! Another spin—make up a story with your friends or family members using the cloud characters and settings. One person begins the story using any of the clouds that they see. Having trouble getting started? “Once upon a time...” always gets a story rolling. Then tag someone to continue the story with more clouds. See how many clouds you can add into your story. Remember, this is your story, so anything goes.
Slurp!
Ever try to eat a Popsicle slowly? Yes, there will be drips and some messiness, but there will also be an incredible amount of focus needed. All you need is a Popsicle and napkins. Try this: - Notice all the flavors. - Are your cheeks getting colder, your tongue, your throat? - Do they stay cold or become warmer in some spots? - What textures do you notice? Do they change as you eat more? - What happens if you really slow down? Try your best to stay silent and focused, but I’m sure there will be plenty of giggles along the way. What other food can you mindfully try?
Puzzled?
Do you have some old puzzles in your house? Ask the adult at home if you can mix up a few of the puzzles into one big pile. It is really fun to then try and separate the pieces back into the right puzzle box. Play some music in the background while you concentrate. Include your friends and siblings, too!
Parent's Corner
Every parent has heard the “There’s nothing to do” chant. While adults may look around and think there are a million things to do, it’s not quite that easy for children. We see possibilities, but some children need a little direction to get them going. Read this article with your children and try out these simple ideas to spark more mindful moments with your child. Remember, mindfulness is just bringing all your energy and awareness to the present. Some things to remember:
- Slurp: There is no harm in you trying this with your little ones. It’s ok to get messy—even for adults! Cloudy days:
- Cloudy days can bring us all down a bit, but this classic game will help your child practice their focusing and expand their creativity.
- Puzzled: Most children grow up with puzzles from a very young age. It usually begins with shape and animal puzzles then moves into more pieces and greater difficulty. As a parent who loves to save all sorts of things, I couldn’t seem to give any of them away so desperately needed a way to organize them. In the end I just stacked them in a very large Tupperware container. This led to a perfect rainy-day activity for my sons. I simply dumped out all the puzzles, frames, and pieces onto my family room floor and let them go at it! The challenge of finding which piece went to which puzzle became a great exercise in focus and teamwork. The room was eerily silent except for the sharing of pieces: “This might go with one you’re working on.” In the end the puzzles were solved, the Tupperware was closed, and treats were served.
Hope these mindful ideas bring big smiles and maybe even some “leapfrog” ideas to share with us at (585) Kids!