"Mom, I'm Bored!" Seven Ideas for Fun Summer Activities

"Mom, I'm bored." How many billions of times have mothers heard those words throughout the years? No doubt some fur-clad cavewoman sweeping her cave with brush had to deal with this same problem.

Summer is coming and soon the kids will be home and bored. They can only be sent to so many summer camps and programs before we run out of the money and the gas to get them there.

BUBBLES! Everyone loves bubbles, adults and kids alike. All you need is a dishwashing detergent like Dawn or Joy- about 2/3 cup, a T. of glycerin and a gallon of water. Use wire coat hangers that have been formed into shapes, funnels, and floral wire, anything you can make a shape with to blow your bubbles.

PAINT A ROCK! Take the kids down to a creek bed and look for rocks that have been smoothed out by the water. Once you have your rocks, all you need is some inexpensive acrylic paint. Tell the kids to let their imaginations run wild. Stripes, polka dots, plaid- whatever strikes their fancy will look great on their rock. If they want to draw a picture, simply locate a piece of free clip art on a website and print it out for them to follow.

PAPER PLANES! Who hasn't longed to make that perfect paper airplane; the one that flies the farthest and fastest and is aerodynamically superior? There are several websites that offer free patterns. Try http://www.funpaperairplanes.com/ or if you would like to watch video on how to fold your planes, check out the site by 12-year-old Christian Williams at http://www.buildpaperairplanes.com/.

GO FLY A KITE! Almost everyone has a kite at home, but if you don't you can purchase one rather inexpensively. Take your children to a park on a windy day and let the kites fly. Not only is it an awesome sight, it is an exhilarating experience and you get plenty of exercise chasing the kite.

SEARCH FOR TREASURE! Hide some objects around the yard, create a treasure map and send the children off on a quest for hidden riches. You can even offer prizes. The one with the most objects found gets one dollar. This is a great incentive for them to overcome their boredom.

SAY CHEESE! Purchase some disposable cameras and take your children to a scenic spot. Give them a basic tutorial in photography and then turn them loose with their cameras. Encourage them to take pictures of each other. Once the pictures have been taken and the film has been developed, help them to create a small scrapbook of their photography adventure.

PLAY PICASSO! Hang an old sheet or tablecloth on the clothesline (you may need to anchor the bottom with something to keep it from blowing in the wind) and let the little artists get to work. Provide them with paint, brushes, sponges, and any other materials they might be able to use to paint with. Once their masterpiece is completed you can cut it into equal pieces and let them use it to decorate their rooms.

Hopefully the ideas I have provided here will help you to have a less stressful summer and kids who do not know the meaning of the words "I'm bored."