This post is sponsored by BabbleBoxx. All opinions are my own and 100% authentic.
The former teacher in me is always trying to find ways to sneak in some fun educational content to my kids’ day! I have listed out some of my very favorite fun and educational boredom busters that your kids will love!
With summer right around the corner, I was even more determined to create a solid list of my favorite games, crafts, and tools that will not only help keep my kids busy all summer long but will also help their little minds to keep growing all summer long!
Before I give you my list, I will share with you my #1 favorite tip to immediately bust boredom without any screentime:
Play music! We play music ALL THE TIME in our house! In the morning to boost our mood, while the kids play, while we clean, while we cook, etc. It makes everything more fun and I swear it makes everyone happier too. We are big fans of Disney in our house! So this Disney Hits playlist is our fave! You can download it here and play it on all streaming platforms, Amazon Prime, Spotify, and Apple Music.
Did I mention that there is a lot of dancing that goes on while we listen to music? We love it!
My Top 7 Favorite Fun and Educational Boredom Busters:
1. VTech® KidiGoTM Walkie Talkies–
These are SO MUCH FUN and the best way to make even playing outside more exciting! These Walkie Talkies work up to 500 feet away over a secure, digital connection that keeps conversations secure, preventing other walkie-talkie users from listening in or chatting with them.
Your kids can even send preset animated messages – inside or out, day or night with a backlit LCD screen – and play four two-player games for real-time gaming and they look like a phone! How cool is that?
2. LeapFrog LeapStart 3D Learning System
These really are the real deal and Evie begs me to let her use her LeapFrog! It helps to get kids excited about learning by combining real books with interactive games and animations. Your kids can even tap the pictures and words on every page with the stylus to learn more- although to them it just feels like they are playing a game!
You can also buy additional books (each sold separately), such as LeapStart 2 Book Combo Pack: Math in Action and Toys Save the Day, which are available in the LeapStart library.
3. Magic SketchTM from Boogie Board
This board has hands down made my life a billion times easier! I can’t even believe how amazing home school is using this board. It came with these alphabet templates that I love to use and Evie doesn’t fight me to do school anymore because she wants to use the Boogie Board so badly!
You can also doodle, draw, and play games over and over again- erase the screen with the tap of a button. Also, unlike pens, crayons, paints, whiteboards, or markers, there’s no mess to clean up when your child is done!
Use code: WMBBX2BQDSZZH to get Get 10% off any purchase online at Boogie Board.
Valid through October 2nd, 2020.
4. Open The Joy Box- 100+ Boredom Busters!
This has been one of Evie’s all-time favorite things! This box is the perfect “get well soon” solution. it has 100+ Boredom Busters to help keep kids occupied. It includes activities ranging from clay to magic tricks, to “would you rather” questions and incredible conversation starters to help get families bonding.
It was also designed by Child Therapists to promote conversation and healing through play. Open the Joy also partners with the Spread the Joy Foundation to distribute joy boxes to hospitalized children across America! I love this company.
Use code “boredombuster” for 10% off- valid until June 1st. Shop here!
5. SmartGames
We have loved these smart games for our at-home preschool right now! It is such a refreshing way to learn and makes home preschool not such a fight. Here are our two favorites:
- Smart Farmer- great for all ages- especially beginner!
- Skill-Building: Planning, Problem-Solving, Spatial Insight and more
- Animal Theme: Kids have fun with the soft, friendly animal pieces
- SmartGames Jump In’- this one is portable and especially great for in the car or on the go!
- Skill-Building: Logic, Planning, Problem-Solving, and more
- Fun Play Style: Sliding foxes and jumping rabbits = fun learning
Go here and use code: 10SMART2020 to get these awesome SmartGames!
Good on any item purchased on their Amazon store and valid through 5/30/20
6. Interactive Books
Sometimes reading needs a few more interactive elements to make it exciting! One of our favorites lately is A Child’s Introduction to the Night Sky: The Story of the Stars, Planets, and Constellations–and How You Can Find Them in the Sky from Black Dog & Leventhal.
It is SERIOUSLY cool! I couldn’t believe that this book singlehandedly got my Preschooler interested in constellations. It also comes with glow in the dark star stickers and is aligned with STEM activities. I promise that your kids will love this book! You can purchase it here.
7. Feeling Through Colors Activity
These activities are fantastic and such a great way to help educate your kids emotionally. These are all free activities that we found from Action For Healthy Kids and you can download them and do them with your family too. Click here! We talked about how colors can mean different things and then Evie colored on her “heart” what her heart was feeling that day. It was such a great activity that we have done over and over again (especially when we’re having a rough day!). They also have a whole library with activities you can do! Go here to access the library.
Action for Healthy kids is also an amazing nonprofit benefiting kids. Take action for your kids by joining the movement at actionforhealthykids.org/take-action. You can sign up for Action for Healthy Kids news, updates, and more resources!
Do you have any boredom busters that your family swears by? I would love to hear what they are and add them to our list!
