Summer Screen Time Check List and an I’m Bored List

Summertime comes with lots of excitement! Between no school, trips to the pool, outside play, playdates with friends, and late bedtimes, summer serves as a great time for kids to re-boot from the school year and enjoy their main occupation, to play!

Summer also comes with its own unique set of woes for parents…the dreaded phrase “I’m bored” or “can I just play on my tablet?” often happens far too early into summer vacation.  I encourage parents to have their kids follow a Summer Screen Time Checklist or and I’m Bored list with different activities for your child to accomplish and help fill their day with activities that will nourish their minds and bodies.

Here are some examples of activities you could include on your “Summer Screen Time Checklist”:

• Brush your teeth
• Get dressed
• Brush your hair
• Straighten up your room
• Read for 20 minutes
• Play outside for 1 hours
• Complete daily math problem
• Build or create something for 45 minutes
• Finish your daily chores
• Do something creative
• Do something helpful

These activities will provide much needs structure and balance to your day during the summer months, before resorting to screen time. Include your child while making the list so they feel like they have some control into what their daily schedule will entail; kids are much more willing to abide by new rules and lists if they feel the are part of the process.

My other favorite summer list is the “I’m Bored list” to hand or direct your child to time these words enter their vocabulary.  Summer is a fantastic time to target not only fine motor and gross motor tasks, but also social skills and creativity, all in which can be accomplished through play! Below are tons of activities to have on your refrigerator for those “I’m bored” moments this summer:

• Play board games
• Draw a picture
• Write with sidewalk chalk
• Blow bubbles
• Make up a game
• Play dress up
• Read to yourself or a younger sibling
• Upcycle something into new item or game
• Learn to cook something…with a grown up of course
• Run through the sprinklers
• Set up a water table
• Water balloon fights
• Slip and slide
• Write a story
• Organize your toys or books
• Clean something for mom and dad
• Catch bugs or frogs
• Facetime with a family member
• Jump rope
• Ride a bike
• Roller blade
• Play 4-square
• Create friendly competitions
• Make a new friend
• Paint rocks for garden décor
• Make leaf rubs
• Paper airplane contest
• Build a fort
• Make bracelets or necklace
• Have a picnic
• Look at old pictures
• Start a lemonade stand
• Make a time capsule
• Play charades
• Have a staring contest
• Find toys to donate
• Wash the car
• Take pictures
• Water plants
• Pick flowers
• Write a letter
• Dig in the dirt
• Take a bubble bath
• Be helpful
• Make a sock puppet
• Have a fashion show
• Conduct an experiment
• Complete a maze or word search
• Play Simon Says or Duck, Duck…GOOSE
• Camp out in the backyard
• Go on walk
• Explore with a magnify glass
• Homemade bowling game
• Go on a scavenger hunt
• Make crafts
• Play tag or hide-and-go-seek
• Perform a play
• Make up a dance
• Get creative with legos or Playdoh
• Listen to music
• Create obstacle courses
• Play Hopscotch
• Play flip bottle
• Complete a puzzle
• Play dress up
• Walk the dog

ABC Pediatric Therapy Network LOVES to  educate parents on normal development so you can build into your family.  Visit us at http://www.abcpediatrictherapy.com to learn more.