Despite having a seemingly endless number of activities at their disposal, it’s almost inevitable that 9- to 12-year-olds will regularly utter the two dreaded words: “I’m bored.” While this catchphrase is—let’s face it—a little annoying, it’s important for parents and caregivers to remember that physical and mental stimulation is crucial for tweens, and the relationship between the two is symbiotic. Physical stimulation is especially important, as it also benefits kids’ mental health. 30–60 minutes of moderate exercise per day is recommended in order to improve kids’ overall well-being, including their sleep and confidence levels; to reduce anxiety and depression; and to improve their focus.
When it comes to finding mentally stimulating activities for tweens, it’s a good idea to engage them in activities where they can get their creative juices flowing, free from the fear of being judged. Good examples of this are reading books, doing art projects together, or cooking and baking.
But for the next time your preteen starts complaining about not having anything to do, try out some of these stimulating activities to do with tweens:
- Set up easels and paint pictures outdoors.
- Visit your local science museum.
- Learn how to knot friendship bracelets.
- Go to a coffee shop and write poetry.
- Put on an impromptu play.
- Put together a scavenger hunt.
- Bake a loaf of homemade bread.
- Build and launch a model rocket.
- Go on a camping trip at a campground.
- Wash the family car together.
- Go apple picking.
- Go on a bike ride together.
- Sprout beans in a jar that you can plant in the garden.
- Weave on a loom.
- Learn how to play musical instruments together.
- Make paper spinners.
- Look at slides through a microscope.
- Create a nature journal.
- Embroider cloth handkerchiefs to give as gifts.
- Dye cotton cloth using berries and tea.
- Go roller skating.
- Make homemade candles out of beeswax.
- Toast marshmallows over the fireplace, which you can eat while sharing stories.
- Have a water balloon fight in the backyard.
- Look at the moon with a telescope or binoculars.
- Play 20 Questions.
- Teach them a card trick to amaze their friends.
- Draw a map of your neighbourhood using graph paper.
- Put together a homemade kite.
- Knit scarves.
- Learn Double Dutch jump rope.
- Visit a maze and get lost.
- Make homemade popcorn.
- Make mud pies.
- Go bowling.
- Make foliage faces together.
- Carve a pineapple.
- Give each other facials.
- Put together a time capsule and bury it in the backyard.
- Collect leaves from the backyard and use them to create leaf art.
- Create a homemade papier-mâché globe with a balloon.
- Build a fort inside.
- Turn a shoe box into a diorama.
- Visit a nursing home.
- Make a birdhouse out of wood.
- Pick a recipe and cook dinner together.
- Make beads out of clay and string them onto jewellery.
- Learn to surf.
- Make homemade lollies together.
- Tie dye T-shirts.
- Skip stones at a local dam, river or lake.
- Paint each other’s portraits.
- Set up an outdoor obstacle course.
- Learn how to fold different types of paper airplanes.
- Have a room-cleaning competition!
- Put on a talent show together.
- Go fishing together and then cook the fish for dinner.
- Teach them to play chess (or learn with them).
- Use a video camera to create stop-frame animations.
- Learn to fold origami.
- Play Hangman.
- Learn to juggle together.
- Try to memorise favourite poems or verses.
- Learn a few yoga poses.
- Fill a balloon with baby powder to create a homemade stress ball.
- Have a bake sale to raise money for charity.
- Make a salt dough volcano.
- Learn how to quilt together.
- Make sculptures out of soap.
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- Take a train somewhere.
- Learn to play tennis.
- Make your own bows and arrows, and practice archery in the backyard.
- Host a dance-off in the living room.
- Make something out of recycled materials.
- Make homemade bath bombs.
- Take old appliances apart to see how they work.
- Work on a puzzle together.
- See how many different peg animals you can create.
- Go geocaching together.
- Set up a domino track on a large table.
- Teach them how to do the washing.
- Collect clothes and toys for charity.
- Make a duct tape wallet or purse.
- Go get ice creams together.
- Play table tennis.
- Make pom pom flowers.
- Get torches and play spotlight.
- Go on a hike at a national park.
- Learn Morse Code together.
- Find a walking stick and paint it.
- Play charades.
- Go to the zoo.
- Learn cup stacking.
- Make marionette puppets and put on a puppet show.
- Roll a pine cone in peanut butter and bird seed to create a bird feeder.
- Go see a 3D film.
- Shoot hoops at a local basketball court.
- Decorate hats and shoes with paint pens.
- Put on a magic show for friends and family.
- Turn a lemon into a battery.
Once you and the kids get started on this list, you’ll probably never hear that they’re bored again! Or maybe you will, and that’s OK too.