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 pre-teens, and the relationship between the two is symbiotic.
Mental and physical stimulation are key to this age group – and the two go hand in hand. Spending half an hour to an hour each day doing exercise that gets their heart pumping will help 9- to 12-year-olds feel good about themselves and in their bodies. A healthy body makes for a healthy mind: this kind of activity is great for their focus, mental health and sleep hygiene, too. Yoga, running or even a brisk walk is enough to have an impact, while team sports offer a social element for some kids, too.
Creative activities are a great way to keep your pre-teens mentally stimulated. Make room for your kids to relax and express themselves without judgement. From arts and crafts to cooking and baking, coming up with fun projects to do together is a great way to bond and develop new skills.
The next time your preteen starts complaining about not having anything to do, try out some of these stimulating activities:
- Set up easels and paint pictures outdoors.
- Visit your local museum.
- Learn how to make 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 campsite.
- 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.
- Make a bonfire in the back garden and toast marshmallows.
- Have a water balloon fight.
- 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 using paper and sticks.
- Knit scarves.
- Learn skipping rope games.
- Visit a maze and get lost.
- Make homemade popcorn.
- Build unusual snowmen and take pictures.
- Go bowling.
- Make foliage faces together.
- Carve a pumpkin or squash.
- Give each other facials.
- Put together a time capsule and bury it in the back garden.
- Rake leaves into a pile and jump in.
- Create a homemade papier-mâché globe with a balloon.
- Build an igloo out of snow.
- Turn a shoe box into a diorama.
- Visit their grandparents and ask them to tell a story.
- Make a birdhouse out of wood.
- Make dinner together using a recipe.
- Make beads out of clay and string them into jewellery.
- Go swimming.
- Bake and decorate cupcakes together.
- Tie dye T-shirts.
- Skip stones at a local pond or lake.
- Paint each other’s portraits.
- Set up an outdoor obstacle course.
- Learn how to fold different types of paper planes.
- Have a room-tidying competition!
- Put on a talent show together.
- Go fishing together, 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.
- Come up with your own comedy routine featuring your favourite jokes.
- 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 baking soda volcano.
- Learn how to quilt together.
- Make sculptures out of soap.
- Learn simple phrases in another language, like French or Spanish.
- Take a train somewhere.
- Learn to play tennis.
- Make your own bows and arrows, and practice archery in the back garden.
- 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.
- Make a bug hotel for your garden.
- Go geocaching together.
- Set up a domino rally on a large table.
- Teach them how to do laundry.
- Collect clothes and toys for charity.
- Make a duct tape wallet or purse.
- Make tasty mocktails.
- Play ping pong.
- Plant flowers together in the garden.
- Play stuck in the mud.
- Go on a hike.
- Learn Morse Code together.
- Find a walking stick and paint it.
- Play charades.
- Go to the zoo.
- Build a house of cards.
- Make marionette puppets and put on a puppet show.
- Roll a pinecone in peanut butter and bird seed to create a bird feeder.
- Throw a slumber party for their friends.
- Shoot hoops at a park or sports hall.
- 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 you will, and that’s OK, too.