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Parents can often hear the phrase “I’m bored” or some similar variation. In my home, that phrase is often followed by, “What do you want to do with me?” While I do LOVE getting to play with my kids, it’s not something that I am able to do every second of the day.
Preschoolers are meant to be learning, exploring, and playing all the time! Learning to play independently of an adult is also important. It’s important for kids to learn how to think through their choices, be decisive in what they want to do, and learn how to follow their independent ideas without a parent helping them every step of the way.
Being bored can be a positive thing! It challenges their creativity, forces them to look around to discover something for themselves, and can give them the space to figure out what they want vs. always being catered to with a new activity.
Now, sometimes, they need a bit of help to let those creative thoughts start churning! Below, we have gathered 10 activities to offer to a bored preschooler that encourages independent play. Now, something to remember with all independent play of younger children-it’s important to them that you see what they have made or created. Encourage them to build an amazing LEGO creation independently, but make sure to check it out at the end too! Use specifics to tell them what a great job they did. Point out their attention to detail, ask them about a certain part, and show them that while they do need to play independently at times that you also always want to be a part of it.
10 Activities to Encourage Independent Play
Boxes
A simple and classic toddler/preschooler “toy” is just a box. Don’t throw away those boxes or break them down for recycling too fast! Especially any large boxes kept for a rainy or boring day! It’s amazing how much fun simple boxes can be for children. They can become little houses, a boat, something to stand on if sturdy enough, and more. Give them crayons or markers to color with, too!
Cooking
Having a set of cooking/kitchen toys that your kids enjoy is a staple for any toddler or preschooler. Young children love getting to act out what they see the adults they love doing. Challenge your child to set up an epic tea time with some stuffed animal guests. Or tell them to “cook” and “serve” their dream meal!
One of our favorite food toys is a felt pizza making set. Children not only get to play with the fake food, but they get to make different kinds of pizza and the toy is much more interactive. My kids love to make different pizzas for different people in our family. We have also found that it was why they knew so well who was allergic to what foods in our family!
Car World
Challenge your child to set up an ultimate car world. This could like looke organizng all their car toys into groups (monster trucks in one line, hotwheels in another, and constructions trucks in another), lining up a car show parade, or setting up a hotwheels track competition to see what car they own is the fastest. A basic 2-car racing set-up is a toy that will lead to hours of entertainment for a car-loving kid!
Something to keep in mind here is that you don’t have to own a ton of toys to do this well! Give your child a brown blanket and some pillows to place under it for them to create an epic monster truck area to play in. Or, give them a simple Hot Wheels launcher and some straight tracks and challenge them to make an epic launch in the living room.
Magnetic Tiles
We love magnetic tiles! They are an amazing toy/stem activity. Your child get to build something using their hands, be creative, and even learn something about trying again when a creation falls over. Challenge your child to build a tall tower, a creation of their own, or even let them see where they stick to your walls!
Floor is Lava Obstacle Course
Hand over some simple toys and let your bored preschooler create a floor is lava ostable course outside or in your living room. This can be as simple as giving them some hardcover books to place on the ground! We love these stepping stones for playing the floor is lava! Easy for younger children to move around and helps give them a boundary for their creativity going to bit to far at times for what they can step on.
LEGO’s
There is a reason that LEGO’s have been such a classic toy for years. Similar to magnetic tiles, your child gets to work on moter skills, creativity, trial-error, and even social skills! Give your child a propt of what to build like a zoo or farm, or allow them to build whatever comes to mind!
For the preschool age we still love DUPLO’s! Great for even a young toddler, DUPLO’s allow your child to create something quicker then the classic LEGO’s, which helps to keep them engaged.
LEGO’s can seem expensive for a toy. Make sure to check out garage sales and marketplace for getting them used. We have found this this duplo house set to be an amazing base set for our children. It’s filled with items that they see everyday and love to play with in a miniature way. Make sure to get a baseboard too! It is very helpful for creative play and younger children.
Writing Tablet
The LCD writing tablet was an amazing invention! These writing tablets allow children to color, write, and doddle all mess free. They write and can simple erase and start over whenever they want. These are perfect to throw into a diaper bag, use in the car, or bring into a place like church. Our children use them to color and draw, but we also use them to practive things like our writing skills.
Jumping Couch
Now, this one may require a bit of surprevised looks from the kitchen, but it is still relatively independent! Challenge your kid to make a big jumping zone in your living room. Pile up the couch cushions, blankets, and pillows to create a big fluffy jumping zone. Not only will your child love getting to run and jump, but you will love the getting some physical activity in!
Once they are done jumping provide them with some books and they automatically have a very cozy reading nook.
Marble Run
Marble Run is another great stem activity for your preschooler! Depending on how much they are to be trusted with marbles, this one may require some nearby supervision as well. This activity takes time to build and offers almost unlimited options of how they can build it! A marble run is a toy that can really grow with your child as well. As they get older they will be able to challenge themselves to make more complicated builds.
This might be personal perfeernce, but we also think that a marble run set is a great adult toy too! Having a toy wthat you enjoy playing with too makes it so much easier get on the ground with them a play! We love that this Marble Run set will grow with your child.
Doctor’s Office
Another classic activity for your children to play is anything Doctor! Have your preschooler get our their pretend medical kit and set up shop as the doctor for the day. Have them line up stuffed animal toys for check-ups and challenge them to create a hospital room or two for their sick patients.
Another reason we love any kind of doctor play is that it gives them the ability to think thorough visiting the doctor and allows you the change to talk about an upcoming appointments for a nervous kiddo.
No Boredom Here!
Te next time you hear your preschooler say “Im Bored,” challenge them with one of these 10 ideas for how they can direct they play! Happy playing!
