Spring break is upon us… which means so are the words “Mom, I’m borrreeeeddd….” Ugh. I hate that, don’t you? I mean, without getting into my “kids today don’t know how lucky they are” soapbox too much…. kids today don’t know how stinkin’ lucky they are. Tablets, games, cell phones, friends… kids have the world at their fingertips. But somehow, they’re still bored, and I have the solution (most of which involves turning off that tech! Win!) Here are some spring break boredom busters your kids can’t resist.

1. Don’t let spring break rain kill your fun. If there’s no thunder or lightning, put on some boots (or better yet, go barefoot) and jump in the puddles together!

2. Work on a week-long project. Go to the store and buy the most challenging puzzle you can find, or dig through your closets for one you’ll love. Clear off space at the kitchen table, the counter, a floor in a guest room, a coffee table… and start putting it together. Working just a few minutes at a time, anytime you’re bored, means that when the whole family works together, the puzzle will be finished by the end of the break!

3. Explore a new neighborhood. Do a little googling and find a place you’ve never been… a new restaurant, a new district in your area, a new strip mall. Take the time to go over there and explore! For example, if you live in the Kansas City area, find a neighborhood in the city you’re less familiar with, and go make a day of exploring shops, restaurants, and museums in the area!

4. Take a class. No, I’m not joking. Just because it’s spring break doesn’t mean you have to take a break from learning! There are tons of awesome classes available, both online and off, to learn something new– maybe spring break will be the start of a new hobby or activity, like quilting, playing violin, or learning to knit!

5. Find out what’s happening locally. Many towns offer special events over spring break week to keep kids entertained– sometimes it’s an open gym opportunity, other times it’s a play group or kickball tournament at a local park. Either way, seeking out the fun activities and making plans to attend can be a great way to get out of the house and see some friends.

6. Take a day trip. Once again, hop on the good old search engines and look at what’s within driving distance of you… maybe it’s a place you never have time to visit on a school day, but with a free day, you can check it out! In Kansas, we’ve got the beautiful Flint Hills, and on the Missouri side, we have fun things to do like go to Shatto Dairy Farms. There’s plenty of fun to be had near you, but you might have to do a little digging to find it. If you truly are stumped, contact the tourism board in your state or metropolitan area and find out the best things to do near you.

7. Have a tech-free day. Pull out arts and craft boxes, dress up clothes, and old stashed-away toys. Turn off all of the tech, box up anything with batteries, and hide the remotes. Enjoy a tech-free day of building with LEGO, playing board games, or reading books together.

8. Walk to the library or park. If it’s a beautiful day, walk to a nearby library or park, and enjoy a little time exploring. At the park, do leaf and bark rubbings. At the library, pick up a book you’ve never read.

9. Bake! One of my son and I’s favorite ways to pass the time when we’re bored is to bake something. Whether it’s from a boxed mix or totally from scratch, we love to take a little time to just cook something together. Find a recipe or mix, and dive in! You’ll be rewarded with an awesome treat later.

10. Have a game tournament. Invite some friends over for this one! Start kids off on certain games, allowing the winner of each game to move on to other games, until you finally have one KING (or QUEEN!) OF THE GAMES! Of course, after other kids have lost, there’s still plenty of board game fun to be had by allowing them to switch games and play something different.

What spring break boredom busters do YOU use to end the “I’m bored” crisis? Let me know in the comments below! Looking for more kid-friendly fun? Make this easy bunny cake, or try making colored bubbles at home! Or, make this awesome frame gallery for springtime artwork (that you can change with the seasons!)