Fantastic Fun For Free-Summer Boredom Busters

Summer's right around the corner, and with it comes that age-old cry, "Mom I 'm bored! There's nothing to dooo!"

For many children, the end of the school year might signal the start of Day Camp, swimming lessons, or organized sports. Toss in a week or two of family travel, and the time flies. Nevertheless, even the most action-packed summer will give way to those two little words, "I'm bored!" So, how can you keep your children occupied, entertained, and stimulated for the duration, without spending a fortune in the process?

Start simple, and go for a walk. At each corner, flip a coin. If it's heads, turn right, tails, turn left. See where the fates take you.

Don't let the weather get in the way. On rainy days, walk in the rain. (But stay in if there's lightning). When the rain has stopped, go puddle jumping, and make mud pies.

Take the kids' craft center outside. Paintings can dry on the clothesline, and spilled glue won't wreck the carpet. Let the kids gather craft materials from around the house, like toilet paper rolls, empty juice cartons, etc. And encourage their imaginations to run wild.

Anstretch of pavement can be inspiration to a budding Picasso, armed with a variety of water paint and sidewalk chalk.

Return to your roots by teaching the children and their friends simple games like Mother, May I? Red Light, Green Light, et al. Draw a hopscotch on the sidewalk. See how many tricks they can master with a jump rope by the end of the summer. Round up the neighborhood children, and start your own baseball game.

Check out your local library. Most towns have summer reading programs, encouraging children to read as much as they can. Beat the heat of the afternoon by lounging in the shade with a good book. Encourage creativity by having the kids act out parts in their favorite stories.

All the world's a stage, so why not make your front porch or deck one as well? From simple Charades to writing their own scripts, kids are natural actors, and parents make the perfect audience. Crank up the boom box, and teach your kids the Twist, the Mashed Potato and the Swim. Make sure to let the kids teach you their favorite dances too.

Natural entrepreneurs in the family? Try a lemonade stand, or a used toy sale. Older kids can find odd jobs in the neighbourhood like watering plants, or walking dogs. Take a trip to the ice cream store with part of the profits.

Let the kids help with the gardening. Show them the difference between a weed and a vegetable, and set up a watering schedule. Many communities have a Plant a Row for the Hungry program, where you can take a portion of your harvest to the local food bank. Let your kids enjoy the opportunity to give to others.

Have a bicycle rodeo. Explain the importance of safe cycling and wearing a helmet. Learn hand signals, the rules of the road, and how to keep your bicycles in tip-top shape.

Have fun with water. Take 2 drinking straws, thread a length of string through them, tie the ends together, and you have a giant bubble maker. Try slotted spoons, sieves, and other kitchen implements for wacky bubbles. Have water relay games, or run through the sprinkler. Most communities also have swimming pools, withswimming at a low cost.

Don't forget the old-fashioned picnic at the park. But don't just go to the park, make it an adventure. Pack a simple picnic (let the kids make sandwiches), tuck a blanket under your arm, and head out. See who can identify different types of birds or flowers. Take a small compass along, and find out which direction you walk in. Once there, spread your blanket under a tree, and enjoy the shade. Play on the swings, go down the slide, Mom or Dad too. They'll love you for it.

Details on specific games and activities can be found in your local library. There are also two wonderful books, "365 Afterschool Activities" for ages 7-12, and "365 Days of Creative Play" for kids aged 2 and up, both by Sheila Ellison and Judith Gray, published by Sourcebooks Inc. that offer a wealth of boredom busters.

Remember to observe all safety rules, and for outside play, Slip on a shirt, Slap on a hat, and Slop on some sunscreen to beat those harmful UV rays. Have a fantastic summer!