Check out these Fun Activities for a Bored Teen. Boredom busters to keep kids busy during the summer or when you're stuck at home. Most of these ideas don't involve teenagers being on a screen!
Things for Bored Teenagers to Do
Do you hear the words "I'm Boooored" coming from your teenager?
Fear not. Here's a list of 100 Activities your son or daughter can do that don't all involve a screen! These boredom-busters are good all year long!
If you're looking for ways for Teens to be Productive this Summer or How to Make Money as a Teenager, here are some awesome ideas!
You'll also want to check out How Teens Can Make Money and How Teenagers Can Have a Productive Summer.
Let's take a look at these fun things to do when you're bored!
100 Activities for a Bored Teen
This post contains affiliate links. Disclosure policy here.
- Make a music video or movie.
2. Eat a food you've never tried.
4. Make the best ice cream sandwich or freak shake ever.
5. DIY bath bombs.
6. Invent a new type of pizza or killer milkshake.
8. Picnic at a local park.
9. Catch lightning bugs.
10. Have an overnight movie marathon.
11. Play frisbee golf.
12. Have a car wash fundraiser for a club or charity.
13. Grab a blanket, spread it out in the grass, and watch the clouds.
14. Make a card for a friend or grandparent.
15. Bike 5 miles.
16. Take a nap under a shady tree.
17. Go swimming or hot tubbing
18. Have a pool party.
19. Grow vegetables.
20. Make a cute tote bag out of a recycled tank top or jeans.
21. Watch an outdoor play or concert in a park.
22. Have a water gun fight.
23. Bury a friend in the sand.
24. Fly paper airplanes.
25. Volunteer in your community.
26. Go fishing.
27. Sketch your pet.
28. Sleep in your backyard under the stars.
29. Create a photo journal or blog.
30. Hike a local trail.
31. Visit your local library, or download a book, and read a new one every week.
32. Make a friendship bracelet and send it to a friend.
33. Go through your closet and make new outfits.
34. Write a poem.
35. Write a song.
36. Write a play.
37. Start writing a novel.
39. Create a website.
40. Swap a favorite book with a friend and read it.
41. Go geocaching.
42. Have an outdoor basketball free-throw contest.
43. Make a bucket list.
44. Craft friendship bracelets.
45. Help plan the family vacation.
46. Make a root beer float.
47. Write in your journal, "My Top 10 Favorite Summertime Activities".
48. Make a toe ring.
51. Make the family dinner.
52. Paint your fingernails with bright sparkly polish.
53. Watch the sunrise.
54. Watch the sunset.
55. Get your community’s events list and attend an event or two.
56. Have a clothes fashion show.
57. Babysit.
58. Volunteer to read to children at the library.
59. Learn to grill a hot dog or hamburger.
60. Learn how to use a manual camera.
61. Learn to grill pizza crust.
62. Visit a museum in person or virtually.
63. Redecorate or rearrange your room.
64. Make a collage out of old magazines.
65. Learn how to play guitar.
66. Skip stones at a lake.
67. Surf/boogie board at the beach.
68. Get a new hairdo.
69. Change something about how you wear your make-up.
70. Decide to pick up one good habit, then do it.
71. Make your own popsicles.
72. Watch last year’s hot summer flick.
73. Rearrange your room.
74. Make a list of your favorite movies in your journal.
75. Listen to an audiobook or podcast.
76. Make a vision board.
77. Create a lemonade stand.
78. Make watermelon punch.
79. Make a playlist of your favorite songs.
80. Enjoy a board game marathon outdoors or inside.
82. Do an 8-minute workout.
83. Make some jewelry.
84. Give your dog/pet a bath outside.
85. Take your dog for a walk and explore your neighborhood or local trails.
86. Run through a sprinkler.
87. Visit the zoo.
88. Tie dye some clothes.
89. Grow some lavender so you can make your own potpourri.
90. Turn up the music and dance.
91. Sleep until noon -- once or twice.
92. Pick some local fruit.
93. Create some word rocks.
94. See a local baseball game.
95. Play mini or regular golf.
96. Learn how to hula-hoop.
97. Create sidewalk art with chalk.
99. Visit a college. In-person or virtually.
100. Play games outside after dark.
101. Listen to a podcast.
102. Spend some time coloring in an adult coloring book.
103. Try out a new coffee shop.
To make it even more amusing, put all your favorite Activities for a Bored Teen in a jar, and have your teen pick one out. It's like a game of chance and brings a bit of mystery to the activities!
Relaxing Things for Teenagers to Do
If you need some ideas to calm your anxiety or want to wind down and relax, here are some ideas you can do from the comfort of your own home.
- Doodle, color, or draw.
- Take a bubble bath.
- Do yoga.
- Meditate.
- Take a long shower.
- Cuddle your fur baby.
- Sip some hot tea.
- Journal.
- Stretch.
Productive Things You Can Do When Bored
- Update or create your resume.
- Clean out your email.
- Organize your closet or under your bed.
- Create a budget.
- Clean your phone case.
- Make a to-do list.
- Do your laundry.
- Dust your room.
- Research dream jobs.
- Donate your unused items.
- Do some exercise (walk, run, situps, whatever).
Grab Your Free Printable Teen Activities Guide!
Print this FREE Teen Activities Guide to use whenever you need it!
Cool Websites for Teens
- Science Notes - Cool science stuff, including activities and printables.
- Coursera - learn new skills with this online website.
- Open Learn - free courses to learn just about any topic.
- Code Academy - learn how to code.
- Student Handouts - free printable brain teasers.
You May Also Want to Check Out These Cool DIY Craft Ideas for Teen Girls!
You May Also Like:
5 Ways to Help Teens Be Productive This Summer
How to Make Money as a Teenager
Lauren says
This was really helpful, thank you.
Erin Henry says
You're welcome! Have a great day!
Rewari says
This is gereat for what is happening now and getting ready a Bucket list for my kids because they are of school so thank you
Erin Henry says
You are welcome, Rewari! Glad the list helps!
Flowerchia10 says
This was a great article to read. I was reading this and you should add meditating cause it helps, also this could help with staying home and doing fun activities while this whole stupid coronavirus that everyone's panicking. I think this coronavirus is BS, I'm even saying that when I 'm a preteen.????
Martha Johnson says
I gave my boys every single option on this list but they called it all BS. Do you have any other options that 14 and 15-year-old boys would like besides videogames?
Erin Henry says
Teens love Spike Ball. You can find it here: https://amzn.to/32bYvU3
arif says
im a teenager, but i spend my time with things like reading or art, so why dont you tell them to do something they enjoy.Otherwise, i would say you could send them to an extracurricular sports activity like martial arts lessons or swimming.
Mary poucher says
I noticed that over half if this list is activity that lasts maybe 2 hours or less a few could be an all day activity but how do you keep your kids entertained for an entire summer on this list without it being redundant
Erin says
I would suggest they do something project based to keep them busy during the summer. Either a job or volunteering are good options. Best of luck, Mary!
jenna says
u should add reading this list to it bc means my friends were entertained just by reading the list we didn’t do any of the ideas
Clara says
Me and my dad got into a fight and we want to each make a list of 20 things that we can do with each other. This article really helped, Thanks soooooo much. So, I used some of the ideas from your page and we had a whole bunch of fun. And I am super glad that I hoped on this website and no other website. Thanks Again!!!
????????
Erin says
I'm glad it helped, Clara. I'm also glad you had some fun and bonding time doing some of the activities 🙂
Pam says
Thanks, I really needed this article. I have an only child, a son who is a home body and only wants to play video games. I have to find other activities for him and there are some good ones on this list.
Erin says
I'm so glad it was a help to you! Keeping teens busy and out of trouble can be a challenge. I'm glad you found some value here.
Em Anthony says
It sounds like these would be fun but is their any crafty ideas like how to make slime or stress balls or something?
Janet says
i think you should add
''doing buzzfeed quizzes'' because they are super fun and you can waste so much time on them
jess says
Some great ideas but i did not have many of the things you needed.
Erin says
I'm glad you think there are some fun ideas here, Jess. Yes, some of them require additional things, but hopefully you found something to keep you entertained 🙂
Marissa Alvarez says
I did almost all of this stuff and most of them have to deal with driving and I am a preteen!!!????????????????
Erin says
Yes, it would be a challenge to do some of these suggestions if you don't have a car! Hopefully you had fun with some of the other activities 🙂
Katherine Taylor says
Great article.
I do find it amusing how there’s a link to instructions on how to paint your nails, but not hot to make a toe ring, or an earring holder out of a branch! ????
Thanks for the ideas!
Erin says
Those sound like fun ideas too!
Emily says
The tree branch and toe ring are on the list though. Not something she just thought of
Erin says
Great! Glad I could help, Emily.