School's out and it is officially summer! The favorite phrase for my kids during summer break is "I'm bored!". While I know there are plenty of toys, game and other activities to keep them busy, sometimes my mind draws a blank and it's always nice to have a list of ideas to keep the kids occupied all summer long. Here's a list of 101 "Boredom Busters", old and new, to entertain and exhaust your children this summer, beginning to end.
Take a walk around the neighborhood
Check out a new playground (check out our Local Playground Guide)
Jump around for the afternoon at Pump it Up Crystal Lake (open jump times listed on our calendar)
Too hot to be outside? Drop in and play at Odyssey Play Place in Palatine, recommended for children birth-6
Splash around at a Spray Park (check out our Cool Down Guide)
Visit Arlington Park on Family Days
Go to an outdoor concert and listen to local musicians (check out our Summer Outdoor Concert Guide)
Earn a FREE book with Barnes & Noble's Summer Reading Program
Lay on your back in the grass on a partly cloudy day and point out what shapes you see in the clouds
Visit the Crystal Lake Park District Nature Center
Watch Moana outdoors at Palatine's Movie in the Park
Walk around an outdoor mall such as Deer Park Mall or Algonquin Commons
Visit a local library and try a new storytime
Stop by and shop for local goods at a Farmers Market (local markets listed on our calendar)
Paint some pottery at Glazy Daze in Cary
Go ice skating...yes ice skating in the summer! Our event calendar lists all the local open skate times
Experience a drive in movie at Golden Age Cinemas in McHenry
Take a family bike ride in the Deer Groves Forest Preserves
Watch Fireworks (Check out our Festival & Fireworks Guide)
Go to a cheap or FREE movie (Check out our Cheap Movie Guide)
Spend a day at Santa's Village
Go swimming at Palatine's Family Aquatic Center
Spend the afternoon at Barrington's Citizen Park
Check out classic cars at Barrington's Cruise Nights (dates and times on our calendar)
Make a kids craft at Michaels every Saturday
Play a board game
Attend Rock the Routes in FRG on June 10...make sure to stop by the Macaroni Kid table between 1:30-5:30 pm
Go fishing
Pack a lunch and spend the day at a local beach, Picnic Grove Park and Lions Park in FRG both have small beaches and playgrounds or check out Paulus Park Beach in Lake Zurich
Run, jump, tumble and more at an Open Gym, Cary Gymnastics Center, KIAGA Barrington and YMCA times are on the event calendar
Splash, swim and slide down the water slides at Aqualusion pool in Barrington
Palatine's Hometown Fest (More info in our Festival Guide)
Make a craft Saturdays at Lakeshore Learning Store
Head to a park with a basketball court and play a game of PIG or HORSE (Find one HERE)
Strap on some skates and go roller skating...outside around the neighborhood or enjoy one of the fun family skates at a local skating rink (check calendar for days and times)
Catch some fish for dinner at Lake Julian
Make a chalk mural on the driveway or sidewalk
Do a puzzle. Make a stop at Goodwill or a local resale shop and pick one up for next to nothing. When you are done take it apart, donate it back and start a new one!
Take the Metra and enjoy a day exploring downtown. Shop on Michigan Ave, see yourself in "The Bean", play at Maggie Daley Park and so much more!
Grab a friend and go play at the Treehouse in Lake Zurich
Hit some balls at Batting Benny's
Build something at Home Depot during their FREE Kids workshop the first Saturday of each month
Gather all the neighborhood kids one night and play Flashlight Hide and Seek
Make a fort with sheets and blankets
Make your own kite and then go outside and fly it
Pretend you are a scientist and make SLIME!
Bake your favorite cookies and give some to your neighbors
Start a band with friends and create the instruments using materials found around the house
Bird watch and write down how many different birds you see in your own backyard
Spend the afternoon at Crabtree Nature Center in Barrington
Stop for a little afternoon treat at your local ice cream parlor
Tackle the Kids Obstacle Challenge
Have a Hula Hoop contest...How long can you Hula?
Write your own story and draw some pictures to illustrate it
Climb a tree
Paint rocks and hide them around town. Post pictures of your rocks in the #CGBPRocks Facebook Group
Grab the entire family and play a game of backyard touch football
Check out one or all of Cary's Childrens Entertainment Series (dates and times on our calendar)
Have a water balloon and squirt gun fight
Volunteer at a local animal shelter
Cosmic skate at Orbit Skate Center
See a sensory friendly movie at AMC
Use your best pirate voice at Pirates of the Caribbean Night at Aqualusion Pool
Run through the sprinkler
Plant and tend to a little garden
Go frog and turtle catching, if you live by the Fox river like we do or a pond close to home go check it out, this is one of my childrens favorite summertime activities
Check out some really cool cars at Volo Auto Museum
Go out to eat and save some money (take a look at our Kids Meal Deals Guide)
Fish for FREE (no license required) from June 16-19
Camp out with the family at Barrington's Citizens Park
Catch fireflies, save them in a jar and watch them glow, then release them before you go back inside
Visit The Little Gym
Have a jump rope competition
Test your bowling skills at a local bowling alley...Are you part of the Kids Bowl Free program?
Spend the morning at open play at Kids Kustom (times listed on out calendar)
Try a new sport
Make a backyard obstacle course and challenge your siblings or neighbors to see who can complete it the fastest!
Learn a new card game. Try Go Fish, War, Spoons and more
Camp Under the Stars with the Rolling Meadows Park District
Watch Fireworks at Cary's Summer Celebration
All you need is a piece of chalk and a rock and you can play a classic game of hopscotch
Check out a magic show at Noonie Times in Rolling Meadows
Participate in a Fishing Derby at Twin Lakes
Eat watermelon and have a seed spitting contest
Have an adventure of a lifetime at the Kids Adventure Games in August
Go back in time at Donley's Wild West Town in Union.
Pack a lunch and pet some animals at Randall Oaks Zoo and play on one or all 3 of their playgrounds
Touch a Truck in Rolling Meadows
Go on a bug safari
Participate in a local 5K or Fun Run, my picks are Cary's Color Run or Palatine's Superhero 5K (check guide for full list and links to sign up)
Spend lunchtime with the kids at Palatine's Towne Square Friday Family Picnic series
Watch Moana and Pete's Dragon during Rolling Meadows Movie in the Park
Go berry picking at Stades Farm and Market or Heiders Berry Farm
Have a nighttime fire and make s'mores
Create your own lemonade stand
Play disc golf. Courses can be found in Palatine, Barrington and Rolling Meadows
Get on your bathing suits and have fun giving the family car a good washing
Do yard work together and plant pretty flowers to enjoy all summer long
- On a rainy day go outside and dance in the rain
Design and create your own cars out of cardboard and host your own drive in movie night
- Algonquin Founders Day Festival (More details in the Festival Guide)
Get the scoop on family fun in Palatine, Barrington, Fox River Grove and Cary, IL SIGN-UP for free today!
Macaroni Kid CaryGrove-Barrington-Palatine is a free weekly e-newsletter, online calendar and website focused on kids' activities, family fun events, parenting resources and information relevant to families in Palatine, Barrington, Fox River Grove, and Cary, IL. We compile all local family events and activities each week, and add useful information about family-centered businesses, product and business reviews, recipes, crafts, resource guides and more.
