https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 25 Apr 2026 04:58:51 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-bored-ideas-for-4-year-old-activities-at-home#post-2748915 Sun, 18 Jun 2017 14:29:55 +0000 charlotte 2748915@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>These are all awesome ideas - thank you everyone. Honestly going to try them all.. maybe throw in a little errand to Staples or the Dollar Store together for him to pick some art cart supplies. I think he would love that. He can stay really focused on something for a long time if we get the right materials and it's not one of the same five things we have been doing for awhile. </p> <p> @hellobeeboston -your idea is great and reminded me I've been wanting to buy this, think I saw it on another thread here: <a href="https://www.littletikes.com/item/635557/splish-splash-sink-and-stove/1.html" rel="nofollow">https://www.littletikes.com/item/635557/splish-splash-sink-and-stove/1.html</a></p> <p>Making a list of all these ideas now - excited to try this week! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-bored-ideas-for-4-year-old-activities-at-home#post-2748850 Sun, 18 Jun 2017 09:47:22 +0000 looch 2748850@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My son is this same kid, he's got tons of stuff, but if it isn't out, he doesn't know he has it.</p> <p>We set up a white board station in his room. He has access to markers and magnets that he can play with there. Typically he uses it to make lists.</p> <p>Then we have an art cart. It has all kinds of things that he can use by himself (stickers, paper, envelopes, markers, etc). It's in his room, right next to his desk and he can entertain himself for hours there. Paint and clay are in the kitchen only, because I don't trust him not to get it everywhere! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-bored-ideas-for-4-year-old-activities-at-home#post-2748827 Sun, 18 Jun 2017 06:10:45 +0000 hellobeeboston 2748827@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you don't have a ton of outdoor space how about setting him up with a stool at the kitchen sink for some water play for a while? My kids love that. I usually put some towels down, but it does get messy. Cups and toys in there and they love it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-bored-ideas-for-4-year-old-activities-at-home#post-2748725 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 15:26:02 +0000 jaybirdie 2748725@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My almost 4 year old loves cutting paper and playing with play dough. He's very active/antsy so we are encouraging this "quiet" activity while it lasts even though it makes a mess. We've also recently started books on tape. I didn't think he'd be into them but we started with stories he's familiar with (like Berenstain Bears) and he'll sit on the couch or do a quiet activity while listening for 15-20 minutes (usually after nap time while he's still waking up). </p> <p>Another thing that helped us a lot is to put away toys and only have a few out at a time. It seemed like he was bored with the toys he had so we put about 80% of them away in closets and the garage. When I rotate some they become novel again. Plus it's less to clean up at the end of each day. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-bored-ideas-for-4-year-old-activities-at-home#post-2748711 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 14:20:41 +0000 ALV91711 2748711@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>DS is 4 and we just got him snakes and ladders, he loves it. Puzzles and his art easel keep him pretty busy too. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-bored-ideas-for-4-year-old-activities-at-home#post-2748703 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 13:59:12 +0000 yoursilverlining 2748703@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about cooking? My LO loves cooking - we bake but she also just loves mixing things so we make up batches of pizza dough and freeze it, homemade bread, etc. </p> <p>You can make up bunches of cards (great for having on-hand thank you cards!). Stamp/color up a bunch of cards and keep on hand or bring to a local senior center for them to give out to residents. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-bored-ideas-for-4-year-old-activities-at-home#post-2748694 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 13:27:52 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2748694@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@charlotte: our sand box gets hours of use. Or I fill up a bin with oatmeal and he uses his trucks in there. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-bored-ideas-for-4-year-old-activities-at-home#post-2748688 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 12:07:18 +0000 808love 2748688@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about stamping? Make a bunch of cards for people. </p> <p>LO likes to make up stories and I type them on the computer and print. Then she illustrates. </p> <p>Dance party. Tea party. Plan an imaginary party. Make invites. Make decorations. Shop for food. Cook the food. THink in themes that way you can string a few activities together that can build on each other and give momentum with self directed purpose.<br /> Yes, 4 was the main age for being a playmate. Don't worry it is just a phase. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-bored-ideas-for-4-year-old-activities-at-home#post-2748687 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 11:39:37 +0000 bookwormmama 2748687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@charlotte: my son's favorites are Pop the Pig and Yeti in my Spaghetti. The Yeti one is pretty annoying to play because he likes when it falls so we are constantly setting it up, but Pop the Pig is great. One game will take 10-15 minutes. It works on counting and colors as well!</p> <p>We also found an old school Disney Yahtzee game st the consignment store that he loves, but it is pretty old/would be difficult to find. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-bored-ideas-for-4-year-old-activities-at-home#post-2748684 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 11:26:43 +0000 charlotte 2748684@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@bookwormmama: unfortunately our outdoor space is very limited but we are hoping to move and change that soon! Board games are a great idea -- he really likes candy land and the card games would be a good, easy addition. </p> <p>@bhbee: haha, I totally fall halfway asleep every time we play candy land. Will check out trouble and super why! We have magnatiles, blocks, big and small Legos and he has just never been that into them for some reason. I have way more fun with them than he does! </p> <p>Can't wait until they can play together! Right now he is very neutral towards her or sees her as standing in the way of me being his constant playmate :meh: </p> <p>Thanks guys :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-bored-ideas-for-4-year-old-activities-at-home#post-2748667 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 09:44:38 +0000 bhbee 2748667@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>What about new building toys? Not sure what you have. Wooden blocks, magformers and legos get used a ton here. He might be able to do small legos which have a certain appeal since they're for "big kids only" - either free play or building from the book with your help (if you get some of the classic legos the books have multiple ideas in them vs just one for theme sets)</p> <p>Also just a hug because it gets so much easier as baby gets older and they play together! This summer mine are 2 and 5 and it has its ups and downs but I love how much they play together. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-bored-ideas-for-4-year-old-activities-at-home#post-2748666 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 09:41:38 +0000 bhbee 2748666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Board games and card games are a great idea! It can be hard for me to stay awake sometimes :wink: but my now 5yo started to love them last year. We have a deck where you can play go fish or old maid or memory which isn't too boring (we also found this little card holder at target so it's easier for her to hold them). Trouble, candy land (ugh) and the super why board game are all popular here. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-bored-ideas-for-4-year-old-activities-at-home#post-2748664 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 09:02:57 +0000 bookwormmama 2748664@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Do you have a backyard? We usually leave the house in the morning and do something like what you listed, but we stay home after lunch and he usually has time in the backyard after his quiet time. We pull out most of his outdoor toys and just let him do whatever he wants. I gave him a bucket of water and shovel a couple weeks ago and sent him to a dirt patch we have...he made mud and dug for 30+ minutes! It is rare when something keeps his attention for that long.</p> <p>Another suggestion (for quieter indoor play) is board games. My 3 yo has recently become really interested in board games and will want to play them over and over. We can usually get a good 20 minutes of quality time playing together and then he is more willing to go off on his own and play with other things.</p> <p>Also, I don't think boredom is a bad thing for kids...my son will start to play on his own/get creative if I just leave him to play on his own. I can't entertain him all the time and tell him he needs to play on his own for a while. If he throws a fit, I usually ignore it and he will go find something more interesting to do on his own. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/im-bored-ideas-for-4-year-old-activities-at-home#post-2748662 Sat, 17 Jun 2017 08:52:34 +0000 charlotte 2748662@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are about 2 weeks into summer break and my four year old son has told me multiple times he is bored. We get out of the house as often as we can - library, museum, park, swim lessons - but sometimes need to stay home so baby sister can nap or just not be stuck in a stroller. </p> <p>At home he gets a bit of screen time, helps water plants, reads, does workbooks / coloring / painting / cooking projects .... and we still seem to have HOURS of time to fill. He has totally lost interest in all of our toys, except sports/ balls. </p> <p>Any ideas?! </p>