What Can a 12 Year Old Do When Bored At Home?

Is your child experiencing a boring day due to bad weather conditions, a rainy day, or maybe they just aren’t in the mood to go outside and play with friends?

Are you looking for something fun to do and ways to get boredom out of child? Looking for what can a 12 year old do when bored at home?

You should be looking for; 12 y/o is the change for a massive change in personality, skills development, and abilities. That being said, he always looks for new fun ways to do.

I was also scrolling through my past memories with my Tween, thinking about how frustrating, demanding, and sometimes boring it is to be the parent of a 12-year-old. I had the question, “What does a 12-year-old do when he is bored at home?” because I often tried to find engaging activities for my son to do to keep him from getting bored.

As a parent of a 12-year-old child, you can help your child to find fun and enjoyable activities. Moreover, you must balance choosing helpful activities that can teach your child some life skills.

As I always try to make a good balance, I divided these activities into three groups here.

Group A – Learn While Having Fun
Group B – Outdoor Activities & Explorations
Group C – Indoor boredom-busting ideas

What can a 12 year old do when bored at home

Here are 13 ideas to combat boredom to help make the most of that time.

Learn While Having Fun

Art

Making collages can be a fun way for 12-year-olds to express themselves. If you have older children, they may want to paint or draw. Younger kids might like the idea of making paper dolls or cutting out homemade positionable figures. It’s also fun to get out old magazines or catalogs and use them as inspiration for art projects.

Writing

Kids are so creative and they love doing such things. With that being said; the second activity on what can a 12 year old do when bored at home is “Writing”.

Many children like to write poems or letters. You can even suggest that your children keep a journal. 12 year olds are often full of insight, it can be interesting to look back on their thoughts.

Solving puzzles

12-year-olds love to solve problems on their own, so why not encourage them with puzzle books?

It’s never too early for kids to start developing skills like problem-solving and critical thinking. If your child is having difficulty with a particular puzzle, ask them to try to solve it.

Make DIY things

Making DIY things is one of the best ways to spend your time being productive. It develops creativity and problem solving skills. If you are looking for some fun and easy DIY projects, make a simple origami bird or animal, write a secret message with lemon juice and decode it with heat. Or if your 12 year old is tech-savvy, try making a simple circuit.

Learn new languages

Studies have shown that learning a new language can change the way your brain processes information. So if you want to give your child a good start in life, why not encourage them to learn a new language?

There are many ways for children to learn languages these days – from language learning apps to children’s books. And if you don’t know where to start, there are many online resources to help you.

Outdoor Activities & Explorations

Playing sports

Taking up a sport is always a good decision. If you have older children, they may want to learn to play soccer or maybe hockey. Younger kids might enjoy a game of spots or hide and seek in the backyard. Whatever sport you choose, make sure that your child feels safe during the activity so that it doesn’t become a source of stress for them.

Plant a garden or study plants outside

Planting is one of the best hobbies that will save your child from boredom.

Kids love to plant things as much as they love to play with dirt. Consider teaching them about gardening and let them pick out some seeds of their own. You can even go outside together and study the plants that are growing around you. This is a good way for kids to learn how nature works on an observational level.

Go for a walk or bike ride

Sometimes the best way to have a good time is to just put on comfortable shoes and head out the door. If you live in a safe neighborhood, let your child walk or ride a bike on their own. Just be sure to set boundaries ahead of time so they know where they are allowed to go.

You might also consider getting a dog and letting your child go out with the dog for walks.

Indoor boredom-busting ideas

Build a fort

If you have a bored 12 year old at home, why not take the opportunity to bond with him? Moms and sons can have fun building forts together in the living room. If your child is more interested in something else, it might help to encourage them by saying that they get the final say over how to build it. Whether they want to use couch cushions or bookshelves is up to them.

Play Board Games

There’s a reason board games have been around for centuries — they’re fun!

Chess is great for 12-year-olds because it helps them think ahead and strategize. Monopoly is another classic that can teach kids about money management. Try Catan or Ticket to Ride if you want something out of the ordinary. These games are perfect for kids interested in chance and strategy.

Sock puppets

This is a fun activity that can be done with items you already have around the house. All you need is some socks, buttons, fabric scraps, and a hot glue gun. Once you have your materials, let your child’s imagination run wild. They can make anything from animals to famous people. And when they’re done, they can put on a puppet show for the family.

Tea party

Another great option would be to organize an indoor tea party. It’s a fun way to practice manners and learn about different cultures. All you need are some tea bags, some small snacks, and some friends. Your child can invite their stuffed animals or dolls. Or, if they’re feeling social, they can invite some of the neighborhood kids.

Watch movie or documentary

There are many great movies and documentaries that can teach children about different cultures, history, and science. If your child is bored, watch one of these educational movies. Some of my favorites include “March of the Penguins”, “An Inconvenient Truth”, and “Born Into Brothels”.

It’s your turn!

That’s all. I think is huge enough to choose from whether he wants just to relax and watch a movie, go for a walk for fresh air inhale, or just want to hang up with some of his peers. Any time your kid feels boredom and wants to do something, just go through the list.

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