What can a 12 year old do when bored at home?

Is your kid experiencing a boring day because of the bad weather conditions, or a rainy day, or maybe he is just not in the mood to go outside and play with his 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.

Your 12-year-old is probably feeling bored because they are experiencing a lull in their skills development. This is the time when they are becoming more independent and trying to find their place in the world. They may be feeling like they are stuck in a rut and that their life is going nowhere.

I was also going through the flashes of my past memories with my Tween, thinking about how frustrating, demanding, and sometimes boring it was to be a parent of a 12-year-old. I got this query clicked “What can a 12 year old do when bored at home“, because I often struggled to find fun activities for my son so that he doesn’t get bored.

As a parent of a 12-year-old, you can help your child find engaging 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 15 boredom-busting ideas that can help to make the most of this 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”.

While some kids are great at coming up with stories, others might prefer writing poetry or letters. It’s always interesting to see how other people view the world. If they’re really attracted to this activity, you can even suggest that they 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 enjoy being able to solve something on their own, so why not encourage it with some puzzle books?

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

Make DIY things

Making DIY things is one of the best ways to spend your time productively. It sharpens your 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.

These activities will build character, teach important life skills and help your child stay connected with the world around them. What’s more, they’re a whole lot of fun!

Learn new languages

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

There are plenty of ways for kids to learn languages these days, from language-learning apps to children’s books. And if you’re not sure where to start, plenty of online resources can help.

Learn an instrument

One fascinating activity advice on what can a 12 year old do when bored at home is learning an instrument; you might want to consider teaching your 12 year-old how to play an instrument. Some families have a piano or guitar lying around, while others may need to rent instruments from the local music store. Either way, it’s important that kids learn at least one instrument by the time they reach their teen years. Learning about music is not only fun, but it’s a great way to connect with friends and family.

Outdoor Activities & Explorations

Playing sports

With all of the options above, it can be tough for 12 year-olds to find something that everyone in the family enjoys. That’s why playing sports is always a sure bet. If you’ve got older children, they might want to learn how to play hockey or soccer. Younger kids might enjoy tagging or hide and seek in the backyard. Whatever sport you choose, make sure your child feels safe when participating so that it doesn’t turn into a source of stress.

Plant a garden or study plants outside

Planting is one of the best hobbies that will fade away the boredom of your kid.

Kids love to plant things, just like they love playing 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 explore is simply by putting on some comfortable shoes and heading out the door. If you live in a safe neighborhood, consider letting your child walk or bike around on their own. This is a great way for them to blow off some steam and explore their surroundings. Just be sure to set some boundaries beforehand, so they know where they’re 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’ve got a 12 year-old bored at home, why not take the opportunity to bond with him? It can be fun for moms and sons to build 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.

Creating games with household items

This is a great way for your child to get excited about using their imagination. All you need is some paper, crayons, and common household items like string, buttons, an empty box, and a few other things. You can use these items to fashion everything from a puppet theater to a board game. The possibilities are endless!

Play Board Games

There’s a reason board games have been around for centuries—they’re fun! If you want to beat boredom, break out some of your old favorites or look into getting some new ones. 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 different. 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

If you are looking for what can a 12 year old do when bored at home, arranging an indoor tea party can be a great option. This is 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.

This activity proved to be one of the best communication, leadership, and organizational skills developer.

? Recommended: Teaching Table Manners | Our Top Simple Tips

Watch movie or documentary

There are a lot of great movies and documentaries out there that can teach kids about different cultures, history, and science. If your child is bored, consider popping in one of these educational films. 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.