***Update: 6/21/12***
It’s the first day of Summer Vaca here at Chez Sanford and I had to revisit our old “Mom, I’m Bored” jar. Lemme tell ya, she FINALLY got the “Pull Weeds” card and she was TICKED! Hilarious. . . and totally effective. She may never pull another Mom, I’m Bored idea again! But, I did add a few more ideas at the end of the list below that are a tad more appropriate for 7 year old Abby. It’s fun to revisit this post. :) *****

Ah, the common refrain.  Half way through the summer, I lost it.  I could not stand Abby saying that to me one single, solitary time more.  So, I made a “Mom, I’m Bored” jar.  I followed this tutorial to a T.  I changed a bunch of the items to meet our needs, but fully used the graphic, the idea, all of it.

And, once “summer” ended, I thought we’d put the jar away and be busy with school work.  Well, I was wrong.  The “Mom, I’m Bored” jar  has received far more dips into it now than it did during the summer. I think this has a LOT to do with the cruddy weather we’ve been having around here.  When I stuffed the jar with quick, easy (for me) things to do, I added a bunch of “chores” to the pot.  The ultimate purpose of the jar, of course, is to get the kid to find something, ANYTHING to do that doesn’t require my constant, 100% attention.  I assumed she’d get a “chore” and balk at the idea, and perhaps be spurred to do something else.  But, I shouldn’t underestimate my kid.  Today, she drew “Pick up Trash on our Block.”  It was raining, it was cold, but my kid pulled on her shoes and her special butterfly head gear, grabbed some plastic bags and asked me to outline some boundaries for her.  “How far can I go *that* way, Mama?” pointing East down our block.  “How far can I go *that* way, Mama?” pointing West down our block.

And, she did the whole block.  The neighbors came out and helped.  I went out to monitor the grossest trash, but she did the whole thing herself and said it was FUN!

I can’t wait until she draws the one that says, “Pull weeds in the yard.”  We’ve got some work for her to do.  ;)

Here’s our list of items for our jar.

Play Hide and Seek w/mom or dad, Make an obstacle course, Build a fort,  Dance,  Play Dress up,  Ride your scooter,  Call Dad @ Work,  Take Pictures w/your camera,  Do something for someone else,  Do yoga,  Read for 10 minutes,  Eat a fruit,  Eat a vegetable,  Do a page in your journal,  Write a letter, Water the plants,  Look at a photo album,  Sidewalk chalk, Pick Berries, Play a card game,  Dress your doll,  Play leap pad for 20 min., Do one chore of mom’s choice (I put 5 of these in!), Pick up trash outside,  Pull weeds in the yard,  Clean your room,  Organize your toys,  Find 5 toys to donate to goodwill,  Go for a 10 min. dice walk,  Take a nap,  Have a picnic snack outside,  Draw a picture,  Pop popcorn, Play with bubbles,  Color in a coloring book,  Board Game, Craft,  Read a book with Mom,  Art Al Fresco,  3 Questions from the Book of questions,  Make a card for a family member, Make some music,  Make a new song for Daddy,  Watch a show w/popcorn for 20 min.,  Listen to AC/DC,  Do Face Paint,  Call a grandparent, Find 5 things from the yard to make art with,  Make a sculpture with pipe cleaners,  Take something to our shut-in Neighbors, Find 3 different flowers in the yard,  Help your Dad make Origami,  Make a new origami piece,  Make something to send to your art pen pal,  Make something to send to your cousin,  Do your hair whacky,  Staring contest with your mom or dad,  Call someone to see if they can have a play date,  Run 2 laps around the house,  Drink some water,  Write a letter to a fairy,  Wash the bathtub toys,  Paint your nails. 10 minutes of iPhone games.Make up a dance to go to a song. Do a Dots. Write a story. Read a book to Mom. Read a chapter. Play leapster for 10 minutes.