100+ Things for Bored Teens to Do (Alone or with Friends!)

Hearing the words “I’m bored” come out of your kid’s mouth is never fun.

But when you have a teenager at home, coming up with ways to entertain them can be especially difficult.

Luckily, I have you covered the next time you hear those dreaded words.

With over 120 things for bored teens to do, you’ll have plenty of ideas to inspire your teenager the next time they can’t find something to do on their own.

Fun Things for Teenagers to Do When Bored

Electronic devices can be a saving grace when you need something quick to keep your teen busy, however, you may not want them staring at a screen all day just because they can’t thing of anything else to do.

Instead of letting your teen rely on their devices to keep them entertained, make sure you have some fun activity ideas on hand.

You can keep your teen entertained with these fun ideas of things for them to do when they’re bored and stuck at home.

These unique activities will help get them away from their phones to enjoy some quality time doing something creative instead of staring at a screen.

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• Make a short movie.
• Write a poem or short story.
• Start writing a book.
• Draw or paint a picture.
• Make a music video.
• Start a YouTube channel.
• Create the perfect pizza with all their favorite toppings.
• Come up with a new milkshake flavor.
• Have a movie marathon of their favorite movie series.
• Write a card or letter to a grandparent or friend.
• Make a bracelet, necklace, or pair of earrings.
• Visit the library to pick out a new book to read.
• Start a blog.
• Write in a journal.
• Take photos of things that inspire them.
• Come up with new outfits using the clothes and accessories they already have.
• Sew or decorate a new piece of clothing.
• Bake cookies or brownies using a recipe from online.
• Make a bucket list and start planning activities to cross off the items on their list.
• Make some slime.
• Learn a new skill by reading a book or watching videos online.
• Try a new makeup look or hairstyle.
• Make a vision board.
• Listen to a podcast.
• Come up with a new business idea to make extra money.
• Do a science experiment.
• Make a playlist of all your favorite songs.
• Do research on potential colleges.
• Make homemade ice cream.
• Play a board or card game.
• Make an upcycled craft with things you have at home.
• Try cooking a new recipe.
• Have a cooking competition in your kitchen.
• Make a wish list of things you want to buy.
• Try a new workout routine.
• Learn basic cooking skills and techniques.
• Call an old friend to catch up.
• Babysit your younger siblings or neighborhood kids.
• Have a sleepover in the living room.
• Take an online class.
• Learn to play a new sport.
• Tie dye a t-shirt.
• Make your own bath bombs.
• Learn origami.
• Make a flower arrangement from flowers found in your yard.
• Put together a puzzle.
• Visit different places around the world on Google Earth or Google Maps.
• Make a photo album or scrapbook.
• Plan your dream vacation.
• Learn a magic trick.
• Build a bird house or bird feeder.
• Learn to sew, knit, or crochet.
• Redecorate your bedroom.
• Build something out of LEGOs.
• Learn a foreign language or sign language.
• Paint your nails with fun designs.
• Make waffles or pancakes for breakfast.
• Learn about your family’s genealogy.
• Take a personality test.
• Build a fort in the living room.
• Work on your resume.
• Teach the dog a new trick.
• Make a list of books you want to read, then work your way through the list.
• FaceTime with friends.
• Find a new pen pal.
• Make a huge ice cream sundae or freak shake.
• Learn how to code.
• Color in an adult coloring book.
• Learn how to invest in the stock market.
• Create a meme.
• Learn how to bake a pie or homemade bread.

Things for Bored Teens to Do Outside

There’s no reason your teen needs to stay inside when they’re bored.

With these fun outdoor activity ideas, you can get your teen outside of the house for a while.

Whether they’re heading to a new place outside your home or enjoying some fresh air in the backyard, your teenager will have fun with these outdoor boredom-busting activity ideas.

• Play with water balloons.
• Have a water gun fight.
• Set up a picnic in the back yard.
• Go bird watching.
• Set up a backyard campsite and camp out for the night.
• Go to the movies.
• Go geocaching.
• Lay in the grass and watch the stars at night.
• Go for a walk and pick up trash around the neighborhood.
• Head out for a hike on a nearby trail.
• Play frisbee golf.
• Go for a bike ride around the neighborhood.
• Lay in the grass and watch the clouds.
• Plant some flowers or vegetable plants in the yard.
• Go fishing.
• Watch the sunrise or sunset.
• Paint rocks and leave them around your neighborhood for others to find.
• Draw a sidewalk chalk mural.
• Go to the pool or invite friends over to swim in your pool.
• Visit the zoo or aquarium.
• Check out the thrift store to see if you can find any new treasures.
• Go to an arcade.
• Go bowling with friends.
• Make a time capsule and bury it in your yard.
• Go roller skating.
• Climb a tree.
• Visit a farmer’s market.
• Built a campfire and roast hot dogs and smores.
• Go to a nearby beach or lake.
• Practice driving with an adult.

Chores for Teens to Do When They’re Bored

Not all the activity ideas you give your teen have to be fun for them!

Help your teen be more productive around the house with some of these chores for teens to do when they’re bored.

• Declutter their closet. Throw away the things they don’t want or need, then donate the rest of the items to a local charity.
• Wash and clean out their car or the family car.
• Declutter their phone, tablet, or computer.
• Clean out the garage, attic, or basement.
• Make or help prepare the family’s dinner tonight.
• Deep clean their bedroom and/or bathroom.
• Assist with a household repair.
• Clean out the gutters.
• Paint the fence, deck, garage, shutters, etc.
• Mow the grass.
• Weed the garden.
• Take the dog for a walk.
• Give the dog (or other family pet) a bath.
• Declutter and organize toys and games in the house.
• Go grocery shopping.
• Run errands for mom or dad.
• Clean the fans and light fixtures.
• Organize the junk drawer.
• Clean under the furniture.
• Learn life skills, like doing laundry, basic cooking, or changing a tire.

Volunteer Ideas for Bored Teens

Instead of getting your teen up and moving at home, why not send them out into the community?

Volunteering is a great way for your teen to help out those in need and make better use of their free time.

These teen-friendly volunteer ideas are a great way to help your teen become a more productive member of their community.

• Help out at an animal shelter.
• Volunteer at a soup kitchen.
• Clean up trash at a local park or nature preserve.
• Set up a food drive for the local food pantry.
• Volunteer as a tutor after school.
• Run errands for elderly neighbors.
• Visit a nursing home to spend time with the residents.
• Read to children at the library.
• Do a random act of kindness.

Encourage your teen to get active in the community and come up with ways they can support organizations and other people.

Being bored is a great opportunity to teach teens that life doesn’t revolve around them and that they can use their time to think about others.

And don’t forget, almost all of these activities can be done with friends!