Kids don’t want ponies. They don’t want a private jet, a four-speed moped, or a black diamond ring—or, maybe they do. But they also wanna have fun. Remember when you were a kid? Do you recall trolling the house for expensive objects? No, most likely you were figuring out how to stay off the carpet lava or avoid looking in the mirror in the dark. Gadgets and electronic gaming devices are big right now, for kids and adults, but at the end of the day most kids (and, well, some adults) still want to run around and play. And that’s good. It gives them exercise, encourages creativity, and tires them out for when it’s bed time.

Kids get bored if their creativity is stifled (and their sugar high wears off), so sometimes you as the parent need to come up with some fun, cool activities. Out of ideas? Try these on for size.

The zoo. Yep, no matter how hot or cold it is outside, it’s still fun to go look at lions, giraffes, bears, tigers, and monkeys. Kids will find monkeys amusing until the end of time. And…so will you.

Bouncy houses. Sure, it may yield a few stubbed toes, but bouncy houses are a great way to bring a big grin to a kid’s face. Like moths drawn to light, so are kids drawn to the idea of bouncing in unknown directions with their shoes off.

Dinosaur museums. If you’ve got one near you, you should be taking your kids there. It’s a great way to educate them about the Earth’s history while spurring their imaginations. Who knows, your son or daughter could be the next award-winning paleontologist. At the very least they might ask for dinosaur toys instead of the much more expensive gaming devices.

Nature. Even if you have to drag them kicking and screaming into the car, you should take your kids on a nature hike at least once a month. Fresh air, exercise, the splendor of Mother Nature, quality time together—there are countless advantages to this activity. Plus, except for the gas you may expend driving to the trailhead, it’s free.

Drive-in movies. Okay, it’s sedentary, but it’s a wonderful homage to decades past and it’s more exciting than the regular movie theater. Drive-in movie theaters are an endangered species these days, but if you can find one, there’s an extremely high chance your kids will have fun there. Come on, remember Pee Wee’s Big Adventure?

There you go, some activities to keep your kids’ frantic minds and hyperactive bodies engaged and excited. Don’t relent and just let the little ones dictate everything—they’ll end up eating candy and watching cartoons all day. You’ve got to keep them intellectually curious and physically healthy.

About Darcy

Darcy Zalewski is a married, stay-at-home mom who is discovering her greener side, starting with advocating for cloth diapering. When she's not changing diapers or singing the Itsy Bitsy Spider, she can be found at Tales From the Nursery, where she shares tales of motherhood as well as product reviews, or at ShePromotes, a resource for blogger support.

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