A busy summer: fun and useful activities for 12- and 13-year-olds

Ready-to-go projects

Even though a little boredom isn't something to avoid at all costs, and you obviously don't have to turn into a full-time camp counsellor for the summer, having a few project ideas up your sleeve to keep the kids busy now and then (while you're working from home or want to relax quietly by the pool, for example!) could save you plenty of arguments and frustration. So here are a few easy-to-prepare projects your kids can pick from whenever boredom rears its head a little too often! If you can, put together a bag of supplies for each project at the start of the summer holidays, so everything is easy to grab when the kids decide to get started.

Painted rocks to hide

Ask your kids to draw on rocks that they can then scatter all over town so that others can stumble upon a nice surprise along their way!

You'll need: rocks of different sizes, acrylic paint pens

I spy bottle

Ask your kids to fill a plastic bottle with rice and hide a variety of small objects inside. Then suggest they make the sheet that tells players what they need to find in this I spy game.

You'll need: an empty clear plastic bottle, rice, assorted small objects, a sheet of paper and coloured pencils

Custom family bingo

Give your kids everything they need so the whole family can play a real game of bingo! With this downloadable printable and a set budget for buying a few prizes for the winners, you're all set for a bingo session to remember!

You'll need: the printable, coloured pencils, a set budget

Memory game

Using small wooden or cardboard discs and coloured pencils, let your kids create their own memory game, which you can of course play together. If possible, give them a plain fabric bag they can decorate and use to store the game.

You'll need: wooden or cardboard discs, coloured pencils or acrylic paint pens, a plain fabric bag, fabric paint or markers

Lending a hand

Even though summer is made for playing, at this age it's normal to ask kids to pitch in with household chores, especially if they have nothing else on their schedule! So why not make a list of chores that will let them make themselves useful? Then ask them to choose one a day, ideally to be done before they're allowed to go see their friends or do something more fun! To make sure they don't always pick the same chore, you can also put them all in a jar and simply have them draw a new one each day!

Here are a few chore ideas:

• Take out the garbage, recycling or compost
• Water the plants
• Make lunch or a snack for the whole family
• Tidy up and look after the garden
• Mow the lawn
• Wash the car
• Do the laundry
• Fold a basket of clothes
• Vacuum
• Wash the floors

Enjoying summer

Even if we don't want them moping around all summer and we'd like to see them take on some responsibilities, let's not forget that for most of them, these long holidays are among the last times they'll have nothing on their schedule for such a long stretch, so let them make the most of it and have fun to the fullest!

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