I can't remember where I came cross the idea for a boring jar. Possibly a magazine but more likely a blog that I am now unable to credit. Oops! But oh well. The point is that last Wednesday we made a boring jar. It is something we've been talking about since May but just never got around to doing.

The idea behind a boring jar is that when your child complains of being bored, you usher them to the boring jar to find an activity and give them something to do. It's a fun idea and we are hopeful it will be more effective than our typical response: Well, only boring people get bored. Find something to do.

The boys were excited to help. They each wrote out chicken wrangling. They also wanted to make sure that I included fun things and not just chores or other activities that might be boring--which I totally did! I'm not going to pass up the opportunity for some good old afternoon room cleaning.







Of course, they each wanted to pick an activity from the jar once it was complete. This put Stephen all in a tissy because the jar is not a game. It's to be used only when one is actually bored, not just looking to have fun. I set him straight and each of the boys got to draw an activity.









However, I'm pretty sure the jar has just been sitting on the counter, untouched, since last Wednesday. Oh well, at least it was a fun 30 minute family activity.