Okay, so this isn’t so much about learning.  It’s more about beating boredom and having fun with your kids.  When I realized we were playing the same handful of games over and over again, I had an idea….for a jar.  Idea jar.  Ha.  I cut up some colored paper and then went around the house writing down every game, toy, and activity.  Then I put them in a jar.  Whenever the kids are bored, we pull one out and do whatever it says.  It could also be used as a reward jar.

I made our jar with ideas that could all be done inside (in case of rainy days) and could be done as a family (some games that we have are too complicated for our two-year-old).  What’s that you say?  You don’t want to stay inside?  How about an idea jar for things you can do in your backyard?  Or field trips to places you would like to go on the weekend?  Or how about activities older kids can do by themselves for 10 minutes so you can have some time to check Facebook in peace?  You could even (gasp) make an idea jar for chores.  Everything is more fun when you draw it randomly out of a jar, even doing the dishes, right?  Well, it’s at least worth a shot.

Materials:

• jar or container
• paper
• pen

Time investment:  about 15 minutes

Difficulty:  As easy as writing your name.  Literally.  It is just writing.