{"id":2217,"date":"2014-07-06T23:59:07","date_gmt":"2014-07-07T04:59:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/framingham.com\/news\/?p=2217"},"modified":"2014-07-07T14:13:40","modified_gmt":"2014-07-07T19:13:40","slug":"summer-stuff-to-do-for-bored-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.framingham.com\/news\/2014\/07\/06\/general-interest\/summer-stuff-to-do-for-bored-kids\/","title":{"rendered":"Summer Stuff To Do (for Bored Kids)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>FRAMINGHAM, MA<\/strong> - During summer vacation many parents may be hearing the all too familiar <em>\"I'm bored\"<\/em> from their school age progeny.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.framingham.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/bored-teen.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright size-medium wp-image-4847\" style=\"margin: 6px 0px 6px 6px;\" title=\"Hey Ma! I'm bored!\" src=\"http:\/\/www.framingham.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/bored-teen-247x300.jpg\" alt=\"Hey Ma! I'm bored!\" width=\"247\" height=\"300\" border=\"0\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.framingham.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/bored-teen-247x300.jpg 247w, https:\/\/www.framingham.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/07\/bored-teen.jpg 252w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 247px) 100vw, 247px\" \/><\/a>In these \"<em>difficult economic times<\/em>\" things to do that are are free or only cost a few dollars -- and don't require excessive driving can help stretch the family budget between trips to Six Flags, Canobie Lake Park or other <a title=\"New England Travel. Day Trips and Destinations.\" href=\"http:\/\/www.framingham.com\/travel\/index.htm\" target=\"_blank\">New England area day trips<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>For activities in the list that require traveling in town -- consider having kids go places on MWRTA routes.\u00a0 Older kids can walk to a neighborhood bus stop, and go by themselves -- relieving their parents of driving duty -- and helping reduce local daytime traffic.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Things to do in Framingham in the Summer:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"How to Make Sidewalk Chalk\" href=\"http:\/\/planetgreen.discovery.com\/home-garden\/make-these-items-with-your-kids-and-go-play-outside.html\" target=\"_blank\">Make some Sidewalk Chalk<\/a> and color on the driveway, a concrete deck or the sidewalk with colored chalk.\u00a0 If you find a big enough area, you can use the chalk to make a bike riding course or <!--more-->make up some type of a game.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Use chalk to <a title=\"How to Play hopscotch\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=fZzswQaICfM\" target=\"_blank\">Make and Play Hopscotch<\/a> &lt;-- watch a YouTube Video, learn how to play.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Visit the <a title=\"Visiting the Framingham History Center Museum\" href=\"http:\/\/www.framinghamhistory.org\/visiting.html\" target=\"_blank\">Framingham History Center Museum.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"How to Make a Lemonade Stand\" href=\"http:\/\/www.thisoldhouse.com\/toh\/how-to\/intro\/0,,20210158,00.html\" target=\"_blank\">Make a lemonade stand<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Visit the <a title=\"Danforth Museum for Kids\" href=\"http:\/\/www.danforthmuseum.org\/education.html#children\" target=\"_blank\">Danforth Museum<\/a>, or join the <a title=\"Danforth Museum Summer Arts Program\" href=\"http:\/\/www.danforthmuseum.org\/summerarts.html\" target=\"_blank\">Summer Arts<\/a> program.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Go to a <a title=\"2011 Framingham Concerts on the Green schedule\" href=\"http:\/\/www.framingham.com\/news\/2011\/06\/02\/uncategorized\/concerts-on-the-green-2011\/\" target=\"_blank\">Concert on the Green<\/a>, (Friday nights, June, July and August).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Hike or<a title=\"Mountain biking up Nobscot Mountain\" href=\"http:\/\/www.trailfu.com\/mountain-bike\/massachusetts\/sudbury1\/nobscot-mountain\/Default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\"> Ride a Mountain Bike up Nobscot Mountain<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Go to <a title=\"framingham beach info\" href=\"http:\/\/www.framingham.com\/news\/2011\/06\/17\/general\/2011-framingham-public-beach-info\/\" target=\"_blank\">Learned Pond or Waushakum or Saxonville Beach<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"kids gardening\" href=\"http:\/\/www.kidsgardening.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Plant something<\/a> -- in a garden, or in containers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"Sudbury River Boaters Trail\" href=\"http:\/\/www.sudbury-assabet-concord.org\/boatersTrail2\/\" target=\"_blank\">Boat or Canoe down the Sudbury River<\/a> -- ok, you need a boat or canoe for this, but if you ask around, a neighbor or relative may have one you can borrow.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Walk, jog or roller-blade at <a title=\"Cushing Memorial Park, Framingham\" href=\"http:\/\/www.framingham.com\/history\/aerial97\/cushing.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Cushing Memorial Park<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"USHA - Official one-wall handball, how to play \/ rules\" href=\"http:\/\/www.ushandball.org\/content\/section\/42\/248\/\" target=\"_blank\">Play handball<\/a> against a brick wall.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Go fishing, (<a title=\"MA Fishing License info\" href=\"http:\/\/www.mass.gov\/dfwele\/licensing\/index.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Fishing license <\/a>required age 16 and up).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Play basketball, kickball or even just a game of tag at one of the <a title=\"Framingham playgrounds and recreation fields.\" href=\"http:\/\/www.framingham.com\/rec\/fields.htm\" target=\"_blank\">schools or playgrounds<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"PBS - Make a Kite with Benjamin Franklin\" href=\"http:\/\/www.pbs.org\/benfranklin\/exp_kite.html\" target=\"_blank\">Make a Kite<\/a> and fly it at a school, park or playground.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Hike the <a title=\"Carol Getchel Nature Trail, Framingham, MA\" href=\"http:\/\/www.saxonville.org\/getchell.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Carol Getchel Nature Trail<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Play Frisbee or Hackey-sack on the <a title=\"Framingham Centre Common (and South Common)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.framingham.com\/history\/loc\/index.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Centre Common<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Hike or walk a dog in <a title=\"Callahan State Park, Framingham, MA\" href=\"http:\/\/www.mass.gov\/dcr\/parks\/northeast\/call.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Callahan State Park<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Visit one of the <a title=\"Framingham Farms\" href=\"http:\/\/www.framingham.com\/info\/farms_local_produce\/\" target=\"_blank\">Farms in Framingham<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Go to the <a title=\"Framingham Public Library\" href=\"http:\/\/www.framinghamlibrary.org\/\" target=\"_blank\">Framingham Public Library<\/a> for an events, to read or to use a computer.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Ride the <a title=\"MetroWest Regional Transit Authority (MWRTA)\" href=\"http:\/\/www.mwrta.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">MWRTA<\/a> somewhere you've never been in Framingham for lunch.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Go to <a title=\"Garden in the Woods, Framingham, MA\" href=\"http:\/\/www.newfs.org\/visit\/Garden-in-the-Woods\" target=\"_blank\">Garden in the Woods<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Build and put up a <a title=\"How to build a Birdhouse\" href=\"http:\/\/www.natureskills.com\/birds\/how-to-build-a-bird-house\/\" target=\"_blank\">bird house<\/a> or bird feeder.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Have \"bug day\" -\u00a0 catch crickets, grass-hoppers and other friendly insects in a field and when it gets dark out try to <a title=\"catching fireflys \/ lightning bugs\" href=\"http:\/\/youtu.be\/MjtwmYzuPdo\" target=\"_blank\">catch lightning bugs in a glass jar<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Take photos of local wildlife or other interesting subjects and <a title=\"NTERNATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST FOR KIDS\" href=\"http:\/\/kids.nationalgeographic.com\/kids\/contests\/photo-contest-rules\/\" target=\"_blank\">enter a photo contest.<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Find a couple other bored kids and <a title=\"How to Write a 10 minute play\" href=\"http:\/\/www.10-minute-plays.com\/how_to_write_a_10_minute_play.html\" target=\"_blank\">write a play<\/a> -- then act it out.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"build a go cart from old baby carriages, lawn mower parts, etc.\" href=\"http:\/\/web.cs.wpi.edu\/~claypool\/misc\/go-cart\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">Build a go-cart<\/a><em>, (the non-motorized soap-box type),<\/em> from old bicycle, lawn equipment or baby stroller wheels, scrap wood or metal -- recycle some old junk into something fun to build and ride.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Start a <a title=\"Rock Collecting for Kids\" href=\"http:\/\/www.rocks-rock.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">rock collection<\/a>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><a title=\"How to make clay from kitchen products!\" href=\"http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=zsV3L6MOCc4\" target=\"_blank\">Make clay from corn starch<\/a> and then make stuff with the clay.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li>Find a few friends that play musical instruments and hold a \"<a title=\"Kids Garage Band Jam Session\" href=\"http:\/\/youtu.be\/Gd6w3ZO0xdk\" target=\"_blank\">jam session<\/a>\"<em>, (video record yourselves and upload it to YouTube and you could be the next band we link to!)<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.framingham.com\/images\/new.gif\" alt=\"New!\" \/> Go <a title=\"GeoCaching - modern ''hide and seek'' treasure hunting game\" href=\"http:\/\/www.geocaching.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">GeoCaching<\/a> - a modern high-tech hide n' seek treasure hunting game played with GPS-enabled electronic devices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/www.framingham.com\/images\/new.gif\" alt=\"New!\" \/> FREE Kids <a title=\"July 2014 - Nature Activities at Cochituate State Park\" href=\"http:\/\/www.framingham.com\/news\/2014\/07\/07\/general\/free-kids-nature-activities-at-cochituate-state-park-july-2014\/\">Nature Activities<\/a> at Cochituate State Park, <em>(July &amp; August, Tuesdays - Saturdays. Park entrance is just over the Framingham \/ Natick town line on Rt. 30).<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>There' a month's worth of ideas.\u00a0 If you have more ideas for stuff to do for bored kids, please share them with others in the comment section below.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">###<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FRAMINGHAM, MA &#8211; During summer vacation many parents may be hearing the all too familiar &#8220;I&#8217;m bored&#8221; from their school age progeny. In these &#8220;difficult economic times&#8221; things to do that are are free or only cost a few dollars &#8212; and don&#8217;t require excessive driving can help stretch the family budget between trips to Six Flags,&#8230; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.framingham.com\/news\/2014\/07\/06\/general-interest\/summer-stuff-to-do-for-bored-kids\/\">[read more]<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":4846,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[118],"tags":[245,246,115,52,2316,964,141,1732,2317,804,823],"class_list":["post-2217","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general-interest","tag-art","tag-crafts","tag-entertainment","tag-fun","tag-games","tag-kids","tag-music","tag-parenting","tag-reading","tag-summer","tag-teens"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.framingham.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2217","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.framingham.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.framingham.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.framingham.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.framingham.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2217"}],"version-history":[{"count":15,"href":"https:\/\/www.framingham.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2217\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8189,"href":"https:\/\/www.framingham.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2217\/revisions\/8189"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.framingham.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4846"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.framingham.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2217"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.framingham.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2217"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.framingham.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2217"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}