25 Things for Kids to Do When They're Bored Online

There are plenty of sites that offer fun and satisfying digital jigsaw puzzles with varying degrees of challenge. The Smithsonian has a great roundup here to get you started. 

Whether you’re still trying to remember how the knight moves or you’re on your way to becoming the youngest GrandMaster in history, Chess.com is a wonderland of puzzles, lessons, and online play for every level. 

In partnership with 2000 cultural institutions, Google has created an incredible archive of images, videos, and artifacts that anyone can access to experience art and culture from around the world and throughout history. 

The infuriatingly elusive Carmen Sandiego is STILL AT IT. You can hunt her down and learn a little bit of geography while you’re at it with these online Carmen Sandiego games. 

Storyline Online has an incredible collection of books for kids read by celebrities like Rose Byrne, Wanda Sykes, and Oprah Winfrey. Who could possibly be bored when they’re listening to Oprah read “The Hula-Hoopin’ Queen”? 

Scratch is an online story-creation tool that “helps young people learn to think creatively, reason systematically, and work collaboratively” by making their own games, animations, and other interactive projects. 

Once you’ve created a unique story, why not make it into a short film? Brain Pop’s Make-a-Movie Creator helps kids to turn their story ideas into animated masterpieces. 

ABCYa! has more than 300 learning games geared towards kids in PreK through 6th Grade. They’re sorted by age, type, and subject matter, so it’s easy to find the perfect game to suit any kid’s needs. 

Contrary to popular belief, the Internet’s not just for cat videos! With these live animal cams, you entertain yourself by watching senior dogs hanging out together, eagles nesting, or tropical predators!

Use this simple but versatile interactive feature to learn about problem-solving and physics by creating as many different paths as you can to help the ball reach its goal. 

Epic is a digital library that lets kids personalize their reading, track their progress, and build reading confidence with 40,000 classic titles for kids 12 and under. 

Safe Kid Games has tons of options for safe online play, and their board game collection, including classics like Snakes and Ladders, Solitaire, and Sudoku is a guaranteed cure for the “What Can I Do?” blues. 

Audible Stories has an amazing collection of audio stories for kids of all ages that are free to stream! Settle down with classics like “White Fang” and “Anne of Green Gables” or modern masterpieces like “Promise the Night.” 

Hey, why not do some coloring while you’re listening to those incredible audio stories? The New York Academy of Medicine’s annual “Color Our Collections” festival brings together libraries, museums, and other institutions to offer downloadable coloring books. 

Kids of all ages can get started with coding by learning to create their very own games. There are tons of fantastic programs online, including at Code.org and Coding With Kids. 

GoNoodle is an app that turns screen time into active time. Tons of fun mini games keep kids active, engaged, and on the move.  

Kids who love animals and nature can watch videos, learn about natural history, and take fun quizzes over at National Geographic Kids. 

From the genius who brought you “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus” comes a delightful YouTube series that will teach kids to explore their artistic sides by doodling. 

It’s never too early to experience the peace and positivity that Yoga can bring into your life. Here’s a list of great online yoga classes just for kids. 

The world of kids podcasts has been getting bigger and better in the last few years, with tons of fantastic shows made for younger audiences. Here’s a great roundup of the very best podcasts for kids. 

Kids who love to sing and dance can enjoy family-friendly, kid-created versions of their favorite pop songs at KidzBop. 

Grammar has never been more fun than when you’re filling in a MadLibs, and these printable MadLibs mean you can fill them in over and over. 

There’s nothing more engaging and entertaining than catching dysentery on the Oregon trail after losing your wagon in a river. Learn a bit of history as you go with the classic Oregon Trail game online. 

America’s Test Kitchen Kids has tons of recipes, videos, and learning materials for young chefs to get creative in the kitchen. 

YouTube has a huge library of fun exercise videos to keep kids fit and active. Get started on a fun fitness journey with P.E. With Joe’s 30-minute workouts.