The Anti-Boredom Book

Christine Linge MacDonald, a past director of the Toronto & District
Parent Co-operative Preschool Corporation and a freelance writer, is an
elementary school teacher in Whitby, Ontario.

From the editors of Owl and Chickadee magazines comes a compendium of
activities intended to appeal to primary and junior-aged children. These
133 things-to-do on a nothing-to-do day include crafts (pie-plate flying
saucers, old-key wind chimes), games (Backyard Olympics), nature
activities (binoculars, ecological puzzles), challenges (juggling,
staring contests), cooking (Perfect Pretzels), science (volcanoes,
stargazing), dress-up, and magic (card tricks, sleight of hand). These
are selected from previous Owl publications, and include the bright,
almost hyper-real photographs of children one associates with this
publisher.

Adult readers will be familiar with many of these activities, recalling
tin-can telephones and sock puppets constructed with help from an older
sibling or grandparent, in the days before “Pong” heralded a
revolution in electronic entertainment. It is charming to see these
simple, wholesome, creative pastimes promoted in this book. However, I
doubt whether most children would be tempted to try even the simplest
activities, unless a teenager or adult was present to create the missing
cultural pressure. And, while the directions are clear and thorough,
many of these activities will require initial and sustained adult
intervention to see them through to conclusion.

As a source of interesting recipes and crafts, this book especially
shines. A parent or caregiver who is determined to turn off the
electronic distractions and revive some simple fun will find many new
ideas here. Recommended.