260: Sanity Summer Saver Series Episode 3: The 3-Bin Summer Hack: Boredom Buster, Busy Box, and Backyard Fun

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Hey there, fellow summer survivors!

It’s Camille from "Call Me, CEO,” and I've got something fun to spice up your sun-soaked days. It’s part of our “Summer Sanity Savers” series, dedicated to keeping that pesky “I’m bored” monster at bay! Let’s dive into an exciting boredom-busting adventure with three magical bins that can transform your home into a summer haven.

Say Hello to the Boredom Buster Bin!

This is where the magic begins! Think of it as your secret weapon against mid-summer boredom. Fill it with easy-peasy activities—coloring books, sticker pads, a deck of UNO cards, and maybe some madly lovable Mad Libs. How about adding a “Time for Us” journal? It’s something I whipped up on Amazon for parents and kids to unleash their creativity together.

Next Up: The Busy Box

When you need some ‘me-time,’ this box is your go-to. Stock it with puzzles, Legos, or some awesome kinetic sand for sensory fun. Rotate those goodies weekly to keep things fresh. And here’s a fun project—punch-needle crafts to create adorable characters and landscapes. It’s like introducing your kids to the zen of crafting!

Let’s Not Forget the Backyard Fun Bin!

For outdoor adventures, this bin is a must-have. Toss in some chalk, bubbles, water balloons, and squirt guns. Maybe a bug-catching kit for your little explorers? This bin screams “go outside and play!” Perfect for when the kids have a case of cabin fever and need to get those wiggles out.

Keep It Fresh, Keep It Fun

The trick is all in the accessibility and the element of surprise. Let your kiddos pick one bin at a time, and swap out the toys regularly to keep their interest piqued. Remember, treasures from the Dollar Store are your best friends in this game of rotation!

Wrapping Up the Fun!

These bins are your summer superheroes, swooping in to save the day from boredom blues. With them, you’ll have a bit more time to breathe, relax, and even enjoy that coffee while it’s hot.

I’d love to see how you set up your bins! Share your fun creations by tagging me on Instagram at @callmeceopodcast or @camillewalker.co. Found this post helpful? Spread the joy! Share it with another mom who’s ready for a calmer, cooler summer. Remember, sharing is caring, and I’m thrilled to have you on this journey. Until next time, stay sane and enjoy the sun!

Connect with Camille:

•  Website: CamilleWalker.co
•  Instagram: @camillewalker.co
•  More Episodes: Call Me CEO Podcast

 Email: [e-mail]

Episode Transcript

Camille (00:00):
So the idea is that you don't fill it with everything
that you have all in one week,but that you say this is the
busy box and you rotate what'sin there.
So you want to make an impact.

(00:20):
You're thinking about startinga business, sharing your voice.
How do women do it that handlemotherhood, family and still
chase after those dreams?
We'll listen each week as wedive into the stories of women
who know.
This is Call Me CEO.
Hello, my friends, it is Camillehere with Call Me CEO and this

(00:42):
is a special series I'm doingthrough the summer, called
Summer Sanity Savers, becausesummer gets a little crazy.
I'm filming this on July 9th,so we are into the second month
of summer and already at thespot where my kids are saying
I'm bored, which I am sure ifyou have children, you know this

(01:03):
and you can relate to this.
So let's dive into this alittle.
I have an idea of some boredombins I'm going to share with you
.
This is not the only boredombuster I've done.
In fact, I have a list that I'mgoing to link to below, where
it's a list of reactions orthings you can do if your child

(01:24):
says I'm bored.
And I have given this list tomy children and said go through
this list and pick 10 things sothat when you have the thought I
am bored, I will give you thislist.
Another funny way of doing thisis, if they tell me they're
bored, I say, well, figure itout, I'll give you, or I'll give
you, something to clean, andthat usually is a good motivator

(01:45):
for them to figure outsomething they want to do to
help them to not be bored.
So for this idea specificallythis is more for maybe younger
kids that need more direction.
They can't go through a listand read it and figure it out on
their own.
Mixing up the places and thepeople you are with is always a

(02:06):
good idea.
Doing swaps for playdates orhaving an opportunity to go
different places if you can.
But if none of those are anoption and we're just simply
looking at ways to fill theboredom, this is an idea that
you can try.
Take it with a grain of salt.
If it works for you, great.
If not, that's fine too.
So if you've ever had threehours into summer break and

(02:28):
they're already saying I'm bored, this one's for you.
Because what if I told you thatwith just three bins, you can
keep your kids busy, happy andout of your hair long enough to
finish the drink in your hand.
So I want to introduce this bysaying this is episode three of
the series.
We have already talked about howto handle screen time.

(02:50):
That's a big thing in our house.
The last one that just airedwas talking about how to theme
your day so that you bring indifferent ideas and a little bit
of novelty to the differentthings you're doing and a little
bit of novelty to the differentthings you're doing.
This is a more tactile approachto boredom.
So the idea is that you createthree physical bins where you

(03:13):
fill them with things that'llhelp tackle boredom.
Do these bins have to look anycertain way?
No, I'm thinking, if you'reputting together these bins,
they would need to at least bethe size of, say, a storage tote
.
That's oh gosh.
How big are they?
Five gallons maybe, maybe alittle bigger, but this bin is

(03:34):
going to be filled with tactileideas for them that they can do
independently or possibly withyou as well.
Number one is the boredom busterbin.
This bin is filled with quick,low prep activities that you can
grab when your kids are bored.
In this you're thinking ofthose very basic coloring books,

(03:56):
sticker pad, mad Libs theystill make them pipe cleaners a
deck of Uno cards.
Maybe it's filled withsomething that you've already
done that your kids really like.
That is like this.
What I'm imagining here arecard games like Cover your
Assets is one that we reallylike.
My kids also are older now sothey can do phase 10, or maybe

(04:22):
it's a small game like marbles Idon't know, probably not
marbles, unless they're older,because you don't want them
choking.
So just make it age appropriateStuff.
You already have stuff on handthat it's all in one place and
ready to go.
I actually have these waterboards that I really like, where
that's not waterboarding that'snot what you were doing here.

(04:44):
It's actually a board wherethey can use water and paint a
flat surface that, just as itdries, it recreates Kind of like
the Water Wow books, somethinglike that.
You're thinking of ideas thatare easy to grab and go, so that
when they say I'm bored, theygo straight to this bin.
This could be something that isall on your own or something

(05:08):
that you can do with them, anidea that you can add to this
boredom bin.
Buster is my time for usjournals.
You can find that on amazoncomand look for time for us.
It's a parent and child journalthat you can do together,
written by me, and it's a reallyfun way for them to use their
imaginations as well, because ithas a creative element within

(05:28):
the prompts where they can drawor color.
The prompts where they can drawor color.
Hey, moms, if you feel likelife is a nonstop juggling act
school drop-offs, business calls, meal prep, trying to find a
single moment for yourself I'vegot something for you.
First, you need to sign up formy newsletter.
It is free.
I always include the episodes,what's upcoming, what is the

(05:55):
takeaway from that week, and Iwill include a free recipe as
well as, sometimes, activitiesthat have to do with the
upcoming events happening intoday's world.
But I have the mom balanceplaybook for free.
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(06:16):
Head to camillewalkerco to grabyour free copy now, or grab it
from the link below in the shownotes.
Bin number two is going to beyour busy box.
This is for the goldeneverything.
It's for the quiet, independentplay when you need to hop on a
Zoom, call, fold laundry or justbreathe for a minute.

(06:38):
This is where you're going tofill it with puzzles, sensory
bins, kinetic sand, lacing cardsor Legos, rotate items weekly
so it feels new and you'll beshocked at how long it can buy
you.
So the idea is that you don'tfill it with everything that you
have all in one week, but thatyou say this is the busy box and

(06:59):
you rotate what's in there.
So that will take some planningon your part to try to keep the
novelty alive.
And, yes, that requires someforethought and can take some
time.
But if you present it in a waythat it's something new, they
may be excited about what's inthere.
And one thing that I just gotthat I'm bringing on with us to

(07:19):
an RV trip is it's like a crossstitch, but you I can't even
think of what it's called.
I'll link to it in the shownotes below.
But it's almost like you'repunching through with yarn and
it creates these beautifulcharacters or animals or
landscapes and they are so cuteand many ages can do them.

(07:39):
So think of something like thatwhere it's busy, independent
play where they can do somethingquiet.
Bin number three is yourbackyard fun bin.
This is for outdoor energy burnmode.
Think chalk bubbles, waterballoons, squirt guns, bug
catching kits, anything thatsays go outside and get your

(08:00):
wiggles out.
And it's built in reset buttonfor when everything and everyone
just needs to get outside andget loud.
Sometimes they just need timeto get the wiggles out, and that
can be really easy to do Nowwith these bins.
I want you to think aboutaccessibility and rotation.
Let them pick from one bin at atime and switch out the

(08:21):
contents every few days so thatthe novelty stays alive.
And, yes, dollar store finestotally count.
So with this little setup,these three bins become your
summer MVPs.
No more scrambling foractivities or feeling like the
entertainment director at asummer camp you didn't sign up
to run.
Like the entertainment directorat a summer camp, you didn't
sign up to run.

(08:41):
These bins will help you getback a little time, a little
sanity and maybe, just maybe,that warm cup of coffee or that
special soda you're waiting todrink.
If you try these three binsystem, tag me on Instagram at
callmeceopodcast orcamillewalkerco, so I can see
your setup.
And if this episode helped.
Please share it with a fellowmom who deserves a little less
chaos in her summer.

(09:01):
We'll see you next week foranother sanity saving strategy,
and make sure to share this witha friend, because sharing is
caring, and I appreciate youbeing here.
We'll see you next time.
Hey CEOs, thank you so much forspending your time with me.
If you found this episodeinspiring or helpful, please let
me know in a comment.
In a five-star review, youcould have the chance of being a
featured review on an upcomingepisode.

(09:23):
Continue the conversation onInstagram at callmeCEOPodcast,
and remember you are the boss.