A few Tips To Prevent #MarchBreakMeltdowns is in order. Because if you are like me during March break/Spring break, you will be in charge of entertainment, while still trying to work and get everything you do in a week done. Yes, there may be TV or gaming or internet time during the week (let’s be honest) but screen time won’t be the caregiver for the week. What you need are some boredom busters to keep the kids busy…just read these tips to prevent #MarchBreakMeltdowns…
Note: the following giveaway is open to residents of Canada, excluding Quebec.
Sometimes, all that stands between mom and a #MarchBreakMeltdown is a toy with enough power to last through playtime. I have a list of battery operated boredom busters which can come in very handy. These items are things you probably already have around the house too!
The bonus about a battery operated item is that you don’t have to worry about cords and cables.
Walkie Talkies – fun for all ages. Great for role playing “spy” or “police”. Also good for staying in touch while on imaginary adventures to the North Pole or Africa.
Flashlights – fun for school aged kids. Bring it into a blanket fort for fun. Or use for reading a book (somehow it’s more fun to read when a flashlight is involved). Make shadow puppets on a wall.
Portable speakers – fun for tweens and teens. Instant dance party. Karaoke (however if a parent, who happens to be walking by, joins in – it’s instant OMG Mom please STOP).
Print photography fun for tweens and teens. Give the kids an instant camera like the Fujifilm Instax 300 and they can have fun as long as they have film.
Educational electronics – fun for pre-schoolers and school aged. Listen, learn, play, enjoy. So much fun. Many educational toys integrate music, math, literacy, vocabulary, and more.
Board games like Operation or Battleship fun for all ages. Play by yourself (Operation is great for single player fun) or against a sibling or friend. Great for play dates and busting boredom.
Duracell, giving Moms the power to prevent #MarchBreakMeltdowns. It’s not just some battery, it’s a Duracell. Power you can trust.
#MarchBreakMeltdowns Giveaway
Enter for a chance to win Duracell batteries and Walmart gift card ($50) – that should help bust boredom!
Disclosure: this post is powered by Duracell. Opinions are my own.
Krista Miller (@MillerKrazy) says
We have a fun battery operated bubble blower machine that blows bubbles into the air that the kids love & keeps them occupied!
Kim K says
Making shadow puppets with a flashlight is a lot of fun.
Joy Mills (@Jemrah1) says
The remote control for Netflix !
Amy Heffernan says
My sons furby!
Judy Cowan says
Star Wars Light Sabers and several games.
Ira says
Hard to pick just one… I think we have about a million of them 🙂 How about battery operated marble run?
Florence Cochrane says
I could use batteries to boost the electronic battlefield to play on March Break to bust boredom.
Ali P says
Operation!!
lyndac1968 says
We use batteries for our table top pinball machine, that machine goes through a lot of batteries!!
kristen visser says
My girls floor piano and their BeatBo ! keeps the party going
Fan R says
We play with SPACE-PATROL toys this March Break!
butterflyamyc says
Our air hockey table takes batteries for the scoring machine. The kids have hours of fun with this
Precilla Ng says
My son plays remote-control car every day during this Break so far
409cope says
My grandson loves the talking star wars action figures we have for him here.
Francine says
portable radio – for impromptu dance parties!
Maritess says
My kid’s battery operated light-up keyboard.
nicky says
A Thomas the Train book that makes noise and plays music.
Erika Letson says
With my kids it would have to be the Xbox controllers! They use a ton of batteries!!
jan says
Their BopIt! takes a battery and keeps them amused for quite some time.
Adrienne Gordon says
We have an electronic uno game.
Janet M says
She has a Fisher Price Caterpillar she loves to play with that requires batteries.
Jenny Major says
the remote control for netflix
Jeannie Lam says
We use batteries in our crayola glowbook to allow the kids to draw and have it glow in the dark.
Rosanne Robinson says
We use a lot of batteries in our X-Box & Wii controllers, flashlights to use in our home made indoor tents, numerous games, remote control for race cars & robots.
christine murray says
Flash lights so we can read books. Thanks
Juliee Fitze says
The remotes for the smart tv.
shirley says
remote controlled barbie car
Elaine G says
Light saber for the boys and purse and accessories for the girls.
hmrcarlson says
My son’s LeapPad! Aaarggh!
Shannon Baas says
the remote control car.
nancy lafrance says
For the board game Operation!
tammy ta says
X-box one controllers-my kids go through batteries crazy with these.
Erinn Lishman says
I use batteries in our radio so I can play music and have dance parties with my kids!
Stephanie says
We like to play the Wii!
edmontonjb says
We have a battery operated Hot Wheels race track that keeps the kids entertained for hours
~Jonnie
Stephanie LaPlante says
I would definitely say remote control cars.
wendy hutton says
their remote control helicopter
Dawn gordon says
We have a small flying helicopter and the remote uses batteries ! We use it quite often to kill off boredom
Glogirl says
I don’t have kids but would use a battery powered remote controlled car to bust boredom.
Melinda Jana (@Sukki24) says
talking Elmo
travelbuds says
My daughter got Furby for Christmas and I have to admit, I love watching that thing. My daughter loves it so it is perfect to kill the boredom.
Andrea says
We use batteries for our Furby!
Amy Deeter says
A battery operated item that i use to bust boredom with my kids is “xbox one remote”
Gillian Morgan says
We use batteries for Thomas the train who sings.
Tara Betterley says
We have battery operated NERF guns that we use in my household to burst the boredom around the house.
Julie bolduc says
It is the mouse for the computer
Jenny (@jnylala) says
Musical toys are a big hit. We have the VTech kids drum set and guitar toy which uses batteries.
christine w says
I would say the tv remote is battery operated.
Sylvia says
My kids love their remote control cars.
Karla (@ksceviour) says
the video game controllers!
misselles80 says
My kids are loving the wii these days but we don’t have re-chargable remotes any longer so they go through lots of AA batteries lately!
Carol M says
Flashlight
Debbie White Beattie says
We need batteries in our Simon memory game
Tina F says
My kids have their game boys and the operation game
Cathy C says
My grandson loves to play video games and he uses batteries in the controller.
my villa says
the Explore & Crawl Learning Cub
Sari O. says
The remote control for the TV
Josh S says
We go through a lot of batteries on the wii remotes!
Journeys of The Zoo says
Both of my kids have a “Flipp the Bounce Back Racer” and they love to play it around the house together.
Besos Sarah
Journeys of The Zoo
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
My kids are all adults but my grandkids like to play games and I believe there are batteries in the controllers. I myself use them in my remote controls for TV, Shaw box, BluRay player.
Debbie White Beattie says
We use batteries in the remote control for our TV
sarah alexis says
We bust boredom with the board game Operation! Just played it last night actually!
Lisa (@lisaleesaa) says
My daughters battery powered Leapfrog Leaptop keeps her entertained.
andrea amy (@mommy2fiveboys) says
TV remotes and a table top air hockey game
Meekyung says
My daughter’s portable speaker
Lisa M says
We have a bubble – gun that runs on batteries. It’s always great fun!
Pam says
Simon Game is a fave that has batteries.
kathy downey says
We use a lot of batteries for our table top Hockey game!
Marsha says
Our portable radios.
janine a says
my sons vtech train set, he loves it
Jon T says
On your list already, but flashlights are incredible boredom busters!
Fan R says
Hot Wheel tracks need lots of batteries to operate
Florence Cochrane says
Handheld wheel of fortune game.
Shelley Butcher says
An assortment of dancing and singing stuffies.
kim says
The light sabres and hand held games.
Judy Cowan says
Hand held gaming systems.
Linda Svarovsky says
The xbox controllers
SarahJ says
Remote control vehicles over the years have required batteries.
Rebecca G says
My son’s Thomas the Train set
Carol M says
A flashlight
Wendy Jensen says
X-Box controllers need lots of batteries to bust boredom .
Charity Banman says
I use a Xbox controller with 2 AA batteries to busy my son’s bordom
LILLIAN BROWN says
The grandkids go through a lot of batteries playing with remote-control cars at our home
Jennpup says
Old school Leapster! My son loves it.
Mike Flaman says
Xbox 360 controllers
binabug says
HA , the TV remote (or our computer mice, mouse?) WHERE DID YOU GET THE SPONGEBOB operation from? OMG my daughter is freaking out
Darren Scrubb says
I like to use Netflix
Linda H says
The remote for the Netflix.
Janette says
My boys love to play with their little battery operated bulldozer and excavator. This mama might “accidentally” turn off the sounds every now and then though ?
Cairine says
I’ve always found kids love flashlights.
tracy k says
remote control car
nicolthepickle- Nicole Graham says
We have a little cash register/store that they love.
Kathy says
Light Brite pretty much eats batteries up
Calvin Fung says
Xbox controller, definitely uses a lot of batteries..
Peter Lawrence says
The kids have sooo many toys that need batteries. Which ones first?
Nicole Jubleew says
A car racing track.
nicky says
Remote-control truck!
Rosa Cross says
Bop-It.
dave says
it would have to be the Xbox controllers
Heather Swanson says
A battery operated Christmas doll house.
Tainan Lu (@demon1102) says
a remote control car.
Edith Rennes says
We use them for flashlights in the dark.
DebP says
Remote control for the cars.
Lisa bolduc says
4 words …. remote control monster trucks
Carole Dube says
The remote control for netflix….
Tara Kerr says
We play so,e fun games with the walkin talkie from my childhood!
Aarone Mawdsley says
remote control for the tv
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
The TV remote would be a good one, though I never let them watch down here mainly because they could be doing so many other interesting things during the daytime.
Robyn Bellefleur says
We use batteries for our wireless controllers to relieve boredom.
Debbie White Beattie says
We use batteries in the iPad
kathy downey says
Battleship is great when they are bored
Chris MacDonald says
I use my batteries to run our remote control car for an hour or two.
BlessedTA says
Leappad
Carol M says
Flashlights are fun
Jennifer (@Mindfulcat7) says
My son loves his remote control helicopter.
Lucy says
Hand-held video games!
Calvin F. says
A tv remote.
jan says
Their Simon BopIt
nicolthepickle- Nicole Graham says
We have a remote control car.
Judy Cowan says
Remote Controls for the Wii
nicky says
Our Operation game
Maria says
My boys love their car track , but without batteries no cars get to move
billiondollarprincesss says
Hand held video game console
Catherine Robichaud says
Their video game controllers use batteries.
Fan R says
Dinosaur toys
Margaret Huitema says
we always need batteries for our remote-controlled trucks and cars
Maryanne says
RC trucks!!
Jro says
Leap pad!
ivy pluchinsky says
The Hatchimal!
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
My flashlight, kids love flashlights for some reason 🙂
Josh S says
Our “Operation” game
Shelley Butcher says
TV remote control
Debbie White Beattie says
The tablet uses batteries
Pam says
star Wars bop it
kathy downey says
Operation uses loads of batteries in our home
lori b says
remote control car
Tracy Morin says
We have some remote control cars and helicopters that my daughter and nephews just LOVE to have fun with. We need to learn how to be careful with the copters in the snow though. I put on another hat—search and rescue…
Carol Denny says
Remotes for the video games.
Florence Cochrane says
Remote control trucks
Carol M says
Remote control
Calvin F. says
The super awesome laser pointer
nicky says
Batteries needed for our child’s little record player!
Rosa Cross says
Remote control vehicle.
Linda H says
Remote control car.
Rosanne Robinson says
We use a lot of Duracell batteries in remotes for tvs, WII & X-Box controllers, Walkie Talkies, flashlights, cameras, and wireless mice.
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
Today it was St. Patrick’s Day bead necklaces with a shamrock that lit up with a green light.
Debbie White Beattie says
The headphones use batteries
lyndac1968 says
The tablet, if that dies oh boy we hear about it!!
Soozle says
Remote control cars are a huge hit
kathy downey says
Mister Furby and to be honest,i’m happy when his battery dies!
Carol M says
Remote control car
Linda H says
we use batteries for the battery operated dump truck for my grandson.
Krista Miller (@MillerKrazy) says
The batteries in our Nintendo Wii remotes help bust boredom!
Janet M says
We use Nintendo for the children.
Fan R says
Trains consume lots of battery power in our plays
Tammy says
The tv remote lol
nicky says
There is a battery in our singing doggy!
Athena says
The TV remote… or video game controllers
janine a says
little piano that lights up and plays music 🙂
Maria McLachlan says
The wii U remotes are the big one now.
Carolyn Flanagan says
my niece has a dog that sings if you’re happy and she loves it, can dance and sing it for a long time
joyce s. says
a simple flashlight
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
In the evening my grandchildren and I will also use a flashlight to make shadow animals on the wall 🙂
Josh S says
my sons car
lncleslie says
Controllers for gaming & remotes for tv; DVD Player etc!
Debbie White Beattie says
We need batteries in our kids radio
Linda H says
We use batteries for the computer mouse.
Shelley Butcher says
Remote control helicopter
kathy downey says
Star Wars Light Sabers are a must to have batteries
Judy Cowan says
Several of our board games need batteries.
Soozle says
The TV remote eeep! Good in a pinch for a movie
Carol M says
Furby
Lori Sexton says
A computer mouse
intensev5 says
A flashlight to use under a fort!
Marlene V.
Florence Cochrane says
Electronic Monopoly banking game.
aliyadaya says
Well, the boys have remote control cars and trucks they love to race that require batteries.
Linda SVAROVSKY says
Xbox controller
Calvin F. says
Flash light.
crystal porter says
The Operation game
Rosa Cross says
Remote control vehicle
favgreen(Rhonda W G.) says
The Simon game is always fun…
Krista Miller (@MillerKrazy) says
My son loves his battery operated Vtech apple alphabet sounds board!
BobbiJo pentney says
The kids love to use their drone.
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
The remote for my Shaw box is another one.
Debbie White Beattie says
There are batteries in the remote control car
aly3360 says
We have a set of lazer tag units (not guns) that keep them busy!!
lori b says
for the race cars, both the remote and thecar itself
lyndac1968 says
I need to make sure I have batteries for the small handheld games!!
kathy downey says
Our battery operated item we use to bust boredom is table hockey!
Linda H says
We use batteries for the remote controlled Spider-Man car.
Ira says
Our Leap Frog fridge alphabet uses 3
Fan R says
Dinosaurs toys!
Carol M says
Mainly just flashlights
Judy Cowan says
Bop-It Game and several other board games.
rockabillynurse says
My kids love their Leap Pad tablets (which use batteries). Lots of great educational content!
Josh S says
we go through batteries in our toy flashlight.
Amanda Fontaine says
The remote for the TV or mouse for the computer. :S
Florence Cochrane says
The flashlights for spot light.
nicolthepickle- Nicole Graham says
We have a fisher price zebra that they like.
aliyadaya says
My young niece and nephews and my godson love the Bubble Making Machine we have; it runs through batteries. Thanks!
beewbedard says
we use them for a remote control car
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
We do also use rc cars which of course use batteries & eat them I fear!
Debbie White Beattie says
The Furby needs batteries
Shelley Butcher says
We have a huge set of geotracks trains that are great to pull out and set up.
Judy Cowan says
Portable speakers are another thing that use the batteries in our place.
Mike Gismondi says
We use a robot named Cogsley
Julie says
My kids love playing with the walkie talkies to beat boredom!
Carol M says
Flashlights
Calvin F. says
Home phone
Krista Miller (@MillerKrazy) says
I have an old Canon Powershot camera that uses batteries & my son loves to take pics/videos!
Linda H says
My grandson uses batteries in his Furby.
nicky says
Our toy telephone that plays music!
nicolthepickle- Nicole Graham says
A zebra that sings.
aliyadaya says
My kiddos do quite a lot of geocaching, so the batteries would be great for the GPS.
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
Then of course Elmo uses batteries too 🙂
Debbie White Beattie says
We use batteries in the Portable Karaoke Machine
lyndac1968 says
We need lots and lots of batteries for her favourite R/C car
Carol M says
Remote for the TV
Rosanne Robinson says
Our X-Box One & Wii controllers go through a lot of batteries and we had a blast with them over March Break.
Diana Powell says
Batteries for remote controls and gaming remotes are a must to always have on hand.
l p says
headphones. thanks
Judy Cowan says
Furby is another one that loves the batteries.
Florence Cochrane says
Headlamps for outside fun playing stoplight.
lori b says
game controllers
nicky says
We’ve got batteries in our cat stuffy that meows.
Jenn Erin says
Our Mickey Mouse cash register keeps the kids entertained!
Kristi F says
The Wii remotes.
nicolthepickle- Nicole Graham says
We have a fisher price zebra that takes batteries.
aliyadaya says
The boys go through soooo many batteries for their wireless Xbox and PS4 controllers.
Wanda Bee says
Robot toy!
Fan R says
Animal toys
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
I have 3 remotes that uses batteries for the TV and various attachments 🙂
Debbie White Beattie says
The family feud game needs batteries
kathy downey says
Table top hockey game needs lots of batteries
Carol M says
A Wii system.
Linda H says
Batteries for the dinosaur actions.
lori b says
batteries for remote cars
Janet M says
We like to play with remote controlled cars.
janine a says
light up turtle toy
sweetmamabrady says
Batteries are required for the remote control to the dragon. Kids love it, my dog, not so much lol
Judy Cowan says
Flashlights are definitely another!
nicky says
Our Battleship game that makes noise 😉
Lee-Ann says
We like to use the xBox One and the controllers go through a lot of batteries!
Erika Letson says
Definitely the XBox controllers. We go through a ton of batteries!
Fan R says
Animal toys & games
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
And then there’s the camera that uses batteries too, which they are sometimes allowed to take a photo with.
Debbie White Beattie says
The Leapfrog tablet takes batteries
kathy downey says
My granddaughter Furby takes batteries
Carol M says
Controllers
Janet M says
We use batteries for her Nintendo.
Florence Cochrane says
The Wii Fit for fun .
Linda H says
We use batteries for the TV remote.
LILLIAN BROWN says
could use batteries to boost the electronic Pictionary
nicky says
Batteries are always needed for our musical books!
janine a says
musical school bus
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
I find that you can have a lot of fun with a flashlight doing various things like shadow games, reading under the bed cover, etc
Debbie White Beattie says
The camera uses batteries
kathy downey says
A battery operated game we use to bust boredom with your kids is Operation
Linda H says
We use batteries for the remote for the xbox.
Fan R says
Toy animals to play & chase
Carol M says
TV remotes
nicolthepickle- Nicole Graham says
We have a ball that rolls and lights up.
Krista Miller (@MillerKrazy) says
We have a drum toy with sound effects that my son loves!
Sunshine G says
For some reason, they’re fixated on the speaking French/English dictionary. Weird but educational, I suppose!
Julie F says
The kids love to play Operation
Judy Cowan says
Netflix Remote
lncleslie says
Besides gaming consoles, Bop-it, & Dance Revolution!
nicky says
in our kiddie electric piano
Shelley Butcher says
Remote control car is always good for a few hours play.
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
My grandchildren and I love to make shadow figures with my flashlight, we get some good laughs out of it too.
Debbie White Beattie says
We use the walkie talkies
kathy downey says
I could use batteries in our table hockey game to play on March Break to bust boredom.
Carol M says
The remote control car
Melinda says
Walkie Talkies are a fun and useful item to use to bust boredom!
Janet M says
We have a toy robot that needs batteries.
s powell says
nitendo remote
Calvin F. says
Toy robots.
Betty S says
We have a Vtech bear that plays music, stops her dead in her tracks because she loves to dance to the music
aliyadaya says
My boys love to explore the wilderness just an hour’s drive away from our home, so they often use walkie-talkies to stay in communication with one another. And they need batteries for those walkies.
Linda H says
We use batteries for our grandson’s remote control truck.
Judy Cowan says
Bop It Game
Fan R says
Various animals toys, jumping & crawling!
Denae Boucher says
Xbox controllers!
nicky says
our tv remote 😉
M says
TV remote
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
There of course also RC vehicles, one from my brother (who was really into RC model building) built for my grandson.
Debbie White Beattie says
We have a dinosaur robot and it uses batteries
Theresa C. says
We bust bored by sharing tablets 😉
Shelley Butcher says
Remote control truck
Carol Denny says
The remote control cars
kathy downey says
The battery operated item you use to bust boredom with your kids is the remote control trucks,they always make for a fun day !.
Carol M says
The Furby toy
Janet M says
They love to use the remote control.
Linda H says
We use batteries for a toy guitar that my grandson has.
nicky says
in our child’s toy microphone
Fan R says
Water toys and games!
Caryn Coates says
My boys stunt cars. They love them
Judy Cowan says
Remote Control Car
MaryG says
The Wii controllers eat up batteries and provide hours of fun for the whole family. We love to play ‘Just Dance’ with the kids!
Krista Miller (@MillerKrazy) says
My son plays with his battery operated musical Spiderman plush toy!
ivy pluchinsky says
my niece plays with her camera
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
My grandkids love playing games on their console – batteries galore are needed of the controllers, I think my son buys them by the ton these days LOL
Debbie White Beattie says
The FurReal friend stuffed toy takes batteries
erin dear says
Our Operation board game, the whole family loves to play!
kathy downey says
We need batteries for my bubble blower machine
Janet M says
We use batteries for her talking doll.
Soozle says
Remote control cares are always a hit
Judy Cowan says
Portable speakers to take our music with us
lori b says
hand held games.
Carol M says
Various remotes
Krista Miller (@MillerKrazy) says
My son is not a baby anymore by far but still loves watching his old Tomy Lamaze Dream Screen that was attached to his crib.
nicky says
Our signing Elmo!
ivy pluchinsky says
The wii controllers!
Amanda Rosario says
The wii u with the rechargeable battery. 😉
Fan R says
Lamps & lanterns to play in the dark!
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
Then of course there’s hugging Elmo 🙂
lncleslie says
Karaoke machine & microphone all use Duracell batteries!
Carol M says
Flashlights and temotes
Krista Miller (@MillerKrazy) says
We have a battery operated radio that the kids like to listen to when playing outside!
Alyssa says
My sisters still have tamagotchis believe it or not and those need batteries haha
Linda H says
We use batteries for the game Operation.
Judy Cowan says
Wii Remotes eat through batteries like crazy
nicky says
We use batteries in our old school walkman that our kids love to play with.
MaryG says
Batteries to the Wii controllers are essential to peace during March break!
Carol M says
Remote control trucks
Elizabeth Matthiesen says
Light sabers are still a thing here 🙂
lncleslie says
My daughter has a toy similar to a Lite-Brite that uses batteries & also a kids airbrush tattoo machine!
Lynda Cook says
Table top pinball machine is the one I need batteries for!!
Janet M says
We need batteries for her toy car.
Soozle says
Toy cars are always a hit
Linda H says
We use batteries for the remote for Netflix.
binabug says
congrats to the winner