The Benefits of Boredom

I’M BORED!

Two words parents are becoming all too familiar with while social distancing.

While too much screen time is not healthy for children, it can be overwhelming as a parent to feel like the sole entertainer of your ever active and curious child. No matter how many tasks you give your kids, at home games you try to play, and how much homework you go through- it never seems to be enough to fend off their boredom! 

Thankfully, there is good news! While organized activities can be beneficial for your child’s physical and cognitive development, allowing them moments of boredom brings its own benefits. 

Times of boredom can give children space to demonstrate creativity, problem solving, and to develop necessary motivational skills. It also will encourage the ability to be quiet and mindful. Letting your children be bored allows them to learn coping skills, discover their interests and helps them with self awareness.

But how do we help our children when they are really struggling to embrace boredom?

• Reframe boredom into opportunities of creativity!
  • When your child says ‘ I have nothing to do’ you can respond with ‘I think you can do so many things with that big brain of yours! You could make up a game, write a play, build a spaceship, sing a song or make a show that you can put on later! This is a time when you can let your imagination run free!’

• Reframe boredom into opportunities of creativity!
  • Whether it is a cardboard box or a basket of yarn. Show your kids some materials they can use to help get their creativity going. 

• Encourage them to keep going!
  • Sometimes our ideas don’t pan out like we had planned. When your child gets frustrated with their creative project, encourage them to take a moment, to breathe, and then to keep going.

So next time your child cries, ‘I’m bored!!’ Remember that these moments, no matter how draining, are helping your child form into a healthier, happier and more creative person.