My partner and I have developed a few go-to responses to one of the most frequent and exasperating remarks you’ll likely hear from your children — the infamous “I’m bored!” complaint. The first time we hear it, we typically respond with a casual, “Great! Embrace that boredom.” By the second or tenth time, our replies evolve into something like, “Feeling bored indicates a lack of creativity and patience, both of which I’m not here to solve for you.” In short, I genuinely don’t mind when my kids express their boredom. But believe me, I didn’t always feel this way.
As a mother of young ones, I once believed it was crucial to occupy every minute of their day with stimulating activities. I was convinced that idle minds were prone to mischief, and it was my duty to keep them engaged to foster their growth and development. I thought that allowing them to simply sit and stare at walls or daydream was the worst thing possible, so I filled every moment with structured activities.
Then, as life would have it, I had more children, and necessity became my guiding principle. Between piles of laundry and endless dinners of mac and cheese, I became less concerned about their boredom. Their cries of “I’m bored!” went in one ear and out the other. I stopped paying attention, and it turns out, that was a fantastic parenting move, as it aligns with the recommendations from child psychologists and educators.
What’s the Advice?
It encourages parents to allow their kids to experience genuine boredom. Research supporting this idea is growing rapidly, especially in our screen-filled, overscheduled world, which seems to be producing an alarming number of anxious and stressed children. Our well-meaning efforts to keep their minds fully occupied may be backfiring.
Even at school, where the goal is to nurture young minds, there’s often little time for recess or free play, leaving kids overwhelmed and exhausted. This overload means that when they finally do have downtime, they don’t know how to fill it, leading to the all-too-common “I’m bored” outburst. This response signals that their brains might not know how to tap into their creativity — a concept known in neuroscience as the “free-form attention network.”
Psychologist Sarah Jenkins puts it well: “It’s as if your computer has too many programs running at once. It starts to lag. When you close those programs, it runs much more smoothly. Children’s brains work similarly.” Just like computers need a reboot to function optimally, kids require time to be bored and unwind to enhance their cognitive abilities. This unscheduled time allows them to decide what they want to do or not do, without any adult direction.
How to Support Your Kids
In our household, boredom doesn’t elicit any instructions or prompts. Instead, it’s met with a roll of my eyes and one of my standard lines. If you’re ready to support your kids in experiencing boredom for their mental well-being and brain development, getting started is simple. The key is consistency: don’t cave in, and make sure both you and your partner agree on the importance of downtime and how to handle whiny kids.
After a few months of this approach, you’ll find that your children can entertain themselves, which is a win for everyone.
For additional guidance on family planning and home insemination, check out our blog posts on the topic, including this one about the Cryobaby kit. And for more information about pregnancy, Healthline is an excellent resource.
In Summary
Allowing your children to experience boredom can significantly benefit their mental health and creativity. By stepping back and letting them find their own ways to fill their time, you not only promote independence but also foster a healthier mindset.
Keyphrase: kids boredom benefits
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