Why It Is Important To Let Your Kids Be Bored

What does an ideal day in the life of your child look like? School time forms the bulk of your child’s time in a day, leaving them with a few hours for play, classes, recreation, homework, and sleep. Somewhere between all of this, you still hear cries of “I am bored!” from your child that force you to come up with ideas to engage, entertain and keep them “busy”. But the real question is, “Is being bored really a bad thing?”

Not, according to science and statistics!

A study by the University of Central Lancashire found that regularly bored children tend to exhibit higher levels of creativity.

• According to Erin Westgate, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Florida, in moderate doses, boredom can offer a valuable learning opportunity, spurring creativity and problem-solving and motivating children to seek out activities that feel meaningful to them.

• According to a survey by the American Academy of Pediatrics indicate that the average child spends more than seven hours a day on screens, leading to concerns about the impact of constant stimulation on their mental well-being.

Boredom is an indicator that something now isn’t right

Experts say the first step is to identify why your child uses the “boredom”. Are they bored, or could there be other reasons manifesting themselves in the form of boredom? It could be hunger, lack of sleep, a lack of interest in what they are doing, and the inability to focus on what they do. Have a word with your child when they claim to be bored to check if it is any of the above. In some cases, it could also be them seeking attention or looking for comfort or companionship. The key to helping them come out of it is to encourage free and imaginative play, and by being a “part of their play world,” at least initially, so they get introduced to it and are not let into exploring something new on their own. 

Step away to help your kids

According to Dr John Day in Sociology of Health & Illness, “Until around the 1990s, parents were not expected to endlessly entertain and monitor their children in the same way they are today, so children had greater freedom to play independently”.

Think about it- if you are micromanaging every minute of your child’s playtime, how would that help kindle their creativity or imagination? They would be following your instructions and enjoying even, but would they be taking the lead and thinking out-of-the-box?

What parents can do instead

• For younger kids, who sometimes might not be able to come up with ideas of their own, give them certain options. Children often forget the options they have and need a nudge to help them to start playing.

• For older kids, encourage them to come up with ideas. For e.g., tell them, “Walk around the house and observe and suggest three activities you can do now”.

• While it is important for kids to maintain a routine to help them with stability, earmark a part of the day for unstructured play. Weave that in their schedules, so the responsibility of coming up with ideas during playtime is all theirs.

• Introduce mindfulness and relaxation techniques to help children cope with moments of boredom. Simple practices such as deep breathing, meditation, or yoga can teach them to appreciate stillness and manage their emotions.