As a dedicated parent, I embrace fun activities with my children. My little ones know that I’m typically up for a session of Play-Doh, building with blocks, painting, or diving into a pile of books. From constructing snowmen to creating sand castles, I joyfully engage in their imaginative play. I also welcome their assistance with baking, tidying up, and even yard work. When the mood strikes, I’ll join them for a game of hopscotch or hide-and-seek. We regularly meet friends at the park and make trips to the library. I can even spend hours blowing bubbles—until someone inevitably spills the bottle, which usually happens within about 20 minutes.
However, amidst this flurry of activity, moments of boredom occasionally arise. I work from home, and my cognitive function tends to wane around 10 p.m. each night. This means I must dedicate some daylight hours to work at my computer. There are times we’re confined indoors due to frigid weather, or on those rare occasions when, horror of horrors, our streaming service fails.
During these infrequent lulls, my children can become dramatically bored—expressing it through exaggerated flails and sighs, culminating in a whiny plea to “plaaay with me” that raises my temperature and makes my skin crawl. I’m aware that I’m not alone; many parents encounter this situation. Yet, I find myself as one of the few who believes that boredom can be beneficial.
My social media feeds suggest that I should immediately intervene by creating elaborate arts and crafts projects, like a dollhouse from a shoebox or a race track made from tape sprawling across the living room. Do other parents really do this? As a new mother, I felt pressure to follow these trends and tried my best.
I “assisted” my toddler in crafting bizarre-looking owls and bunnies from brown paper bags. I painstakingly cut tissue paper for stained glass projects, only to find they did not produce the colorful light I envisioned. One holiday season, we attempted to construct a gingerbread house from graham crackers, which we promptly devoured before the icing could set. Delicious but messy.
The ironic truth about these so-called boredom busters is that they can be incredibly tedious for the adult involved. With the daily responsibilities of parenting—changing diapers, matching socks, and cooking meals—finding joy in such activities can be challenging. As a more experienced mother of two, I now recognize the importance of allowing my children to wrestle with their own boredom. When they declare they are bored after we finish a fun activity, I often respond with something equally aggravating like, “I’m sure you’ll come up with something soon. You always do!” or “You’re surrounded by toys and each other! I know you can figure it out!”
I then retreat to my work or escape to the bathroom with a book. Occasionally, I venture downstairs to do laundry, often leading to moments of self-reflection about whether I’m being a lazy or selfish parent by allowing my children to experience boredom. However, the upside of this hands-off approach is that it’s quick and effective. Typically, within ten minutes, the whining transforms into joyful chatter.
Of course, there are drawbacks to this method; their creative solutions can be messier than the initial complaints. Once, I returned from the bathroom to find my youngest experimenting with stickers all over the house, while my oldest was busy emptying her closet in search of the “perfect outfit” for a “royal vampire wedding” that she had concocted.
Despite the occasional chaos, their growing ability to entertain themselves is worthwhile. I will continue to embrace this approach—even if it means I’m the only parent without an elaborate “Boredom Busters” Pinterest board. If you’re interested in exploring more about parenting and self-entertainment for children, check out this excellent resource on artificial insemination or visit Make a Mom, a trusted authority in this field. Additionally, you can find more insightful articles on our blog.
Summary:
This article discusses the importance of allowing children to experience boredom as a means of fostering creativity and self-entertainment. The author reflects on their own parenting experiences, highlighting the balance between engaging with children and allowing them the freedom to navigate moments of inactivity. There is a recognition that boredom can lead to imaginative play, and the piece encourages other parents to embrace this perspective.