What It Means
The benefitsBenefits packageEverything an employer offers on top of wages, such as health insurance, paid leave and a retirement plan, which can be worth thousands of dollars a year. See more of boredom are the skills children can build when they have unfilled time and have to decide what to do with it. According to the Child Mind Institute, boredom can help children learn to plan, solve problems, stay flexible, be creative, tolerate frustration and entertain themselves. In practice, that means leaving some room in a child's day on purpose, instead of filling every gap with a screen or a planned activity.
Try It: Sort Five Answers to "I'm Bored"
Your child says "I'm bored." Sort each answer: does it leave room for them to come up with something, or fill the gap for them?
"Here, take my phone."
"What could you make with the stuff in that box?"
"Let me plan an activity for you."
"Bored is OK. I bet you'll think of something."
"Check the idea list on the fridge."
All five. The fridge list works because your child still picks and runs with the idea.
Hint: three of the five leave room.
How Parents Say It
- "Mom, I'm bored!"
- "Go find something to do."
- "She complained for ten minutes, then built a fort."
The Breakdown
What boredom can build, per the Child Mind Institute
| Skill | What it looks like |
|---|---|
| Planning | Deciding what to do and how |
| Problem solving | Working out how to make an idea happen |
| Flexibility | Switching plans when the first one fails |
| Creativity | Inventing a game, a storyUser storyA short description of something a product should do, written from the point of view of the person who needs it, often in the form "As a, I want, so that." See more or a build |
| Frustration tolerance | Sitting with "nothing to do" without a meltdown |
| Initiative | Starting something without being told |
By age. ToddlersToddlerA child from 1 to 3 years old, the stage CDC's parenting guidance places between infancy and the preschool years. See more need an adult close by and a safe space, with simple things to explore. PreschoolersPreschoolerA child from 3 to 5 years old, the age band the CDC uses for its preschool parenting guidance. See more can handle short stretches of open time with toys or art supplies within reach. School-age children can take longer stretches, and a list of their own ideas helps them get started. These are suggestions, not a schedule from a medical source.
A short version to try today. When you next hear "I'm bored," say it's fine to be bored, point to a few open-ended materialsOpen-ended playPlay with toys or materials that have no single right way to use them, like blocks, boxes or playdough, so the child decides what they become. See more, and step back for 20 minutes.
When to talk to the doctor. Boredom now and then is normal. If your child seems bored with everything, has lost interestInterest rateThe yearly percentage a lender charges for borrowing money, not counting fees; the APR adds certain fees to show a fuller cost. See more in things they used to love, or seems sad or withdrawn most days, mention it to the pediatrician.
Good to Know
Boredom is uncomfortable, and that's part of why it helps: the Child Mind Institute describes it building frustration tolerance and perseverance. Keep safety in mind when you step back, with supervision that fits your child's age and setting. The AAP's 2007 report on play raised concern about overscheduled children, so leaving some empty time in the week fits its advice too.
FAQ
Is it good for kids to be bored?
Some boredom can be. The Child Mind Institute says it can help children develop planning, problem solving, flexibility and creativity, and learn to entertain themselves.
What should I say when my child says "I'm bored"?
Try treating it as a chance to come up with something. The Child Mind Institute suggests helping children see boredom as an opportunity, instead of rushing to fill the time for them.
Does boredom help creativity?
Researchers think it can play a part. A peer-reviewed case study of a 28-month-old describes boredom and confusion as possible drivers of mind-wandering and exploration, which may support learning.
Do It in Buhata
Calendar and Household Notes
Leave one afternoon a week empty on the Calendar in Buhata, and keep your child's own list of "things to do when bored" in Household Notes.
Open BuhataRelated Terms and Categories
- Unstructured play
Play a child chooses and directs, with no adult-set rules, lesson or goal, like making up a game in the yard or building whatever comes to mind.
- Open-ended play
Play with toys or materials that have no single right way to use them, like blocks, boxes or playdough, so the child decides what they become.
- Screen-free time
Set times or places in a family's day, like meals, bedrooms or the hour before bed, when phones, TVs, tablets and games stay off.
Sources
Child Mind Institute, "The Benefits of Boredom"; "Bored, Distracted, and Confused: Emotions That Promote Creativity and Learning in a 28-Month-Old Child Using an iPad," via PubMed Central; "The meaning of boredom: Properly managing childhood boredom could lead to more fulfilling lives," via PubMed Central; American Academy of Pediatrics, "The Importance of Play in Promoting Healthy Child Development and Maintaining Strong Parent-Child Bonds," Pediatrics (2007)
- childmind.org/article/the-benefits-of-boredom
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9783091
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC11169528
- publications.aap.org/pediatrics/article/119/1/182/70699/The-Importance-of-Play-in-Promoting-Healthy-Child?autologincheck=redirected
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