Bored Kids? Try This!
How do you feel when your elementary children are out of school, on break?
Excited? Looking forward to spending quality time together and making memories?
Maybe just a little anxious too? Realizing that those sweet little angels of yours, in addition to their cuteness and charm, also tend to bring:
Plenty of messes
Plenty of demands on your time and attention
Plenty of this phrase… “I’m bored.”
Some Boredom Is a Good Thing
Personally, I don’t think boredom is all bad. Of course, boredom can lead to mischief and mindless activities like binge-watching TV.
But learning how to navigate boredom, and finding creative things to do with your time, in a self-directed way, is an important life skill that can contribute to happiness and success in life.
Don’t get me wrong. I think routine and structure are important too. But when we over-schedule our kids, we keep them from learning how to navigate their own boredom. And the better they get at this skill, the less direction they require from us! (Score! Self-sufficiency points! 🙌)
Teaching Them to Fish
I think of it like the fishing analogy. You know, giving a man a fish vs. teaching him to fish…
Schedule an hour of activity, and your kid will be occupied for an hour.
Teach your child that they need to create their own activities, and they’ll find ways to occupy themselves throughout life. 🐠🐠🐠
What to Do with Bored Kids
Some general direction from us is important, to ensure our kids are engaging in activities that are good for them. Yet room to personalize these activities is also important, so that children have some freedom to make their own choices.
I found several versions of this BORED acronym on Pinterest. I love that it gives broad suggestions, while leaving the specifics up to the child:
Be creative
Outdoor play
Read
Exercise
Do something helpful
I asked my 10 year-old to make a sign for our refrigerator. I knew she’d be all over it… The girl LOVES her some Pinterest, checklists, and crafty things!
I like to get my kids involved in the creation of things like this because it gives them ownership. It also gives them something to do. :)
I love that this list gives broad suggestions, in a catchy way, while leaving the specifics up to the child:
What can I create?
What could I play?
What do I want to read/learn about?
How will I get some exercise?
How can I be helpful?
Pin It! Follow mHp on Pinterest!
So There You Have It!
Great ideas for them (and less direction from me!) when the kids find themselves BORED.
I hope you find it helpful too!
How About You?
Do you have a good tip or trick when it comes to bored kids? I’d love to hear from you. Please leave a comment!
This post was originally published on 5/26/20.
Posts You Might Like…
A great way to give your kids some general direction, guiding them toward healthy activities while encouraging self-sufficiency.