It’s the school holidays…now what! This month we explore the guilt that comes from having bored kids at home. But is their boredom really so bad? Read on to consider this topic and try these resourceful ideas to flip the script on boredom.
Boredom freaks us out a bit!
We’ve all been there, when our child comes up to us for the fifth time in an hour saying, “I’m bored,” it’s hard not to feel a hint of panic (or, let’s be honest, mild annoyance). Maybe you start scrambling for things to do – crafts, outings, screen time – anything to fill that empty space! But what if we stopped seeing boredom as a problem to fix and started seeing it as something…useful?
Boredom isn’t bad. It’s a starting point.
Kids today live in a world of constant stimulation from screens to structured activities to school schedules to homework to sports…the list goes on. So when they finally get a break and find themselves with nothing to do, it can feel pretty unfamiliar. Uncomfortable, even. But that little pause – that “I’m bored” moment – can actually be the beginning of something really great.
The magic of nothing to do
Here’s the thing: boredom gives kids space. It gives their brains time to wander, wonder, and imagine. When there’s no agenda and nothing planned, that’s when creativity can bubble up to the surface. You might even notice your child digging out old toys, drawing exciting stories, building a fort or turning your living room into an obstacle course. That’s not just cute – that’s development.
Donald Winnicott, a well-known psychoanalyst, believed that unstructured play is a vital part of childhood. He called it the birthplace of creativity. According to him, when children are left to their own devices – not being entertained or told what to do – they learn how to engage with themselves and the world around them in a deeper way. That space between being bored and being busy? That’s where imagination lives.
So what should we do when our kids say they’re bored?
Not much, actually. It’s okay to empathise (“Sorry honey, I understand, being bored can feel weird”), but you don’t have to fix it. You can gently encourage them to find something they enjoy, but try not to jump in with ten ideas or hand them your phone. Give them room. Boredom is uncomfortable at first – and that’s okay. That discomfort often leads to discovery.
Helping your child find their spark
That said, you can support the process without over-directing it. Here are a few boredom-friendly, creativity-boosting ideas to call on when boredom threatens: Try creating a “boredom box” where you fill a container with open-ended materials like fabric, cardboard, kokies, tape, buttons, pipe cleaners and more. Another great idea is keeping a “list of prompts” on the fridge with ideas for them to try. Like “make up a game with socks” or “build a city out of Tupperwares.” You can also set up spaces that invite them to play like rearranging the furniture so they can make a reading nook or hideout, or offering them towels and sheets to build a fort in the living room. Very important too is that you as the parent should also try and model boredom tolerance. It’s good for them to see you doing nothing sometimes like reading or staring out the window.
The bottom line
It’s so easy to feel like a “bad mom” when your child says they’re bored, especially during the holidays. But here’s the truth: you’re not failing them. In fact, giving them time to be bored might be one of the best things you can do. You’re giving them a chance to slow down, to reflect and to dream up something new. So next time your little one complains “I’m bored”…pause…smile…and take a breath. That blank space in their day might just be the start of their next big idea.