Perhaps you can remember times of open-ended play in your childhood – times when you left the house at noon and your parents said, “Be home by dinner.” Most of us had no plans when we left the house, but possibilities soon emerged as we saw streams to explore; paper, crayons and scissors to create with; or bicycles to take us and friends to unexplored territories. At times, we couldn’t think of anything and complained of being bored; but out of boredom often grows creativity and imagination.  

Why children are always busy

• The thought that boredom is bad for us is one reason children today are seemingly busier. It can be all-encompassing for parents to feel the need to fix all problems, including the misguided ‘problem’ of boredom. In actuality, experiencing boredom can have value. Have you ever said, “I do my best thinking in the shower?” Why is that? Typically, there are no distractions in the shower and the activity of washing is automatic, allowing your brain to drift. You think about projects ahead of you for the day, writing that needs to be done, or perhaps how you want to spend your next vacation. That “idle” time allows your creative thoughts to flow in ways that can’t happen when you are constantly checking a mobile device or engaged in structured activities. The same is true for children. Critical thinking often happens when children have time to practice making choices, planning their time, or creating from nothing. 
• The proliferation of electronic devices also may contribute to the lack of boredom. The American Psychological Association (APA) reports that children aged 3 to 5 spend an average of 2 hours and 28 minutes a day on screens. There are educational ways to use screens with young children, but getting away from screens is an excellent way to bring boredom back and spur a child’s imagination. 
• Being over-scheduled leads to fewer instances of boredom and less opportunities for free time activities. There are a few free minutes and for those that are open, we fill up quickly. A lot has been written about children being over-scheduled in sports and extracurricular activities. Take a look at your child’s schedule. Are there some open-ended breaks in their day with nothing scheduled?

The benefits of boredom for children

When children are given the time and freedom to choose their own play, they learn about themselves and what they are naturally drawn to. For example, when allowed to feel bored, one child may be drawn to art supplies while another may be more interested in looking for insects in the backyard.

Boredom also allows children to practice creativity and imaginary play. Children don’t need much to stimulate their creativity. A stick can become a wand; a small blanket can become a cape; and an appliance box can become a castle.  A stretch of time with nothing to do can allow new ideas to germinate.  

Tips to increase free time

• Leave space for open-ended unplanned time at least once a week. If that’s not possible, plan for once a month. This could be during a long car ride, a walk in the woods, or time at home on a snowy day. Try not to jump in to plan an activity but give your child time to think of what they would like to do and then join them in unstructured play. Validate your child’s feelings of boredom; you can even acknowledge that you feel bored at times, yourself. Questions and statements such as “What ideas do you have?” or “I believe that you can solve this problem” encourage your child to take an active role in curating the antidote to their boredom. 
• Have open-ended materials available for times when boredom might arise. A cupboard at your child’s level filled with art supplies, a bin of recycled cardboard boxes or dress-up materials, or a space outside where your child can dig, plan, or create offers the conditions for creativity to grow from boredom. Come together for a family brainstorming session where you create a list of tried-and-true boredom busters everyone can turn to when needing an idea boost.
• Participate in regular screen-free time as a family. Designate a weekend afternoon or weekday as a screen break and see what happens in your home when screens are off for an extended period of time. 

There are many expectations for children’s time that are out of our control but look for the parts you can impact. Look at boredom as an opportunity to try something different which may be beneficial in your child’s life. The next time your child says, “I’m bored”, try one of these free time activities. Give open-ended play a try and see what happens. It might be good for you, too.