A couple of days into school holidays, my daughter walks to me lazily and declares: ‘I am bored!’
On hearing her, my son comes out running from his room: ‘I am bored too!’
Full disclosure: their boredom may have something to do with me having taken away their screens/iPads for a few hours.
To add salt to injury (and at the risk of being a complete villain in my kids’ eyes), I also told them no more random snacking for two hours till it was dinner time—i.e. another boredom pastime banished.
‘It’s good to get bored sometimes my dear. Let your mind wonder or be quiet for some time—it’s okay ’, I responded.
Clearly not the response they were looking for. Slightly frustrated, my daughter went back to her room groaning. My son followed her.
Fifteen minutes later, he came running to me and said ‘Mumma, can I water the plants?’
Me: [half shocked and half delighted, hoping I did actually hear what I heard] ‘You want to do what?’
‘I am watering the plants’ and off he ran to the backyard to open the hose before I could respond. Yay! Win! The joy of hearing those words — my son initiating a new chore, relating to house work, voluntarily — was amazing!
About 40 minutes later, my daughter came to me with some old balls of colourful yarn I had bought her about a year ago. She said I am going to crochet a scarf for you! I was happy and puzzled at the same time. How? I asked her (my mind wandering back to my school days where I never took interest in knitting and requested my taijee (aunt) to knit a few squares for me as part of the home-science school assignment. Surely, I was the last person to teach her). But she had that covered – ‘Ah, I will just watch some YouTube videos.’ And she meant it.
Fast forward three weeks, and a new ball of yarn later. Voila! This was the result:
The wandering mind is more likely to come up with imaginative ideas and solutions to problems
It was no short of a miracle! Thank you ‘boredom’.
Why it’s important for kids to get bored: The 5 surprising benefits you need to know
As parents, we often try to fill our children’s schedules with soccer or gymnastics, music or dance lessons, math/English tuitions or coding classes, to keep them busy and occupied. And for good reason— organised activities have proven to be beneficial for children’s physical, cognitive, cultural and social development.
We fear that if kids are left on their own, they will become bored, restless, and unproductive.
But allowing your child to be left on their own sometimes, to let them switch off from the bombardment of the outside world, to just daydream, pursue their own thoughts, and discover personal interests and gifts—can be wonderful. To experience ‘boredom’ is very important and beneficial for your child’s development and mental well-being.
Boredom gives birth to creativity, to ideas, to curiosity, to wonder. Boredom allows young minds to be imaginative and think for themselves. It acts as a catalyst for growth, and allows kids’ brains to naturally develop and dream. It may seem hard initially, but once the initial inertia has passed, it can really work wonders.
In this blog post, we will explore 5 reasons for why is it good for kids to get bored:
1. Boredom fosters creativity and imagination
When children are bored, they are forced to use their imagination and creativity to come up with ways to entertain themselves. My niece, at 3 years of age, used to take all the pillows and cushions of the house and make a pathway for us to walk on, pretending that there is water everywhere around and only walking on that pathway, can lead us to the castle. Other kids may build a fort out of blankets, create a game with household objects, or draw a picture.
By using their imagination and creativity, children can come up with new and creative solutions to pass their time. This can help develop their problem-solving skills, and learn to think outside the box. These skills are essential for success in life, as they help children adapt to new situations and come up with innovative solutions.
2. Boredom helps children learn self-regulation and independence
When children are constantly stimulated and entertained, they can become dependent on external sources of stimulation and entertainment. This can make it difficult for them to regulate their own emotions and behaviour. However, when children experience boredom, they are forced to manage their own feelings of frustration and take responsibility for their own well-being. They may learn to tolerate discomfort, delay gratification, and become resilient, which are all important skills to handle challenges in life.
3. Boredom encourages children to explore their interests
As kids, my brother and I, along with 3 other neighbourhood kids, formed our own ‘Famous Five’ club (after being super-inspired by the Enid Blyton series). We elected a president, a secretary, a treasurer, etc, amongst ourselves. We all had very important roles each and a secret language too! We invented our own little adventures and went about our locality proudly wearing ‘famous five’ badges. It was heaps of fun and learning. This was all born out of boredom during one summer vacations (and ofcourse due to not having iPads to keep us entertained).
When children are always busy with structured activities, they may not have the opportunity to explore their own interests and passions. But when they are bored, they have the freedom to pursue their own interests and hobbies. This can lead to the discovery of new talents and skills, and can help kids develop a sense of purpose and identity.
4. Boredom promotes mindfulness and reflection
When people think of boredom, they generally associate emptiness, silence, loneliness with it. People think of that as a negative. However, those attributes are also the foundations of mindfulness and zen practice.
The beauty of silence, being quiet and in solitude, is the first step to getting in touch with our inner spiritual core – the limitless wellspring of creativity and resilience.
To be mindful means to slow down, to take your time, to do one thing at a time. Boredom could really help with that. It is an opportunity to reflect on your thoughts and feelings and promote self-awareness, as children learn to pay attention to their internal experiences. Mindfulness has been shown to have numerous benefits, including improved mental health and emotional regulation.
5. Boredom can improve social skills and provide a break from technology
When I think about our childhood, games like playing pithu (Lagori or seven stones), baseball or cricket, ghar-ghar with dolls, oonch-neech ka papda, etc., come to mind. Instead of being surrounded by screens and tech (not that we had iPads anyway), we went to play out to the neighbouring park almost everyday with friends.
Boredom may encourage kids to seek out social interaction with peers or siblings. This can improve their social skills, as they learn to communicate and negotiate with others. It can also encourage children to engage in cooperative play, which promotes teamwork and collaboration.
Boredom is a normal and necessary part of life
Finally, it’s important to remember that boredom is a normal and necessary part of life. It can provide a break from the hustle and bustle of daily life and allow for reflection, relaxation, and rejuvenation. By embracing boredom as a natural part of life, children can develop a healthier relationship with their own thoughts and emotions.
But not all children respond to boredom in the same way
It’s important to be wary of too much boredom, and that not all children respond to boredom in the same way. Some children may be more prone to daydreaming and exploring their own thoughts/interests, while others may seek social interactions or require more external stimulation to avoid boredom. For example, my son, who thrives on structured activities and routines will benefit only from small pockets of boredom, unlike my daughter, who loves exercising her imagination and creativity.
While it is still vital for parents to provide their children with age-appropriate activities and opportunities for learning and growth, it’s also important to provide them with unstructured time to explore and play on their own. It’s important to be aware of your child’s individual preferences and tendencies and adjust accordingly.
In conclusion, boredom can be a valuable experience for children. It allows them to develop their imagination and creativity, leads to a greater appreciation for structured activities, and helps them learn to entertain themselves. So next time your child complains of being bored, instead of rushing to entertain them, consider letting them be bored for a little while. You may be surprised at what they come up with.
So let me ask this question again:
Why I want my kids to get bored?
Short answer: …because every time they get bored (in small pockets), it works wonders!
