Everyone from time to time gets bored. However, if you are a parent, then you tend to hear the words, “I’m bored,” more often than not.
While it might seem like a problem that can be fixed with a screen, experts say it’s actually a sign of healthy development for children to be bored.
Boredom can spark creativity, encourage independent thinking, and provide kids with the opportunity to explore their own interests. So, if your kid is bored, don’t hand them a screen, and let them be. Being bored is actually good for them!
Psychiatrist and author, Dr. Carl Marci, who authored the book “Rewired: Protecting Your Brain in the Digital Age,” stated in a recent interview with Huffington Post UK, that there are a few benefits to letting kids get bored. Two of the main benefits, according to Dr. Marci, are self-regulation and emotional control.
“So the more access to internet connected devices and screens with content designed primarily to capture a child’s attention and engage them as long as possible, the more that kids learn they don’t have to ever be bored,” he explained to the outlet.
He continued saying that screens tend to become a “mood regulator” for children and “the child loses an opportunity to grow a key part of their brain used for emotional control. Children learn to ignore their emotions or distract themselves with screens. [Ultimately,] this can rewire their brains [and potentially set them up] for future ADHD, anxiety, depression, and substance abuse [problem].”
So, what can parents do to to stave off boredom without giving in to more screen time?
Well, parents can encourage outdoor activities like going for a nature walk, playing in the park, or even setting up a simple scavenger hunt around the yard.
If being in the great outdoors is not a favorite thing for them to do, then there is plenty of indoor fun to be had such as: arts and crafts or experimenting with simple science projects. Indoor fun can also include having a reading marathon, writing stories, or creating their own board games to toss in some extra creativity.
Remember, the goal for parents is to offer a balance of unstructured activities that allow them to explore, create, and problem-solve—helping them see boredom as an opportunity, not a problem.
