How to Help Kids Deal With Boredom

Kids can stay creatively busy with encouagement.

As almost every parent can attest, eventually you are bound to hear the dreaded two words, "I'm bored" from your offspring. Even in this age of electronic overload and over-extended social calendars, kids often don't know how to stay happily busy without guidance. If your kids get testy during unstructured time at home, help them deal with boredom by teaching them the skills they need to find entertaining and educational activities.

Instructions

1. Pause from what you are doing when your child tells you she's bored. Set aside reality for a brief time and invite your child to fantasize about entertaining activities she would like to do. Encourage wild or crazy ideas such as a safari, mountain climbing, tightrope walking or whitewater rafting. Think about the fact that just interacting one-on-one with your child for these few minutes can be an instantaneous cure for boredom because your child no longer feels testy and aimless; you and she are sharing a conversation.

2. Get back to reality by talking about activities your child can do instead. Try to stay within the same theme, if possible. For example, if your child finds the circus entertaining, stretch a rope across the backyard and show your child how to walk a tightrope, put on a clown act or tame an imaginary tiger. If your child thinks mountain climbing would be interesting, suggest climbing a swing set or climbing structure instead.

3. Head to the library and find books about specific interests your child has. If your child likes birds, get a few field guides. If your child likes science experiments, get some books with suggestions for home experiments. Encourage your child to read the books or read them with your child.

4. Make a list of activities your child can do when he is bored. Sit down with your child and brainstorm a long list of both simple and more complex activities. When your child feels bored, encourage him to select an activity from the list.

5. Make a list of household tasks for your child to accomplish each day. These tasks will help your child contribute to the family, which fosters a sense of accomplishment and self-worth.

6. Let your child be bored occasionally. When you give your child opportunities to be creative, she may think up imaginative and unusual activities.

References

• Ohio State University Extension: Family Fundamental
• TNOnline: Why Are Kids Bored?