Why Boredom Is a Superpower

If you ever hear the words “I’m bored” echoing through your house, you might feel as if you should instantly fix it. Maybe reach for a device, a craft kit, or a quick idea to keep your child busy.

But what if boredom isn’t the enemy? What if it’s actually one of childhood’s greatest teachers? Our children today are overstimulated with technology and social media. These are not the only tools in which to learn.

Boredom is the doorway to creativity

When children have nothing to do, their minds start to wander and that’s when the magic happens. They build forts out of blankets, invent games with no rules, draw whole worlds from imagination. They feel exhilarated by their creations.

Boredom teaches children to think for themselves, to experiment, to imagine. It’s in those quiet, unstructured moments that creativity wakes up. So try not to fill every space for your child.

Boredom builds emotional strength

When a child sits in that uncomfortable space of nothing to do, they’re learning patience and self-regulation. They’re learning that feelings of restlessness won’t last forever, that they can tolerate emptiness and turn it into something new.

In a world of instant entertainment, that’s an emotional muscle worth building. Building self-discipline is a powerful skill to learn.

Boredom sparks curiosity

Without constant stimulation, children begin to notice things they might have missed, the shape of clouds, the hum of bees, the sound of rain on the roof.

They start asking questions, exploring, wondering.

Curiosity is the seed of learning. Boredom waters it. This allows their imaginations to grow.

Boredom teaches self-direction

When children always have adults telling them what to do, they can lose the ability to direct their own play or thinking. Boredom puts the responsibility back in their hands and says, “You choose.” That’s a powerful message for growing independence.

So how do we nurture healthy boredom?

• Don’t rush to fill the gap. Let a child’s mind wander before you step in.

• Limit screens sometimes. Digital distraction numbs imagination before it can start.

• Create spaces for open play. Blank paper, blocks, sand, sticks are simple tools for big ideas.

• Model it. Sit quietly yourself. Let your child see you daydream or rest without a device.

The takeaway

Boredom isn’t a problem to solve, it’s a gift to protect. When we let our children sit in those slow, quiet moments, we’re giving them something rare and powerful: time to think, to imagine, to grow.

So next time your child says, “I’m bored,” smile and say,

“Wonderful. That means your imagination is about to start working. Let it fly.”

Encourage your child to write well

Some children find it difficult to write. There are ways we can help them and of course, the best way to help is to write ourselves. There are many intellectual, physiological and emotional benefits to writing. It goes hand in glove with reading and cannot be seen as the poor cousin. It is believed that writing has wonderful therapeutic benefits and gives a child a voice. Words disappear into the ether, but written words can remain forever.

Here are some ideas to help your child build up an interest in writing which is very much at the heart of education.

• Designate a special area in your home where your child can write comfortably. It could be a cozy corner with a desk or even just a designated cushion with a lap desk. Let them see that writing is encouraged in your home. Have plenty of writing materials hanging around.

• Make sure your child has access to various writing materials such as pencils, pens, markers, crayons, and different types of paper. Let them experiment with different tools. For young children chalk on the ground is great fun.

• Establish a regular time each day for writing. It could be before bedtime, after school, or during a quiet period on weekends. Consistency is key to forming good writing habits.

• Encourage your child to keep a journal where they can write about their thoughts, feelings, daily experiences, or even stories they make up. Journaling can be a great way for children to express themselves freely. Perhaps giving your child a diary could be a great gift and introduction to writing.

• Praise your child's writing efforts and celebrate their achievements, whether it's completing a story, writing neatly, or coming up with creative ideas. Display their work proudly or share it with family and friends.

• Let your child see you writing. Whether it's making a grocery list, writing emails, or working on a personal project, show them that writing is a valuable skill used in everyday life.

• Reading and writing go hand in hand. Encourage your child to read regularly and discuss the stories or information they encounter. Reading can inspire writing and improve vocabulary and language skills.

• Present your child with fun writing challenges, such as writing a poem, creating a comic strip, or crafting a short story with a specific theme or word count. Joining in with these activities will make all the difference to your child.

• Help your child understand the importance of writing by showing them how words can inform, entertain, persuade, and connect people. Encourage them to use their writing to express themselves and make a positive impact. Read sections of the newspaper to them that have an impact.

• Enjoy reading what they have written. Together you can talk about the content and purpose of writing. Let them read aloud some of your writing as well.

• Try suggesting to your child when they want to explain something that you would prefer they write it down for you to read. Sometimes an upset child can write down their feelings easier than talking about them.

• Writing is a concrete statement. It can be kept and treasured. Promote your child’s writing by displaying it on fridges etc.

‘Once your child writes down their thoughts, they are expressing to the world a deeper statement about themselves.’ - Gail J Smith

A few good tips when managing your child.

We are all learning how to parent on a daily basis. It keeps evolving as new experiences come our way. There is nothing that is constant as our children are developing and changing over the years.

Here are some reflections on what really works well when engaging with your child.

• Always respect them and let them know they are valued no matter how old they are.

• When you give consequences, be clear about them and ensure they are in proportion to what the problem was about.

• Always consider negotiating with them so that they feel that they have been heard. Giving a little every so often reaps many benefits.

• Your child needs frequent validation and reassurance that they are loved.

• We often talk a lot as a parent. Practise listening and really hearing what they have to say. Be patient and still when listening.

• Encouraging independence slowly and steadily builds their confidence and feelings of self-worth. They can fail without fear of needing reprisal.

• Put reasonable structures and routines in place.

• Be authentic. Let them see the real you with all its success and foibles.

 Practices that should be avoided:

• Name-calling and sarcasm. Words are powerful tools or weapons

• Rules that have no real purpose. A child needs to understand why a rule is in place.

• Too much control and too many noes.

• Be careful with put-downs. Children have a long memory.

• Take care not to overprotect. The apple does not fall far from the tree anyway.

• Too many outbursts of anger around your child. This can send them into silence around you.

In a perfect world, we would not have to think about our parenting. However, we are human, make mistakes and need to keep learning.

The best parenting is when you are always open to change and ready to learn.

 ‘The best inheritance a parent can give his children is a few minutes of his time each day.’

                                   -O A Battista