The Case of the Bored Child

It’s not uncommon to hear the words “I’m bored” from kids every now and then. If I had a dollar for every time I hear my nephews say “I’m bored”…

I’ve been hearing this more often recently, so I thought about writing this post and talking about what to do when kids are bored. You with me?

While boredom can be a natural feeling, it can also lead to frustration, irritability, and restlessness. So, what can we do to help kids combat boredom and engage in productive and fun activities? This post provides some suggestions to encourage creativity, learning, physical activity, socialization, and relaxation. Tried and tested by yours truly.

What to do when kids are bored

Acknowledge their feelings

I distinctly remember my mom telling me, “There is no such thing as boredom. Find something to entertain yourself.“

It worked. Note that, growing up, we didn’t have a television. So this meant:

• Reading (we did have a nice collection of books)
• Singing to myself
• Pretending the coffee table was a spaceship
• Going out in the garden, picking leaves and berries, and “cooking”

So, you can say that it’s understandable when I often give the same reply to my nephews.

There is no such thing as boredom.

Thinking about it a bit more, it might not be the best answer. Perhaps the focus should be on validating their feelings of boredom and helping them find ways to ease it. This is not always easy, of course, especially if they want to play video games or watch TV when they’ve already used up their allotted screen time. Remember: follow parents’s rules.

How do you validate a kid’s feeling of boredom? Just let them know you understand and that it’s okay to feel bored sometimes. Then dig a little deeper and ask why they feel bored. Sometimes, they might be hungry, just want attention, or are curious about what you are up to.

You might be surprised where that conversation takes you.

Encourage creativity

Encouraging creativity in children is a great way to help them combat boredom and foster their imagination. Here are some ideas on how to do it:

1. Provide materials for art projects or crafts

• Set up a designated area with art supplies such as paints, markers, colored pencils, paper, and glue
• Encourage them to create their own art pieces or follow along with tutorials on YouTube or Pinterest
• Provide materials for simple crafts such as paper mache, friendship bracelets, or origami (origami was a hit with my nephews, and they love creating new things from YouTube tutorials)

2. Encourage them to make up their own games (something like the coffee table-turned-spaceship…)

• Have them create a board game or card game with their own rules
• Encourage them to come up with their own outdoor games such as a scavenger hunt or obstacle course
• Ask them to think of new twists on classic games like tag or hide and seek

3. Suggest writing stories or making up their own songs

• Provide a notebook or journal for them to write down their ideas
• Encourage them to make up their own stories or songs with their own characters and plots
• Suggest they illustrate their stories or songs with their art supplies

The last one is a particularly effective activity in our case. We would make up stories by having one person say a sentence or two, and then we would take turns adding to the story. Before you know it, it’s time for dinner!

By providing children with the tools to create and encouraging them to think outside the box, they can come up with endless possibilities for fun and creativity.

Get them moving

So this is not the easiest thing when you, the aunt, are a couch potato. Then again, it forces you to get off your bum and get that much-needed exercise. 🤷🏽‍♀️

Some ideas:

1. Plan outdoor activities like hiking, biking, or playing at the park. When they’re visiting me, we sometimes walk to an activity park about a 20-minute walk from my place. It’s a nice little patch of green in the concrete jungle, and they enjoy it.
2. Create an indoor obstacle course or scavenger hunt. If you’re brave…go for it!
3. Encourage dance parties or yoga sessions. One kid loves yoga, the other not so much. They used to avoid dancing at all costs, but lately, we’ve been having fun dancing like no one watching. You just need to find the tunes they like. If you know me and you look at my Apple Music song history, you would probably say, “What the heck is she listening to?” 🕺🏽

Learn something new

Educational games and documentaries (unless it’s an absolutely no screen time situation) are best, but depending on the kids, they may not be the best solution to boredom.

If you like food—who doesn’t?—a fun cooking activity might just do the trick. Ask them to choose what they want to cook and do it together. If all you eat is takeout, then move on to the next activity. 😅

How about a trip to the museum? This is always a hit with my nephews, and even if I find it tiring to go out, sometimes, I just go with them. It turns out to be fun for me anyway.

Relax and recharge

Sometimes, kids just need to relax and recharge. Just like we do. Some ideas:

1. Encourage quiet time like reading, drawing, or listening to music
2. Provide a calming activity like a puzzle or coloring book
3. Encourage them to take a nap or rest if needed
4. Get a mani/pedi or massage together—my nephews really love this!

Thing is…it’s good for kids to be bored

I know what you’re thinking…For kids, maybe. Not so good for the aunt!

Seriously, though, numerous studies support this idea.

Clinical experts say that boredom can lead to increased creativity, self-awareness, and problem-solving skills.

In the study “Why Kids Need to Be Bored: A Case Study of Self-Reflection and Academic Performance,” James Williams says something similar: “boredom may play an important role in self-reflection and agency, provided young people have options available to relieve boredom while simultaneously engaging them in activities that encourage self-reflection.”

So, the next time you hear your niece or nephew say, “I’m bored,” stop what you’re doing and see what’s up. Then, why not try some of the activities I’ve shared? You might just create yourself a new bonding moment with the kids.