So have your kids said it yet?
You know the phrase.
We’ve all heard it a million times.
Mom…I’m bored.
Yep, I heard it yesterday for the first time. Somewhere around 2:30 in the afternoon it escaped out of my 13-year-old’s mouth.
So you want to know what I did?
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
Boredom is a good thing for kids…
…it brings out ingenuity.
…it nurtures creativity.
…it stimulates the imagination.
…it forces spontaneity.
…it allows for dreaming.
…it launches adventure.
Sure, sometimes our kids need some help thinking creatively. But a little bit of boredom never hurt any kid!
P.S. Remember my summer strategy post a few weeks ago? A little bit of structure is good for mom and the kids. If you’re looking for great summer ideas, you might want to check out The Confident Mom’s Summer Survival Calendar. For those of you with younger kids, it just might be the best $7 you’ll spend this summer!
Good for you, and your response. I agree that boredom breeds creativity. (Well, for the most part. Sometimes I think it breeds crime, but…) Structure and planned activities are good, but there's nothing like good old-fashioned down time in the summer for kids to do all sorts of…nothing. Some of my fondest memories from childhood are of that.
I agree, some of my fondest memories from childhood also happened when we bored and got creative!
I loved your post! It made me smile because it's the number one phrase heard at this time of year. 🙂 This has been our first full week of no school and I started hearing "I'm bored" about 2 days into it (mostly from the almost-13 year old). I thought it might be different this year since we home schooled this past year and they're used to being home more often. Guess I was wrong.
We have limited their screen time (all screens) to 2 hours a day. I have not been strict about this in the past year (on weekends it was kind of free reign) so they are at a loss at what to do with this much 'free time'. I am so excited though because now they want to play Parcheesi over and over or do Legos for hours. They spent some of their own money on more Lego kits. They want to do Play-doh or go for walks. I am finding all 4 kids playing together and listening to the radio. They ask each other to play games and do crafts. I just picked up a chapter book and started reading it to them. They didn't resist at all. They actually want to leave the house now–they're kind of home bodies. It's been a week full of ups and downs, but I LOVE what I'm seeing when the "I'm bored" words come out. You're right–the creativity starts.
As a side note, I loved that link you gave for the summer calendar. I just bought a book called "Sanity in the Summer time" that came highly recommended. I haven't received it yet, but I think it's gonna be a lifesaver for me too.
My kids are still kind of young for the "I'm bored" summer phenomena. A few weeks ago I made a list of 100 activities we can do together (or they alone) this summer. You can see my list at stephaniesmommybrain.blogspot.com/2009/11/living-with-rheumatoid-arthritis.html. If you have any ideas that aren't on the list PLEASE add them!! A mom can never have to many activities to pick from!
I do the same thing!!!!