Mom, I'm Bored!

“I’m bored.”

Those seem to be dreaded words for parents today.

I know many parents (moms in particular) who are so afraid of their kids getting bored that they go to extremes to prevent it. Hours of crafting, sensory activities, movie nights, board games, play dates, library activities, sports, museums, parks, zoos, etc. The kids never stop. The parents are exhausted.

It’s hard to keep them entertained all day, so we give them electronics. We sign them up for activities. We attend events. We even have things like “bored jars” now. Have you seen those? They are all over Pinterest.

“Are you bored? Choose an activity from the jar!”

I used to have one of these jars. Someone recommended it to me a few years ago to keep my kids from getting bored. At first, I thought it was great. I filed the jar with ideas like "play the piano", "build a fort" and "read a book." But then I used the jar. It only took about a week for me to let the idea die. I hated it. My kids suddenly could not think for themselves. If they got bored, they would run to the jar for something to do. And they could never think of anything without the jar.

So, I killed the jar and never looked back.

I was recently asked by a new acquaintance what I do to “keep my kids busy so they don’t get bored.”

I replied, “Nothing.”

My kids are busy enough without me trying to add more to their plates. We have schoolwork every day. We have chores every day. They have church every week, and Trail Life USA and American Heritage Girls twice a month. They go grocery shopping with me. They are all learning to cook and keep the house clean. We play games or read stories with daddy before bed every night.

They are busy. Without sports. Without museums. Without constant outings and activities. They are busy.

So, when things finally do slow down, and I actually hear the words “I’m bored” I rejoice! Those words excite me as a mom. In a world of “Go, go go!” I want my kids to be still. To slow down. And to figure out how to entertain themselves completely on their own without a screen or a scheduled activity. This is when their creativity shines. This is when imagination thrives. When they suddenly become knights and princesses and cowboys.

When they build villages outside with sticks and sand. When they create new games, write new stories, and build new fictional characters for their fantasy world. I’ve even seen them just lie in the grass and stare at clouds. I love seeing my children bored.

Being bored is a beautiful thing. It makes them think on their own. It inspires them to work together. So, I say “no” to screen time more often and just let them be bored.

They come up with some awesome ways to play when they are bored. Like playing the piano with a headlamp on. I never would have thought to do that...

Like learning to braid hair.

Rollerblading indoors.

I remember a day last fall when they were all outside just sitting in the grass talking with each other because they couldn’t think of anything to do. I just sat by the door listening. And it was amazing. The conversations were deep and meaningful. And it wouldn’t have happened if they had been playing a sport or watching a movie.

We went on a vacation a few years ago. When we got to the resort, I realized that I had not packed any toys for the kids. At first, I thought about trying to find a thrift store nearby to buy a few things for the week. Then I looked over to see Jeremiah (he was about three at the time) on the floor with a handful of crayons and no coloring book in sight. He was using the

crayons as cars, crashing them into each other. Then they were airplanes. Then soldiers in battle. And trains. Swords. The list goes on. Five crayons kept him busy that entire day, and he never colored once.

The picture below is a snapshot I took while they were playing outside. No toys. No sports equipment. No direction from mom. Just bare feet and laughter and fun. We went outside because they were bored. If I had told them what to do to beat that boredom (such as playing Frisbee or tag), I may have never been able to get this shot. They came up with this on their own. They called it "dance fighting." I approve.

Sometimes, kids need direction. Sometimes they need activities, or play dates, or scheduled events. But, often, the best thing you can do for them as a parent is to let them be bored. Don’t be afraid of those words. Embrace them, and watch their imaginations grow.