• Skip to main content
  • Skip to footer

Deep Roots at Home

  • Home
  • About
  • Podcast
  • Shop
  • Blog
    • Alternative Medicine
    • Babies & Pregnancy
    • Beauty
    • Books & Booklists
    • Brain & Gut Health
    • Children At Home
    • COVID-19
    • Detoxing & TRS
    • DIY & Crafts
    • Education & Homeschool
    • Faith & Family
    • Feel-Good Stories
    • Flourishing Marriage
    • Flourishing Womanhood
    • Food & Recipes
    • Food Additives
    • Garden & Homestead
    • Healthy Living
    • Herbs & Remedies
    • Holidays
    • Homemaking
    • My Favorite Products
    • News & Alerts
    • Parental Rights
    • Pharma & Vaccines
    • Play, Toys, & Movies
    • Raising Daughters
    • Raising Sons
menu icon
go to homepage
search icon
Homepage link
  • Home
  • About
  • Podcast
  • Shop
  • Popular Blog Topics
  • Alternative Medicine
  • Babies & Pregnancy
  • Beauty
  • Books & Booklists
  • Brain & Gut Health
  • Children at Home
  • COVID-19
  • Detoxing & TRS
  • DIY & Crafts
  • Education & Homeschool
  • Faith & Family
  • Feel-Good Stories
  • Flourishing Marriage
  • Flourishing Womanhood
  • Food & Recipes
  • Food Additives
  • Garden & Homestead
  • Healthy Living
  • Herbs & Remedies
  • Holidays
  • Homemaking
  • My Favorite Products
  • News And Alerts
  • Parenting / Parental Rights
  • Pharmaceutical Warnings
  • Play / Toys
  • Raising Daughters
  • Raising Sons
  • Popular This Week
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    It’s Not Dangerous For Kids To Be Bored Sometimes.

    8.8KViews Modified: Jul 6, 2021 · Published: Dec 15, 2017
    By Jacqueline 2 Comments

    Share24.3K
    Telegram
    Pin479
    24.8K Shares
    It's Not Dangerous For Kids To Be Bored Sometimes. Young child in a swimsuit entertained with only the rain and a bucket

    (source)

    Most children today find it very difficult to be bored. There constantly needs to be something happening. We all really need to stop keeping our children entertained.

    It’s truly not dangerous for them to be bored sometimes.

    Victoria Prooday writes,

    “Through endless fun, we have created an artificial fun world for our children. There are no dull moments. The moment it becomes quiet, we run to entertain them again, because otherwise, we feel that we are not doing our parenting duty. We live in two separate worlds. They have their “fun“ world, and we have our “work” world. Why aren’t children helping us in the kitchen or with laundry? Why don’t they tidy up their toys? This is basic monotonous work that trains the brain to be workable and function under “boredom,” which is the same “muscle” that is required to be eventually teachable at school.

     

    When they come to school and it is time for handwriting their answer is “I can’t.

    It is too hard.

    Too boring.” Why?

    Because the workable “muscle” is not getting trained through endless fun. It gets trained through work.”

    There are definite benefits to boredom.

    As Dr. Adam Phillips wrote “The capacity to be bored can be a developmental achievement for the child.”

    Boredom is a chance to contemplate life, rather than rushing through it.

    “How often, in fact, the child’s boredom is met by that most perplexing form of disapproval, the adult’s wish to distract him – as though the adults have decided that the child’s life must be, or be seen to be, endlessly interesting. It is one of the most oppressive demands of adults that the child should be busy, rather than take time to find what truly interests him. Boredom is integral to the process of taking one’s time.” ~Adam Phillips

     

    I believe that spoiling children with constant things to do has just the opposite effect that parents hope for.

    Boredom and Imagination

    I believe there is a strong connection between boredom and imagination. Researchers believe that being bored can lead to some of our most original thoughts.

    When people daydream and they’re not thinking about what’s going on around them, they’re more likely to think about the future, researchers found. People most frequently plan and anticipate their future goals which is a form of goal setting (a very good thing)!

    I could never write this page if all I didn’t daydream and begin to formulate the ideas that come to mind.

     

    What If There Are Complaints Of Boredom?

    At the the start of any free period (summer or break), parents should sit down with their children—at least those above the age of four—and write down a collective list of everything their kids might enjoy doing during their break. These can be basic activities such as a special game, making cookies, building a fort, producing a play of a story they know, playing cards, reading a book, holding a treasure hunt, practicing photography or going for a hike or bike ride.

    Then, if your child comes to you during that time complaining of boredom, tell them to go and look at the list.  It puts the responsibility on them to say, ‘This is what I’d like to do’.

    While there’s a good chance children might mope around for a while and be bored, it’s important to realize that this isn’t wasted time.

    Children need to learn how to be bored in order to motivate themselves to get things done.  Being bored sometimes is a way to make children self-reliant, fully-functioning members of the home and society.

     

    Being Bored Best Learned When Young

    • Teach your young children that “boredom” is a normal state of human emotions. Don’t take the responsibility of constantly entertaining your kids, as they need to learn to self-regulate through boredom.
    • Bring calmness into their lives by listening to calm music, sitting around a fireplace, having a calming bath, reading a book, drawing, or playing board games.
    • Practice the art of noticing! Be people watchers without being critical.
    • Make family traditions of playing table and card games. Also read-alouds
    • Make a conscious effort to train your child’s delayed gratification skills. Train his/her ability to just sit and wait.
    • Teach your child to sit at a table until everyone finishes eating.  Limit snacking between meals.
    • Limit your child’s access to technology. In addition, unplug from your phone and share quality time with your child.
    • Offer your child opportunities to spend time outdoors, running, playing with siblings especially in green space.
    • Provide regular opportunities for physical activity such as speed walking, biking, hiking.
    • Offer plenty of sleep in technology free bedrooms.
    • Train your child’s ability to complete monotonous work, such as helping with cooking, setting a table, making his/her bed, or folding clothes.

     

    It's Not Dangerous For Kids To Be Bored Sometimes. Ruth Krauss quote, "Everybody should be quiet near a little stream and listen." Maurice Sendak illustration

    Ruth Krauss quote, Maurice Sendak illustration

     

    Philosopher Bertrand Russell’s observations about the essential quality of our capacity for boredom seems just as apt today as ever:

    “A life too full of excitement is an exhausting life; continually stronger stimuli are needed to give the thrill that has come to be thought an essential part of pleasure.”

     
    Print Friendly, PDF & Email
    It\'s Not Dangerous For Kids To Be Bored Sometimes.
    Share24.3K
    Telegram
    Pin479
    24.8K Shares
    « 26 Festive Holiday Pomegranate Recipes {& 2 Ways To De-Seed}
    15 Proven Ways To Increase The Attention Span Of Boys »

    Related

    Hi! I’m Jacqueline!

    Thanks for being part of this journey with me.
    Welcome to my own little place on the internet! Home is where I love to be. I feel there is no greater place to incubate souls. These days you’ll find me using my experiences here to write about herbal remedies and natural health research — a big passion of mine. But being a wife and mother is not easy. It is challenging and potentially lonely. I get that. I wanted to create a place to connect with and support other moms for creating a natural, healthy, and fulfilling home life.
    Join the newsletter:

    Sent in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

    Footer

    About Deep Roots at Home

    What is Deep Roots at Home?
    Jacqueline’s Story
    Article Archives
    Contact
    Stay Updated

    Weekly updates on the topics that matter the most to you!

    Sent in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

    Popular Posts This Week
    • The Wet Socks Treatment Gives A Plethora Of Overnight Benefits
    • Mexican Hot Cocoa With Turmeric, Coconut Oil, Maca & Spices
    • How to Store Eggs at Room Temp in Lime Water for 1 Year or More
    • “Awareful Prayerful” Videos Part #2

    Affiliate Disclosure  •  Medical Disclosure  •  Privacy Policy  •  Cookie Policy

    The information on this website has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, prevent, or cure any disease. By accessing or using this website, you agree to abide by the Terms of Service, Full Disclaimer, Privacy Policy, Affiliate Disclosure, and Comment Policy. Content may not be reproduced in any form. Website by Imperative Co.



    © 2006–2023 Deep Roots at Home • All Rights Reserved

    Many people don’t see me on the Deep Roots at Home Facebook page these days due to censorship.

    Come straight to Deeprootsathome.com instead and find out what you’re missing!

    You can even make DRAH your browser homepage.

    Get your free printable guide!

    Fill in your email address to receive the free “5 Easy, Homemade Remedies to Beat Coughs & Colds” printable PDF.

    Get your free printable guide!

    Fill in your email address to receive the free “5 Easy + Healthy Lifestyle Drinks” printable PDF.

    Get your free printable guide!

    Fill in your email address to receive the free “Make Your Own Elderberry Syrup — with Easy Recipes!” printable PDF.

    Subscribe to Email Updates

    By adding your email address below, you agree to receive email updates from Deep Roots at Home. You’ll get 2-6 emails per month with info that we can’t share on social media and important updates. We may send occasional marketing / sales emails.

    Get your free printable guide!

    Fill in your email address to receive the free “Treasured Old Books” printable guide.

    Get the printable ebook!

    Fill in your email address to receive the free “Dyslexia Tips” ebook from Sarah J. Brown.

    Get your free printable guide!

    Fill in your email address to receive the free “Starving Brains & Poor Attention Spans in Boys: 30 Tips for Parents” printable PDF.

    Get your free ebook!

    Fill in your email address to receive the free “Vital Vaccine Info” printable e-book.

    Get your free printable guide!

    Fill in your email address to receive the free “31 Days of Praying Scripture for Newlyweds” printable guide.

    Get the freebie of the season!

    Fill in your email address to receive the free “100 Wholehearted Books to Take Back the Culture” printable guide.

    Praying for newlyweds is perhaps the best gift we can give them! Receive this printable PDF: “31 Days of Praying Scripture for Newlyweds.” 

    Prayers for Husbands

    View our privacy policy.

    The PDF will arrive in your inbox! You’ll also get about 1-2 emails a month (including the seasonal freebies!) and can unsubscribe at any time.

    ¡Nos gustaría mantener en contacto! Y usted recibirá un obsequio importante de la temporada: “Cerebros Ambrientes y Escasa Atención En Los Niños” PDF imprimible.

    Spanish Boys Attention Spans

    Ver nuestra política de privacidad.


    ¡El PDF llegará a su buzón de entrada! ¡Usted recibirá 1 – 2 correos electrónicos al mes (incluyendo los regalos de temporada!) y puede cancelar su suscripción en cualquier momento.