Boredom – The Quiet Magic of an Open Afternoon

Why Boredom is the Raw Material for Creative Discovery

In a world increasingly filled with ways to keep children stimulated (see screens), boredom may seem like it’s going the way of the dinosaurs. But unlike the fearsome Tyrannosaurus rex, yawn- inducing boredom, and its accompanying impatient sighs can come for your children at any time. While this notion may strike fear into the heart of many parents, here’s the good news – boredom might not be such a bad thing.

All parents are familiar with the old familiar refrain of “are we there yet?,” or “there’s nothing to do,” or simply “booooooring!” When used effectively, they can invoke feelings of annoyance, guilt, of being critiqued on your parenting skills, and even mild panic. This, of course, is made worse by the reality that life won’t always allow you to prioritize your child’s need for stimuli. So, what happens to a child left to battle boredom on their own?
The first step -and this is easier for some parents than it is for others- is if you can’t break away to have some quality play time with your child, is to give yourself permission to let your children fend for themselves. Don’t reach for the screen, don’t give suggestions – give them an opportunity to work it out on their own. Here’s what happens when you do…

Turning on the Internal House Lights: How the Default Mode Network Saves the Day 

For children (and adults, too) when the external world goes quiet, the brain’s internal house lights begin to glow, and the Default Mode Network (DMN) revs its engine. So what’s the DMN? It’s the part of the brain that lets your mind wander, examine possibilities, daydream, process memories, problem-solve, and explore the inner spaces of our minds.

Have no fear, when your child is staring blankly out the window, letting out a disinterested sigh or pacing restlessly, something more is happening. What they’re actually doing is processing their day, connecting ideas and building a stronger sense of self. To put it simply, when faced with boredom, a child’s mind shifts gears from consuming stimuli to creating internal stimuli.

The Ten Minute Threshold: What’s on the Other Side of “Nothing to Do”

It’s important that parents allow around ten minutes of restlessness before the DMN starts firing on all cylinders. Then, you’ll notice that the creativity starts to flow and fun and interesting things start to happen.

Some activities your child might engage in once the DMN is in gear include:

• Daydreaming
• Self reflection
• Mentally rehearsing upcoming events
• Contemplating other’s perspectives
• Replaying and processing memories
• Imaginative play
• Exploring nature
• Mindfulness

Sparkle Stories as Companions, Not Pacifiers

The fact is, choosing less screen time means that children are more susceptible to boredom. But planning ahead can prepare children for those moments where life seems momentarily dull and uninspiring. Audio stories, for example, can play an important role in providing fodder for those moments when the DMN kicks on.

Far from an electric pacifier to keep kids from ever being bored, audio stories can fill the imagination with rich imagery, ideas to process and morals to stories, so that when a child does have a moment of boredom, their DMN has plenty of material to pull from.

Gentle Scripts for Restless Moments

If you need a few tips for how to comfort your child when the “I’m bored” chorus begins, take a deep breath and offer your child one of these firm, but gentle reminders.

1. “Take a deep breath and wait a moment. Your brain is just figuring out what it wants to do next. Let’s see what it chooses.”
2. “It’s okay to be bored. That’s what needs to happen before good ideas arrive.”
3. “I can’t wait to see what your imagination invents today. I’ll be right here doing my work while you figure it out.”
4. “My job right now isn’t to entertain you. But that’s okay. Your job, meanwhile, is to figure out what your hands and mind want to do next.” 
5. “An empty afternoon is a rare gift. Allow yourself to wander until you find a spark.”

Audio and Activities to Prepare for the Quiet

Discover More About Managing Boredom for Children with Sparkle Stories!

Stories for Boredom: “Boredom” is a collection of three stories that demonstrate how moments of boredom can open up whole new ideas and ways of perceiving the world.

Playing with Nothing: Piper and Clancy are bored, but learn to find something in “nothing” from some Penguins on a barren island near Namibia.

The Magician: When he hears the magical sound of the Hermit thrush, a bored king remembers what he truly loves to do.

Here are some excellent blog posts on the subject:

Inspiration for Bored Kiddos

77 Things to Do Instead of Screens

Introducing Our Screen-Free Family Guide

Support for Working Parents with Young Children

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