When your child complains of boredom, it's not a lack of ideas, but rather a need for skills, resources, confidence, and clear play boundaries. No matter how many toys you buy or ideas you gather, without clarity on who's responsible for directing your child's play, you'll keep hearing, 'I'm bored.'"

When your child comes to you and says, “I’m Bored”

TRY THIS:

"You are? Hmmm...I wonder what you'll come up with."
"What did you do yesterday when you were bored? Do you want to do that again or will you think of something different?"
"It's ok for you to feel bored. You might feel unsure, but I know for sure that it's ok for kids to feel bored.

AVOID THIS:

"You are? Oh no! I'll stop what I'm doing to make you a snack and read to you."
"Let's do something right now so you don't have to be bored. We'll go to the zoo, then to the store, and then we can go visit Grandma."
“It’s my job to entertain my child. If they are bored, it is my fault.”

Challenge:

Take a few moments to think about how you feel when your child complains of boredom. What is your typical response? Does it support your child in taking the next step independently or does it put you back in charge of their play?

Here are some ways to support your child in going from “I’m Bored” to “I’m Playing!”

Your child does not need a fancy playroom filled with wooden toys in order to play independently, but there are a few things you can do to encourage independent play:

Consider this: Are your child’s toys reflective of who they are or are they a random collection of toys, gifts and books amassed over time? Try weeding out a few things that you know your child loves and make sure those items are front and center.
Consider this: Does your child have access to basic art supplies? Put some paper, crayons, stickers and masking tape down low and allow your child free access to create.

Try this: Bring some favorite toys into the main living spaces of your home. Kids want to be where we are. Leave a partially done puzzle on the kitchen table or a hunk of playdough and some figurines on the kitchen counter.

Remember, it is not your job to entertain your child, but it is your job to support their play!