The Value of Boredom
Have you ever heard the dreaded, “I’m B-O-R-E-D!”
I have. As a matter of fact, to be totally transparent, I also said, “I’m B-O-R-E-D,” a time or two in my childhood.
Now, as adults, we don't want kids to sit around bored for hours but believe it or not, there is a right and wrong way to handle the situation.
So, how did my boredom problem get solved? Let me tell you a story. Growing up, we loved to go outside to play after school and before supper. Yep, supper, that’s what someone from the mid-west called dinner…just in case you were curious. Anyway, I digress.
Our mother had a school bell she would ring that pierced the air and covered the entire neighborhood. When we heard it, we would drop whatever we were doing and go home. After supper, it was time to do homework, do evening chores (dishes), and maybe, depending on the night, watch a favorite TV program before we went to bed.
But it was Sunday that I dreaded most. Why? We went to church in the morning, and mom made a stomach-busting dinner for us afterward. We would then do the dishes, and our parents would put their feet up, dad in his rocking chair, and mom on the couch, and they would take a much-deserved nap. We were left to our own devices. We went outside and played with each other. Some of our friends and cousins in the neighborhood whose parents also were taking Sunday afternoon naps, but after a few hours, we were bored and went back home.
Once home, we had to be quiet since our parents were sleeping in the family room. So, what do we do? We put our heads together and often went to the hall, dragged out our Barbie dolls, and played with them. That quickly got boring…what next?
Our parents had no structured activities for us. They were asleep, and it was Sunday, and very little on TV was of interest to the children. When my dad woke from his nap, he would watch the TV program about WWII. Since he was a WWII veteran, he was fascinated with the historical footage, and we were not.
Being bored is very frustrating for a child since they don’t know how to become un-bored.
Given the freedom to “figure it out.” I solved my Sunday boredom by reading books. That was a quiet activity that didn't bother my napping parents. I discovered new worlds and new ideas. I enjoyed reading about the adventures of the Bobbsey Twins. I graduated to Nancy Drew mysteries, and there was probably a Hardy Boys book or two in the mix. I particularly liked Nancy Drew because she was a strong girl that bucked the day’s morays about the role of a girl in using her head to solve mysteries. These books helped me to realize that a girl can be strong. I solved my own boredom.
But I digress. So, is it ok for the kids of today to be bored? I say emphatically, YES! We have grandkids in our lives with activities that take up every minute of their days. Gymnastics. Check. Team Sports. Check. Scouting. Check. Now, I am not saying that activities aren’t a development opportunity but when is too far? We don’t allow them to be bored. Boredom can be a good downtime for anyone, child and adult. TV off, social media off. No digital distractions.
As grandparents who have grown up with boring times, can you let your grandkids be bored when they visit you? Are you willing to take away their electronics? Unplug the TV? Let them have time at your house, left to their own devices, and see how they entertain themselves? Send them outside.
Do they know how to entertain themselves? Sure, there may be a grumble or two, but this may be the first time they have ever been bored and have had to think about what to do for themselves. Some may rebel or pout. Be strong. Kids are resourceful, and some may discover that downtime rejuvenates them. After an hour or two of boredom, you can lead them into your front room and introduce them to the 1000-piece puzzle you started…by design. This is something fun to finish. No electronics, only their own thinking.
A bored child is not bad; a bored child can open their mind to encourage their creative side. So, let’s take our over-scheduled and over-stimulated kids and give them the gift of boredom. This gift is an opportunity rather than a burden.
Let us know how it goes!
