I often hear my kids complaining and saying "I'm bored, Mommy." And I was like, they have so many toys, gadgets and we have a big garden that they can play and run about. How can they be bored?
I remember when I was a child, we don't have time to get bored. There are loads to do! And if you say you are bored, your parents might give you unwanted chores like a pan as black as a coal and will tell you to scrub it till it turns white. We don't have phones or internet those days and we are always out playing with our neighbours or with our siblings.
We entertain ourselves when we are bored. Our parents don't entertain us. We don't have Google back then, if we have homework we have to go to the library and patiently search for the answer, page by page. I remember when I was a child if it's raining outside and I can't go out I always thinking of God and who made God and who's the one who made God until I give up thinking. And some days I will be daydreaming of having a truck full of money and planning what will I buy first. And I enjoy it, you know!
But this generation is afraid of boredom. They need to get entertained all the time. When they don't have data or wifi, they feel like that's the only entertainment they have. Parents keep filling their boredom and not letting them be bored and get creative.
What I'm saying is, let them be bored! Let their unconscious mind be conscious. Let them experiment. Let them discover themselves and what can satisfy their boredom. Sometimes we just have to let them be.
Boredom leads to Creativity
A bored mind develops the ability to be creative and this is the number one benefit of boredom. Because when you are bored you pushing yourself to be satisfied and so you get creative and do things you don't normally do. You experiment and you discover a new hobby and say, Oh I love doing this!
Boredom helps develop their sense of Identity
Over-scheduling our kids is unnecessary and this will hinder them from discovering what truly interests them. Remember when they are bored, we should not fill their time with what we want but let them explore and learn new things that they don't usually do when they are occupied.
My 5 years old daughter, Tia learn to bake cookies when she was bored and she loves it. And also making a jelly. So instead of me buying ready to eat jelly for Tia, I buy one that she will make and let her pick what flavour.
At her age, I want her to try different things. I guide her on exploring stuff that she might be interested in.
So here's my Tia while being bored,
Tia baking cookies
Tia making jelly
And my son who is 10, loves to learn football and love riding his bike when he is bored in the house.
When he was bored he started going to the cricket club and start training. Also on his boredom, he started going to the skate park and ask us for a stunt scooter. I'm worried about his safety because I know how he can easily break his neck with it. But I have to let him have the freedom to know what he truly wants with guidance from us.
I encourage outdoor plays for the kids instead of with their phones or gadgets. We love to have a ride in the bike in the lane which we all enjoy. I always believe that outdoor play is the best way for kids to learn and enjoy.
Or when they helping me to tidy up the place or garden. Let them get their hands dirty. Teach them and give them a little work. Mum always says that won't do them any harm.
So when they get bored they get to learn something. They discover a new interest. They developed their common sense and logic. They experience the world first hand and learn to engage in problem-solving. And that's what we parents are for!
Our role is to prepare our children to take their place in society. Let the children fill up their boredom. Let them do this for themselves. Let us be their guide.
Thank you for reading.
Well written and creative, sometimes its always about chances, finding every wrong in a mistake. Allowing new ways and system for kids to be creative, letting them learn new ways.