“I’m bored!”

It’s a phrase that every parent is all too familiar with. You’ve likely heard it countless times – most frustratingly when your child hasn’t had something actively engaging their attention for all of 15 seconds.

“Do kids today even know what ‘being bored’ means?” you might wonder.

But I digress. That’s a discussion for another day.

The “boredom” of their children is a real issue that parents have faced for going on… forever – but in today’s fast-paced, technology-driven world, it can be even more challenging to keep kids entertained. I wish I had a foolproof plan to prevent childhood boredom ever again.

Actually, no, that’s not true. Because research has shown that boredom is actually good for kids.

However, as a parent myself, I know firsthand how much you can come to dread those two words when you have little ones, especially when they are repeated over and over, begging you to do something about the issue.

My goal here is not to eliminate your kids’ boredom, but to offer you some tools and suggestions on how you can turn “I’m bored!” into an opportunity to foster creativity, learning, and fun.

Encourage Outdoor Exploration

One of the best ways to combat boredom is to get your kids outdoors. Seriously. Nature offers an endless playground for exploration and adventure.

Take them on nature walks, hikes, or bike rides in your local park or nature reserve. Encourage them to observe birds, name insects and plants, or simply enjoy the beauty of the trees, grass, or even a dandelion growing along the sidewalk.

As a nice little bonus, outdoor activities not only combat boredom but also promote physical fitness and a love for nature.

Embrace Arts and Crafts

Arts and crafts are a fantastic way to stimulate creativity and keep your kids occupied.

Provide them with a variety of art supplies to get the creative juices flowing. We’re talking:

• Colored pencils
• Markers
• Crayons
• Paper
• Glue
• Scissors
• Glitter? At your own risk.

Encourage them to create drawing, paintings, and 3-D “sculptures.” You can even give them art with a purpose, like making homemade greeting cards. If you need a little inspiration, you can find DIY craft kits and project ideas online for more structured activities.

Not only does this keep them engaged, but it also enhances their fine motor skills and artistic expression.

Foster a Love for Reading

Reading is a gateway to new worlds, and it can provide a lifelong source of entertainment. So help your kid become a reader as early as possible!

Create a cozy reading nook in your home with a selection of age-appropriate books. Encourage your children to explore different genres and discover their favorite authors. Consider regular trips to the local library to let them choose books that pique their interest.

Most importantly – read to them when they’re younger, and be out and proud about your own reading. Even for older kids, monkey-see is often monkey-do (even if they won’t admit it). If your kids regularly have to interrupt your reading time to get your attention, they’re going to take note and wonder: What’s so exciting here? Use that FOMO to your advantage to get kids reading.

Want one last bit of convincing? Reading not only combats boredom but also boosts vocabulary and stimulates imagination.

Encourage Hobbies and Extracurriculars

Help your kids discover their passions by encouraging them to explore various hobbies. Whether it’s playing a musical instrument, gardening, cooking, photography, or coding, hobbies provide a sense of purpose and accomplishment. By allowing them to dive into activities they love, you not only combat boredom but also support their personal growth and self-esteem.

How do you figure out what kinds of things they love?

• Pay attention. You can learn a lot from the kinds of play they get up to when they’re on their own. Quietly observe what toys and activities they gravitate toward – and take note of their strengths and weaknesses. Over time, you can tell if your child is verbally gifted, attentive to music, good at performing, quiet and thoughtful, logical and analytical, or maybe a hyperactive gymnast/dancer type. Find hobbies that channel these strengths.
• Look into classes and camps. If you can afford it, investing in classes and camps focusing on specific activities can be a great way to introduce your little ones to something to see if they enjoy it. Depending on what you’d like them to try, this can sometimes become quite pricy, but don’t just stick to the for-profit businesses doing this – look into local recreational center offerings, library events, and so on. You can also check out online courses, which are often significantly less expensive – and many have teachers who can help your kids learn in real-time.
• Find mentors in your community. Sometimes the key is connecting your child to a trusted older kid or adult who wants to pass on a skill. For instance, I knew a kid who became really interested in beekeeping. He found a beekeeper in his town, and that master beekeeper helped him locate an ideal spot for his own beehives and learn the ropes of beekeeping. Or perhaps you have family members with special skills? An aunt or uncle might have more time than you to take your kid out on a nature photography excursion or teach them some guitar chords.

Invest in Educational Games

Educational games, really? Not to go all Inigo Montoya on you, but “I do not think that means what you think it means.”

Pretty much every game out there can teach your child something – but they do so without throwing “learning” in their face. Games like Scrabble, chess, or math puzzles can challenge their minds and help them develop critical thinking skills. Mad Libs teaches them grammar and parts of language. Roleplaying games like Dungeons & Dragons are storytelling machines where your kids basically get to put themselves into a real-life Choose Your Own Adventure book. Plus, there’s a lot of math involved in rolling to see how effective your actions are and tacking on character bonuses and such.

Additionally, while you can argue that they’re not exactly “games” per se, the various science lab kits out there do offer kids a way to engage in the scientific method and run their own experiments in a fun way. Just make sure you dedicate a space that can handle this type of often-messy fun.

Plan Family Adventures – and Let them Help!

Family outings and adventures can be an excellent way to combat boredom while strengthening family bonds. Explore nearby museums, zoos, botanical gardens, or historical sites. Plan weekend trips to new destinations or even embark on a camping adventure.

Even better – engage them in helping with research and planning for these types of adventures. Get a whiteboard – or even just a piece of paper – and have them brainstorm places they want to go and things they want to do. If they are old enough, let them go online and see what kinds of places are available nearby, when they’re open, how much they cost, and so on.

If you have multiple children and this leads to disagreements (it will), encourage them to learn as much as possible about the place or idea they want to go so they can “sell” it to the rest of you. Also, set up the idea from the start that, while you want to do things that will make everyone happy, it’s only fair to take turns and experience what other family members are interested in.

These shared experiences create lasting memories and provide opportunities for learning and exploration.

Don’t Discount Mindfulness and Relaxation

As strange as it may sound, sometimes kids express boredom when they’re actually feeling overwhelmed or stressed. You can combat this – and provide them with a valuable life skill – by teaching them mindfulness and relaxation techniques to help manage their emotions.

Simple practices like deep breathing exercises, meditation, or yoga can help your children find inner calm and reduce restlessness.

Feeling a bit more prepared to deal with your next round of “I’m bored!”s?

The key is to be ready with ideas and solutions – and a patient willingness to talk. Always try to have a variety of options to keep your kids occupied in a positive and productive way. And for those times when you don’t, remember that a little bit of boredom is actually good for children.