If I had a pound for every time I heard “I’m bored” in my house, I’d probably own that private island by now. Complete with a hammock, a butler serving me snacks, and a WiFi tower so powerful it could stream cartoons from space. Meanwhile, an elite squad of personal assistants would handle all tantrums, snack negotiations, and the world-ending crisis of a misplaced favorite toy. I’d have a floating movie theater, a robot chef whipping up gourmet meals, and an endless supply of peace and quiet.
📺 Reading’s great… but wanna just see the chaos in motion?
I turned this story into a video, complete with full body slumps, castle tents, and a tiny broom. Scroll to the end and press play. 😄
But instead, here I am, front row for yet another award-worthy performance as my kids act like boredom is an absolute catastrophe. Worse than running out of snacks or losing WiFi. I stand in the kitchen, enduring the exaggerated sighs, the slumping shoulders, the tragic expressions that suggest I’ve single-handedly ruined their lives by not transforming our home into an amusement park. As if I’ve personally failed them as a mother simply because I didn’t orchestrate a thrilling, all-inclusive afternoon adventure. Their faces twist in agony, their bodies go limp as if gravity itself has betrayed them, and suddenly, despite a house bursting with toys, books, and art supplies, there is nothing to do.
It’s as if their very survival hinged on immediate entertainment, and the universe had heartlessly abandoned them to the abyss of free time. The giant bin of LEGOs? Too complicated. The stack of board games? “Not fun anymore.” The brand-new coloring book they begged for last week? “Meh.” The fancy remote-controlled car they had to have for Christmas? “It doesn’t drive the way I want it to.” The talking doll they obsessed over for months? “Her voice is kinda annoying now.”
Sound familiar? Maybe you’ve witnessed this grand spectacle in your own home—complete with foot-stomping, dramatic sighing, and the silent yet intense expectation that you, the parent, must fix this tragedy. Cue the Oscar-worthy eye roll from parents everywhere.
But here’s the twist: Boredom isn’t the enemy. In fact, it might just be the best thing to happen to our kids. It’s not a problem to solve but it’s an opportunity waiting to unfold.
What Boredom Feels Like (According to Kids)
Let’s be honest, kids don’t actually hate boredom. They just hate the part before they figure out what to do. Have you ever watched a child stand in a room full of toys, sigh deeply, and declare, ‘There’s nothing to do!’? It’s as if all sources of fun have suddenly vanished, leaving them stranded in a desert of monotony. But if you resist the urge to solve their boredom instantly, something surprising happens. That brief, unbearable moment where their world feels like it has completely run out of excitement.
To them, boredom feels like:
- A slow-motion apocalypse where nothing fun exists anymore, and time itself has come to a tragic halt. The walls of their room seem to close in, the air thick with despair, as they drag their feet dramatically across the floor, searching for something, anything, that might break the unbearable monotony. Even their favorite toys sit abandoned, mere relics of a time when fun was possible. They sigh heavily, throwing themselves onto the couch as if they’ve just endured the hardest day of their lives, staring at the ceiling in pure anguish, waiting for salvation to arrive.
- A cruel punishment where even their once-beloved toys and activities are now lifeless and dull. The once-thrilling race car track? Just a plastic loop collecting dust. The dollhouse they carefully furnished? A forgotten relic, its tiny occupants left in eerie stillness. Even their prized stuffed animals, once their most trusted companions are now nothing more than lumps of fabric, tossed aside in boredom-induced despair.
- A desperate plea for screen time, as if only a glowing screen can rescue them from this unbearable fate. They stand there, clutching the TV remote like it’s a life raft, eyes wide with desperation. ‘Just five minutes!’ they plead, as if five minutes will prevent them from slipping into the abyss of boredom forever. If denied, they collapse in slow motion, defeated, as if their last hope has been cruelly snatched away.
- A deep existential crisis, where they question whether they will ever feel joy again. They sit motionless, staring into the void, contemplating the meaning of existence. ‘Will fun ever return?’ they wonder, eyes glazed over as if reliving a thousand lifetimes of monotony. They might even shuffle to the window, pressing their forehead against the glass like a character in a tragic film, sighing heavily as they watch the world move on without them.
But if we let them sit with their boredom just a little longer, something magical happens. That initial frustration begins to shift, curiosity creeps in, and suddenly, their imagination starts to take over. Before you know it, they’re finding new ways to entertain themselves, discovering forgotten toys, or even inventing an entirely new game out of thin air. Imagine your child standing in the middle of a playroom overflowing with toys, yet they look around like they’ve just entered a barren wasteland. The beloved LEGO castle they spent hours building yesterday? Now just a pile of useless bricks. The coloring book they begged you to buy last week? Completely uninteresting. The stuffed animals they used to carry everywhere? Not even worth a glance.
They slump onto the floor dramatically, proclaiming, ‘There’s nothing to do!’—all while standing next to a toy shelf bursting with options. A talking robot dog that once thrilled them? Now ignored like an old relic. The puzzle they insisted you buy last week? Suddenly ‘too hard’ to even attempt. Even the glow-in-the-dark slime kit they swore they’d use every day? Now abandoned in the corner, collecting dust. Meanwhile, their exaggerated sighs grow louder as if hoping a grand entertainment plan will materialize from thin air.
But here’s the twist: if we let them sit in that frustration for a little while, their imagination kicks in. That LEGO pile might become a fortress under attack. The coloring book could spark a new game where they invent their own superheroes. And suddenly, they go from feeling utterly lost to being completely absorbed in self-made fun. That restless discomfort transforms into curiosity, and before you know it, they are off inventing, exploring, and creating their own fun.
The Stages of Boredom (As Observed in My Own Home)
The Complaint Phase: “Mommmm, I have NOTHING to do!” (Cue dramatic collapse on the couch, arms flung over their face like a tragic movie heroine.) They let out exaggerated sighs, their bodies seemingly too weak to carry on without immediate entertainment.
The Persistence Phase: “But what should I do? Can you help me? Can I watch TV? Can I have your phone?” They follow you around the house, their voice dripping with desperation, convinced you hold the key to their happiness.
The Wandering Phase: They start walking aimlessly around the house, touching random objects, sighing deeply as if each step is a burden. They poke at a puzzle, flip through a book without reading, and stare longingly out the window as if waiting for divine inspiration to strike.
The Creativity Phase: Suddenly, out of nowhere, inspiration hits. A laundry basket transforms into a rocket ship, the living room couch becomes a jungle gym, and they begin mixing ‘magical potions’ with juice, ketchup, and whatever else they can find in the fridge (much to your horror). Their world shifts from monotony to adventure, and they are completely absorbed in their creation.
The Deep Immersion Phase: Now they’re completely lost in whatever weird, wonderful thing they came up with. They’re building intricate LEGO worlds, hosting an imaginary cooking show, or leading a stuffed animal rescue mission. You call their name, but they don’t respond—because at this point, boredom has fully transformed into play, and they are in their own world of wonder.
And just like that, boredom turns into play.
Why Boredom is Actually Amazing
We feel guilty when our kids are bored. But the truth? It’s good for them. Boredom isn’t a problem to solve; it’s an opportunity to grow. When kids experience boredom, they develop essential life skills that will benefit them far beyond childhood. It might seem like an inconvenience in the moment, but boredom is actually one of the best gifts we can give them.
It sparks creativity. Some of the best ideas come from “nothing to do.” Left to their own devices, kids will start making up games, inventing stories, or using their surroundings in new and imaginative ways. Ever seen a kid turn a laundry basket into a spaceship? That’s the magic of boredom at work.
It teaches problem-solving. Instead of looking to us for constant entertainment, they figure things out on their own. Whether it’s building a new contraption with blocks or creating an obstacle course with household items, boredom forces kids to think critically and come up with their own solutions.
It builds patience. Life won’t always be full of excitement, and that’s okay. Learning to sit with stillness and find joy in simple things is an important skill that will serve them well as they grow older.
It leads to the BEST imaginative play. When kids have time to be bored, they create entire worlds. (Ever seen a kid turn a cardboard box into a time machine? It’s amazing.) This kind of open-ended play fosters independence, emotional growth, and a sense of curiosity about the world around them.
It strengthens resilience. When kids realize they can entertain themselves without constant stimulation, they build confidence in their ability to manage downtime. This resilience helps them adapt to situations where instant entertainment isn’t available, like long car rides or waiting in line.
By allowing our kids to feel bored, we’re not neglecting them. We’re helping them grow into creative, resourceful, and independent individuals. So What Should We Do When They Say, “I’m Bored?”
Instead of rushing to fix it, try this:
- Do nothing. Let them sit in it.
- Ask, “What else could you do?” Encourage them to come up with their own ideas.
- Offer open-ended options. “Want to build something? Draw? Go outside?”
- Give them space. Boredom is where creativity begins—but only if we don’t interrupt i
From one mom to another.
So next time your child says, “I’m bored,” take a deep breath, smile, and say, “Great! I can’t wait to see what you come up with.” Because from one mom to another, we both know that magic happens when we give them the space to figure it out on their own.
Then sit back, sip your coffee, and watch the magic happen. Remember all those times they claimed there was nothing to do, only to end up completely absorbed in something unexpected? That’s the beauty of boredom! It pushes them to explore, innovate, and create in ways they wouldn’t have if we had immediately handed them a solution.
Maybe they’ll build a cardboard castle, choreograph a dance routine, or repurpose household items into an elaborate new game. Maybe they’ll discover a hidden passion, tinker with an idea that sparks curiosity, or develop the patience to sit with their own thoughts.
Whatever unfolds, know that by allowing them to navigate their boredom, you’re giving them one of the greatest gifts of all : The ability to find joy, inspiration, and creativity within themselves.
What about your kids? How do they react to boredom, and what surprising things have they created when left to their own devices? Share your experiences in the comments—I’d love to hear your stories! 💛
🎥 Watch This Post Come to Life💛
From one mom to another, here’s the story of sighs, castle tents, and all in a short video version I made just for us.
