Why Boredom is Good for Your Kids: 5 Science-Backed Benefits

Do you dread hearing your kids say "I'm bored"? Do you feel guilty or anxious when you can't keep them entertained or occupied? Do you think that boredom is a sign of laziness, lack of interest, or poor parenting?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you are not alone. Many parents today have a negative view of boredom, and try to avoid it or fix it as soon as possible. They think that boredom is bad for their kids, and that they need to fill their time with activities, toys, or screens.

But what if I told you that there are many benefits of boredom for your kids? What if I told you that boredom can help them develop skills, creativity, and well-being? What if I told you that boredom is not a problem to be solved, but an opportunity to be seized?

That's what this article is all about. I'm going to share with you five science-backed benefits of boredom for your kids, and how you can help them make the most of it. As a 4th Degree Taekwondo Black Belt and a parent, I have seen how boredom can lead to positive outcomes for kids, both in and out of the dojang.

Here are the benefits:

Why boredom is good for your kids: It fosters self-motivation and independence

One of the benefits of boredom is that it forces your kids to find their own ways to entertain themselves, without relying on external stimuli or guidance. This helps them develop self-motivation and independence, which are essential skills for success and happiness in life.

A study by the University of Colorado found that boredom can increase intrinsic motivation and autonomy in children, which means that they are more likely to do things for their own enjoyment and satisfaction, rather than for external rewards or pressure. The researchers also found that boredom can enhance self-regulation and self-determination, which means that they are more likely to set their own goals, make their own choices, and follow their own plans.

For example, when a friend's son was bored one day, he decided to learn how to play the harmonica. He found an old harmonica in the garage, looked up some tutorials online, and practiced for hours. He was not doing it for a grade, a prize, or a praise. He was doing it for himself, because he wanted to learn something new and have fun. He was self-motivated and independent, and he enjoyed the process and the outcome.

How can you help your kids foster self-motivation and independence? Here are some tips:

•  Give them choices, resources, and space. Let them decide what they want to do, how they want to do it, and where they want to do it. Provide them with the materials, tools, and information they need, but don't tell them what to do with them. Give them some room to explore, experiment, and create on their own.

•  Don't intervene, rescue, or judge. Let them figure things out for themselves, even if they make mistakes, struggle, or fail. Don't jump in to solve their problems, correct their errors, or criticize their efforts. Let them learn from their own experience, and trust their own abilities.

•  Praise their effort, not their outcome. When they finish their activity, don't focus on the result, but on the process. Don't say "Wow, that's a beautiful painting", but say "Wow, you worked really hard on that painting". This will help them value their own work, and not depend on your approval.

Why boredom is good for your kids: It stimulates creativity and imagination

Another benefit of boredom is that it creates a mental space for your kids to explore new ideas, possibilities, and perspectives. This helps them develop creativity and imagination, which are essential skills for innovation and leadership in the 21st century.

A study by the University of Central Lancashire found that boredom can enhance divergent thinking and originality in children, which means that they are more likely to generate novel and diverse solutions to problems, or to create unique and expressive products. The researchers also found that boredom can increase curiosity and interest, which means that they are more likely to seek new information, experiences, and challenges.

I had a student one time, out of boredom, decided to create her own board game. She used cardboard, paper, markers, and dice to make the board, the cards, the pieces, and the rules. She came up with a theme, a story, and a goal for the game. She was not copying an existing game, but creating her own. She was creative and imaginative, and she had fun.

How can you help your kids stimulate creativity and imagination? Here are some tips:

•  Provide them with open-ended toys, materials, and challenges. Give them things that don't have a fixed or predetermined use, such as blocks, clay, or paper. Give them things that can be combined, transformed, or repurposed, such as boxes, bottles, or sticks. Give them things that require them to use their imagination, such as costumes, puppets, or books.

•  Encourage them to ask questions, make connections, and tell stories. Help them to wonder, to inquire, and to discover. Help them to relate, to compare, and to contrast. Help them to narrate, to describe, and to explain. Ask them open-ended questions, such as "What if?", "How come?", or "Why not?". Listen to their answers, and follow their lead.

•  Join them in their creative play, but let them take the lead. Play with them, but don't direct them. Follow their rules, but don't impose yours. Support their ideas, but don't suggest yours. Be their partner, but not their boss. Let them express themselves, and appreciate their creations.

Why boredom is good for your kids: It improves emotional regulation and resilience

Another benefit of boredom is that it helps your kids cope with unpleasant feelings, such as frustration, disappointment, or anxiety. This helps them develop emotional regulation and resilience, which are essential skills for mental health and well-being.

A study by the University of East Anglia found that boredom can increase emotional awareness and coping skills in children, which means that they are more likely to recognize, understand, and manage their emotions, rather than suppress, avoid, or act on them. The researchers also found that boredom can foster a positive attitude and a growth mindset, which means that they are more likely to see challenges as opportunities, rather than threats, and to learn from feedback, rather than take it personally.

My wife when she was a teenager and bored, decided to try a new recipe. She followed the instructions, but the result was a disaster. She was frustrated and disappointed, but she didn't give up. She took a deep breath, analyzed what went wrong, and tried again. She was not afraid of failure, but eager to learn. She was emotionally regulated and resilient, and she enjoyed the process and the outcome.

How can you help your kids improve emotional regulation and resilience? Here are some tips:

•  Acknowledge their emotions, validate their feelings, and support their actions. Don't dismiss, minimize, or criticize their emotions, but listen to them, empathize with them, and comfort them. Don't tell them what to do, how to feel, or how to react, but help them explore their options, express their feelings, and choose their actions.

•  Help them reframe their failure as a challenge, an opportunity, or a gift. Don't let them dwell on the negative aspects of their failure, but help them focus on the positive aspects. Don't let them see failure as a permanent or personal state, but as a temporary and situational feedback. Don't let them see failure as a problem, but as a chance to grow, learn, and improve.

•  Model emotional regulation and resilience yourself. Show them how you cope with your own boredom, frustration, disappointment, or anxiety. Share your stories, strategies, and lessons with them. Let them see how you turn your failures into successes, and how you bounce back from setbacks.

Why boredom is good for your kids: It enhances concentration and focus

Another benefit of boredom is that it trains your kids to pay attention to their surroundings, their tasks, and their goals. This helps them develop concentration and focus, which are essential skills for learning and performance.

A study by the University of British Columbia found that boredom can boost attention span and working memory in children, which means that they are more likely to sustain their attention, filter out distractions, and retain information. The researchers also found that boredom can increase cognitive flexibility and problem-solving skills, which means that they are more likely to switch between tasks, adapt to changing situations, and find novel and effective solutions.

For example, when my son was bored one day, he decided to solve a crossword puzzle. He focused on the clues, searched for the words, and filled in the blanks. He was not distracted by his iPad, his TV, or his music. He was attentive, alert, and engaged. He was concentrated and focused, and he had fun.

How can you help your kids enhance concentration and focus? Here are some tips:

•  Limit distractions, set goals, and reward efforts. Help them create a conducive environment for their activity, such as a quiet, comfortable, and clutter-free space. Help them set a clear, specific, and realistic goal for their activity, such as completing a task, learning a skill, or achieving a result. Help them reward themselves for their efforts, such as taking a break, having a snack, or playing a game.

•  Teach them mindfulness techniques, such as breathing, meditation, or yoga. Help them practice being present, aware, and calm in the moment, without judging, reacting, or wandering. Help them focus on their breath, their body, or their senses, and let go of their thoughts, feelings, or worries. Help them relax, refresh, and recharge their mind and body.

•  Challenge them with games, puzzles, or riddles. Help them stimulate their brain, sharpen their mind, and test their skills. Help them play games that require attention, memory, logic, or strategy, such as chess, sudoku, or Scrabble. Help them solve puzzles that require analysis, synthesis, or creativity, such as jigsaw, Rubik's cube, or tangram. Help them answer riddles that require reasoning, inference, or humor, such as "What has a face and two hands, but no arms or legs?" (A clock).

Why boredom is good for your kids: It increases happiness and well-being

Another benefit of boredom is that it allows your kids to appreciate the simple joys of life, such as nature, friends, or hobbies. This helps them develop happiness and well-being, which are essential for physical and mental health.

A study by the University of Limerick found that boredom can promote happiness and well-being in children, which means that they are more likely to experience positive emotions, such as joy, gratitude, or satisfaction, rather than negative emotions, such as anger, sadness, or fear. The researchers also found that boredom can enhance social relationships and personal values, which means that they are more likely to connect with others, share with others, and care for others, as well as to reflect on their own beliefs, goals, and actions.

I've sent my son into the outdoors before when he said he was bored.  He found a friend and  decided to go for a walk with him. They enjoyed the fresh air, the sunshine, and the scenery. They chatted, laughed, and got dirty. They were not bored, but happy. They were not alone, but together. They were not indifferent, but grateful.

How can you help your kids increase happiness and well-being? Here are some tips:

•  Model positive attitudes, share experiences, and celebrate achievements. Show them how you appreciate the good things in your life, and how you cope with the bad things. Share your stories, feelings, and opinions with them, and listen to theirs. Celebrate your successes, and learn from your failures. Be their role model, their friend, and their cheerleader.

•  Encourage them to express gratitude, give back, and find meaning. Help them to be thankful for what they have, and to show it. Help them to be generous with what they can, and to do it. Help them to be curious about why they are here, and to discover it. Ask them to name three things that they are grateful for every day, and to explain why. Involve them in charitable or volunteer activities, such as donating to a cause, helping a neighbor, or joining a community project. Help them to find their purpose, passion, and potential, and to pursue them.

Conclusion

In conclusion, boredom is not a problem to be solved, but an opportunity to be seized. Boredom can help your kids develop skills, creativity, and well-being, that will benefit them for life. Boredom can help your kids become self-motivated, independent, creative, imaginative, emotionally regulated, resilient, concentrated, focused, happy, and well.

So, stop fearing boredom and start embracing it as a gift for your kids. Help them make the most of it, and watch them grow, learn, and thrive. Remember, boredom is the mother of invention, and the cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.