The Importance of Boredom in the Summer

With sports, toys, art, summer camps, reading, screens, and more it’s a wonder how anyone, especially kids, can become bored. There is so much opportunity for things to do during the day that we have near limitless possibilities for how to spend our days. But, for many kids, the space between scheduled activities and events is not an opportunity to explore or have reprieve but instead is seen as waiting out the timer until the next exciting thing happens.

Summer, for kids, is the time of year with the most up and down experiences of thrill and adventure. The ups being vacations, summer camps, family visits, and anything that would elate your child’s mood and sense of discovery. But the pendulum is always swinging- things can’t always be super exciting all the time. If that was true then these moments would lose their magic, and parents might lose their minds! 

Boredom is not the villain; not being thoughtful of how we spend our time is. Through summertime boredom kids can develop three key characteristics: Ingenuity, Tenacity, and Adaptability. As they grow up these characteristics will help them learn more about themselves and how to engage with the world around them. 

Ingenuity 

When faced with boredom there are either two options: sit in the boredom and try to accept it or get creative and find a solution to entertain one’s self. Kids have a great capacity for imaginative problem solving. Thinking up things to do, how to do them, and how to enjoy them are great lessons in critical thinking. If something isn’t fun anymore, generally, we seek to find something more fulfilling or entertaining. This is where ingenuity shines! Playing new games, exploring outlooks, finding new discoveries, practicing a hobby- any of these are actions that require a bit of creative thinking. Here are two aspects of ingenuity that boredom inspires: 

• Encourages creativity and open thinking 

• Inspires kids to think outside the box 

Tenacity 

Sometimes sitting in the boredom can be hard, and it can also be just as difficult to find entertainment. This is especially true for if a kid burns through what they believe to be all their options for curing boredom and are still bored- this is where Tenacity comes in! Tenacity is the quality of having determination and being persistent even when having setbacks or facing difficult situations. To continue weathering the boredom emotionally or taking the time to work through solutions helps kids build tolerance for being uncomfortable and acceptance for if their problem solving doesn't produce the result they want. Tenacity builds these qualities and skills in kids: 

• Builds tolerance for boredom 

• Brings about ways to entertain oneself 

Adaptability 

Yes, being bored can be uncomfortable- and that is okay. There is growth in discomfort (to a degree). Having your kids sit in their boredom as they ideate ways to avoid it doesn't only foster creativity and emotional strength, as mentioned above, it also helps them to learn about how to adapt to being bored. It helps them realize that sometimes downtime is good and we can’t be going, going, going all the time! Adapting to a changing timeline and realizing how many options they may have would open a world of opportunity for your kid. Skills that grow with being bored and being adaptable are: 

• Develops the ability to be flexible 

• Helps with situational problem solving with free time 

So what can you do as a parent? Be realistic with your child that there will be downtime during the summer and that is not a bad thing. Instead advise them to take the boredom in stride as a way to learn more about their own abilities, skills, and desires. Finding that open “free time” for kids can inspire them to pick up a new hobby, advance a skill they already have, discover something new, build their self esteem, develop decision making skills and more. So, don’t fill your child’s summer to the brim with activities without a drop of down time. Boredom is a good starting place to learn independence and strengthen one’s own character.