School is almost out for the summer around the USA. Kids will be rejoicing for a good five minutes or so. Then they will attempt to establish a “new bored record.” Five minutes may seem a bit ambitious, but it can be done!
I remember the days when I was bored out of my skull during the first few days of summer break. After all, there were only three or four channels to watch.
We have more channels today, but the kids still have to suffer from nothing good to watch on TV. Come to think of it, when was there something good to watch on TV?
Bored in a Distracting World
Our always-on-media-culture gives us plenty of ways to be distracted. Kids can stream a movie or YouTube video. They may have their own phone which connects them to Instagram or TikTok. Really, the possibilities are endless.
Yet, kids can still be bored. Putting a child in front of a screen may distract us for a while, but passive entertainment isn’t truly fulfilling.
Instead, kids need activities that can actively stimulate their minds.
- Here are 50 summer activited for bored kids from
- How about 100 fun things to do at home this summer?
- And here are tips for dealing with bored kids
Boring Can Be Good
In a world with much activity, challenges, and even tragedy, there is something good about having the capacity to be bored for a while. in Cal Newport’s Book, Deep Work, he asserts that in order to do our best work, we must embrace boredom and give ourselves time to think. After all, a creative mind needs space to think and imagine.
So perhaps if your child sets a new bored record, he or she is ready for some deep creative work. Instead of spending mindless hours in front of a screen, perhaps they can create or invent something amazing!
Editor’s Note: I originally published this blog on October 6, 2015. I revamped and updated it for timeliness and comprehensiveness.
