Why It’s Actually Good for Kids to Be Bored
Christina here 👋🏻 I spent much of my firstborn’s early years feeling like she needed constant stimulation—whether that meant being entertained by my husband, myself, or whathaveyou. And, to be fair, parenting and running a business (half stay-at-home parent, half small biz hustle) is hard, and anything that softens the edges feels like a win.
But here’s the thing: those stretches of "nothing to do" moments? Turns out, they are really good for kids.
1. Boredom Sparks Creativity
Pamela Paul, writing in the New York Times, argues that boredom isn’t a developmental dead end—it’s a launchpad for creativity and independence. As she puts it, boredom “spawns creativity and self-sufficiency... it also teaches kids that life isn't a parade of amusements” 6abc Philadelphia.
2. Kids Need Unstructured Real-Life Time
A recent Atlantic piece based on a Harris Poll reminds us that kids would rather engage in unstructured, in-person play—not video games or scheduled activities. The issue? Many kids aren’t allowed out without adult supervision. The authors explain that "children long for real freedom...[and] sometimes the kids argue or get bored—which is good. Learning to handle boredom and conflict is an essential part of child development" The Atlantic.
3. Boredom Is Your Brain’s Wake-Up Call
Researchers often describe boredom as a signal—a mental itch that nudges us toward creativity or self-awareness. One Atlantic writer quoted social psychologist Wijnand Van Tilburg: “boredom is an emotional signal that... there is a lack of purpose” The Atlantic. It’s not failure—it’s the brain inviting your kid to become their own entertainment.
Getting real: I remember how my WIWIK partner-in-crime and BFF, Amy, once held up a mirror to my over-entertaining instincts. We were always on the go—traveling and moving constantly (My first born went to more countries in 2024 than most people do in their lifetime, she’s moved 4 times at 5 years old - three times in the last year) . So I embraced peace over parenting with firm boundaries. But the message (and resulting behavior) wasn’t sustainable.
So we shifted, slowly but surely. The iPad lives in the “workshop.” TV time is limited. And now, when my kid says she’s bored, I hear what I wish I’d leaned into sooner: it's a chance to look around, imagine, and connect with the world on her own terms—just like that Bluey episode where Mum says, “Sometimes you’re just going to be bored.”
In fact, experts now see value in giving children that boredomtunity—a chance to sit with their minds, feel the edges of boredom, and discover creativity, independence, and resilience (not to mention that peaceful kind of joy parents remember, too) Psychology TodayPopsugar.
TL;DR (If You Just Skimmed)
Boredom sparks creativity, resourcefulness, and self-reliance. (NYT)
Kids crave unstructured, unsupervised play. (Atlantic)
Boredom is a healthy mental signal—to explore, imagine, rethink. (Atlantic)
Pushing boredom away all the time isn’t “good parenting.” Teaching kids to sit with it? That’s a real gift. So learn from me, you can make positive change. It’s never too late to adopt a new style of parenting or to pivot your belief systems around something.
If this made you exhale a sigh of relief, join me. Let’s lean into boundary-driven rest, trust that our kids are wired for curiosity, and remember that the best stuff often happens in the quiet spaces between the noise (for all of us!).
—Christina