Embracing Parenting Boredom

It’s nothing new to hear that boredom is good for kids, but did you know that it can also be good for your parenting. Many parents find it easier to keep their children overscheduled or occupied by screens at home to avoid the discomfort of entertaining them. Let's be honest, adult brains often find children's play to be, well, boring. 

Since the invention of the smart phone our relationship with boredom has fundamentally changed. We now carry a source of endless distraction in our pockets, making boredom seem obsolete. Boredom is no longer about having nothing to do; it's about being tired of what's currently available whether it’s a job, a podcast, or a TV show with the immediate solution of choosing something new.

This constant stimulation has shortened our attention spans and, as a result, lowered our tolerance for boredom. When we feel even the slightest bit unstimulated, we reach for our phones to quickly kill the feeling.

However, when we do this we miss out on a valuable opportunity. When we step in to rescue ourselves from the boredom of playing with our kids, we lose a chance to connect. When we take the easy way out we also lose out on the connection that is the building block of a stronger parent-child relationship and can actually make your parenting easier. 

Boredom isn't just for kids. Instead of immediately seeking a new distraction, we can learn to embrace this discomfort too. Being bored allows us to not only understand our kids better, but might just free up some precious time to spend with them.

Practice being bored. When you have an idle moment don’t reach for your phone or your to do list. Lean into the discomfort, get used to it. Then when you play with your kids and it’s BORING it won’t seem so bad. It might just be good for all of you.