When our kids come to us with their boredom, there is often an impulse to meet them with irritation, frustration and guilt.
“You have so many toys! How can you be bored?” “Bored? Here’s a list of chores.” “When I was a kid, I played for hours without complaining.”
As a parenting expert who has spent 10 years working with busy families on independent play, I’ve seen the same pattern repeatedly: parents either offer a list of activities or tell kids to figure it out themselves. Neither works. The first creates dependence. The second feels like a rejection.
The truth is, we can’t, and shouldn’t, entertain our children constantly. Over-involvement leads to burnout for parents and robs kids of essential developmental skills.
So the next time your kids tell you that they are bored, try these five phrases to encourage more independent play:
