Bored is OK

Summer is here, and it seems that many of our kids will soon be heading off to summer camp. For those not going to camp, most, if not all, of their time is likely also accounted for. How did we end up feeling like neglectful parents if we don't fill our children's summer days with "enriching activities"? The idea of letting our kids have nothing to do but discover their own ways to stay entertained for eight weeks might seem counter-cultural. Yet, I can't help but wonder how I managed to survive so many unstructured summers.

Does it ever feel like we are trying to rush our kids out of childhood?  Somehow, I feel that by not giving them enough time to take a journey of self-discovery, we are robbing them of a chance to develop some valuable life skills. Of course, computer classes, chess, baseball, pottery, dance, swimming, and other experiences are valuable, but so is doing absolutely nothing.  Many of the kids we see are stressed and exhausted. They are fully booked with school, after-school activities, homework, and studying during the school year.  They have little time “to smell the roses.”  

Having unstructured time to daydream, read for pleasure, or entertain themselves without an electrical hook-up or battery just might give them a chance to walk the dog, wash a car, mow the lawn, build a fort, cook a family dinner, go fishing, picnic, plant flowers, or simply watch the clouds pass by a beautiful sunset.  These few summers can greatly impact a child’s creativity, mental health, and curiosity.  They may develop some self-management skills that can be of significant value later.  Should it occur, boredom can be a positive force in personal development.  Boredom has the capacity to boost creativity, encourage independence, and allow the time often necessary to concentrate and focus. Think of summer as an opportunity for your child to explore their imagination, take responsibility for their own engagement, discover themselves, and be enriched by new experiences.