approx. 3 min read
“Mom, Dad, I’m bored!” You’ve probably heard this sentence from your child before. Maybe you’ve already tried suggesting lots of ideas, but none of them really caught on? Why our little ones get bored and whether that’s actually a bad thing—find out here! We’ll explain why and give you some tips!
How does boredom arise?
Boredom can have many different causes, including:
Children are exposed to too many stimuli over long periods of time
If your child is constantly occupied with television or mobile games and these stimuli are removed, they will get bored. This is because your child is not encouraged to come up with their own ideas. It becomes increasingly difficult for them to entertain themselves.
Your child is used to being constantly entertained
Whether you try to “entertain” your child at the first sign of boredom or they have a strict daily schedule with school, sports, and evening activities, your child will get bored on days when there is less to do. They have never learned to entertain themselves or use their creativity to overcome boredom.
Your child gets bored after focusing intensely on one thing
This boredom is part of play. It arises because no new idea has formed yet and is completely normal.
Is boredom a bad thing?
Boredom is by no means a bad thing. Quite the opposite. It promotes your child’s healthy development, builds self-confidence, and supports creativity. Boredom can usually be seen as a good thing, because it is often a sign that stress has eased and your child has the opportunity to relax. If your child is independent from a young age, this has major benefits for their future. They are able to develop further and come up with ideas without outside influences.
How can I support my child?
Of course, this does not mean you have to stand by and watch your child get bored. Here are some tips on how to encourage them in the right way:
Let them get bored, but don’t leave your child to it
Let your child get a little bored. But every now and then, give them small suggestions for offline activities.
Less is more
Don’t overwhelm your child with cheap, short-lived toys; instead, buy high-qualitytoys that last longer and can be used in many different ways. Your child should use their creativity, and this is best achieved when their environment is not already pre-designed. An inspiring environment with toys that offer many different ways to play (e.g. building blocks) is important, as these promote curiosity and an understanding of how things work together.
Take free time literally
Make sure your child doesn’t have an overly packed day and consciously schedule time when there is nothing to do. This promotes your child’s creativity and allows them to relax.
With Anio, offer a way to communicate and stay safe without sensory overload
We want to give you the opportunity to encourage your child’s creativity without compromising on important things like communication and safety. Our children’s watches are deliberately free from games and unnecessary features, but come equipped with secure chat and calling functions, as well as GPS.
So, have we caught your interest? Then head straight to our shop so that you too can get your child ready for the digital world in an age-appropriate way and without sensory overload!
Still have questions? Then feel free to take a look here
Your Anio Team!
Sources:
https://www.pro-kita.com/eltern/zusammenarbeit-mit-eltern/langeweile-bei-kindern/
https://www.baer.bayern.de/erziehung-medien/erziehung/alltag-kindern/langeweile/
