Are you struggling this summer with the “I’m bored” being articulated by your children this summer? Well, gather around because the truth is you are not alone, and every parent is in the same very rocky boat! We live in an extremely busy world and one that allows us to over schedule ourselves and work ourselves up because of the stress that comes with it. This inevitably has passed on to our children who are now over-scheduled, at times or busy with their own social events. With summer, things may have quietened down but parents seem to consider themselves a failure if their children aren’t doing something, all the time. Firstly, calm down! You are doing a great job and your children getting bored is not a parenting failure. There; I have said it and I stand by it. Just because your little darling isn’t playing piano or attending camp doesn’t mean you should feel guilty about it, as it is perfectly fine for your kiddies to be bored sometimes. 

Children are used to being busy, but they too need some rest and relaxation. The summer months offer a welcome respite from the madness - a chance to gaze at the stars or to be creative alone if you will. Children should be able to have fun when alone at home just as much as when they are spending time outside or with others. They should learn to problem solve and how to keep themselves entertained though they may feel bored at times, this isn’t going to have negative long-term effects on them. Parents may turn to digital devices to fill the boredom void, but they aren’t the answer either. If you are giving children devices to fill the bored gap, you are unwittingly giving them no time to be “just them” and to figure out how to be comfortable in their own skin. They could read, draw or colour as well as create stories, build tents and use their imagination to escape boredom.

We know that children are more stressed than ever before, and you would have to wonder is this caused by burnt out kids and the lack of free time. Children are constantly being handed devices or they have activities to keep them from being bored but is this correct? Are we not allowing kids to enjoy the little things in life? Time to rest and refuel is just as important to a child as it is to an adult. Adults struggle to keep up with the rigours of daily life and many of us can’t wait for holidays to be able to sit down and do NOTHING! It is ok to bring the kids out and have fun but in the same breath it is ok to sit at home, relax and lie on the grass looking at the clouds in the sky. Listening to the birds, playing with pets or talking to one another. 

Sure, the kids will complain that they are bored, and you may even feel bored yourself, but do you know what is worse than being bored? Being burnt out! Take a break, do nothing and don’t feel guilty for it.