A Solution to Boredom (It is not what you think!)
Let’s face it, February can be a dreary month. Parents often say how difficult it is to keep their children engaged. And nobody likes to admit to allowing more screen time than what is recommended for young children. Even with iPads and such, (and perhaps because of them!) children complain of being bored. What is a parent to do?
NOTHING! You heard me…..researchers are saying that we should not rush in with solutions. They say that boredom provides an inner quiet that helps children with self awareness. Dr. Vanessa LaPointe adds that children need to sit in their own boredom for the world to become quiet enough for them to hear themselves.
My Mother used to say that she left us kids to our own devices for a reason (she called it “creative neglect”). Now I see that she was teaching us to become resourceful. Trust me – as long as there are creative outlets around (lego, markers, cushions….) kids will come up with something, given enough time.
Anthony Robbins talks about how young adults blame lack of work on a shortage of resources (time, education, connections…) but in truth, it is the lack of resourcefulness holding them back. We have a chance to fix that if we just shift our perspective. Boredom is not a problem but an opportunity for our children to develop resourcefulness. After all, how can a child become resourceful if they are never left to their own resources? So…..let’s let our children be bored on occasion. We will be doing them a favour.
Until next time…….Leslie
NOTHING! You heard me…..researchers are saying that we should not rush in with solutions. They say that boredom provides an inner quiet that helps children with self awareness. Dr. Vanessa LaPointe adds that children need to sit in their own boredom for the world to become quiet enough for them to hear themselves.
My Mother used to say that she left us kids to our own devices for a reason (she called it “creative neglect”). Now I see that she was teaching us to become resourceful. Trust me – as long as there are creative outlets around (lego, markers, cushions….) kids will come up with something, given enough time.
Anthony Robbins talks about how young adults blame lack of work on a shortage of resources (time, education, connections…) but in truth, it is the lack of resourcefulness holding them back. We have a chance to fix that if we just shift our perspective. Boredom is not a problem but an opportunity for our children to develop resourcefulness. After all, how can a child become resourceful if they are never left to their own resources? So…..let’s let our children be bored on occasion. We will be doing them a favour.
Until next time…….Leslie
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