7 reasons I want my children to get bored during lockdown

For many, the go-to activity for bored children is television, the unpaid babysitter of the 21^st Century.  The easiest option for parents is to agree to it.   However,  before long, you realise they have been sat in front of a screen, albeit quite happily, for hours.  It is far tougher to say no, but try it and reap the benefits.

With time to be bored, my children started re-discovering forgotten toys and engaging themselves in games they hadn’t played for ages. They dusted off board games, and charged up the remote control car.  Lego was soon everywhere, but the creations got bigger, better and more technical.

In normal times, most school-age children have very little unscheduled time.  However, lockdown has given children unprecedented hours of unstructured time.  One of the main reasons I want the children to get bored is so they  redevelop an interest in creative activities.

After the initial boredom phase, my kids started doodling and painting.  As time set in, this extended into full-page cartoon strips and mini art projects.  Eventually, even re-designing the inside of a very large cardboard box became fun.

Outdoor time, whether on a walk in the woods behind our house or in the garden is now the highlight of the day.

Being outdoors has also given them opportunities to connect more with nature.  With the luxury of time on their hands, they are noticing the small things, taking pleasure in the mini bugs, birds and wildlife.

Boredom has led to a desire to help in the kitchen.  For the most part, this involves baking cakes.  It’s no wonder that the home baking aisles of the supermarkets are empty, and flour has become a rare commodity.

Self-isolation has also led to a gradual, increased camaraderie between the children.  Of course, this is not some utopia without sibling fallouts, but a slow dawning that this is their only hope for playing with another child.

Of course, technology still has an important role in our modern world, but let its purpose be to boost creativity, not restrict it  Let the kids use the stop motion studios app to film their Lego models in action,  on-line art tutorials to inspire or visit Google Earth to take a virtual tour around the world.

Alternatively, welcome technology at the end of the day, when kids are exhausted from a day full of imagination and discovery.

A taste of boredom has led our time-rich children to make their own entertainment.  Living in an age where technology provides instant gratification, children don’t always have time to let their imaginations run wild and develop their own ideas.

Unstructured time is essential for enabling this and allowing our children to discover their passions in life.  A break from their micro-managed daily routines is great for developing their emotional and mental health.

It is not a parent’s role to be a full-time entertainer.