Why being bored isn’t a bad thing for kids

April 19, 2019 12:13 pm

By: Liz Tufts

Email: news@abc6.com

Twitter: @ABC6

It’s school vacation week, and some parents are running out of ways to keep their young kids busy. According to health experts, being bored isn’t a bad thing.

In fact, it could help kids in the long run.

Trips to the zoo, maybe a tropical getaway, or spending hours in front of a screen. parents are scrambling to squeeze in as much as they can to get through school vacation week.

“We are packing in a lot of play dates as we can, “ says Rachel Johnson.

But for Rachel Johnson of Lincoln, keeping her 12 year old entertained can be tough. Many parents hearing this over and over again from their kids. “I’m bored!”

But according to Caley Arzamarski a psychologist at Bradley hospital, being bored actually isn’t a bad thing. “It can enhance creativity, imaginative play, and a number of other different things, “ says Arzamarski.

Arzamarski says giving your brain a rest can keep kids in the present and more aware of the world around them. Instead of their heads down focused on their tablets, being bored can open their eyes to many things they never saw before.

“A cardboard box for example… some kids will just look at it as something they can recycle but if they really do look at it for what it is, it could be a space ship or something pretty cool, “ says Arzamarski.

Arzamarski also says stuffing children’s schedules full of activities can even affect their independence in the long run.

“If someone is bored who comes into my office, i ask them how they can solve that problem because that’s going to help them with their self worth and their confidence, “ adds Arzamarski.

12–year–old Michael Johnson is already taking that advice, and says being bored. may not be so bad after all. “I try to find something other than playing video games maybe play a board game with my parents or something, “ says Johnson.