Encourage Intentional Play with Boredom Busters

Posted on 09/09/2022

mother and daughter working through a coloring book

Your home likely is overflowing with "things to do," if you're like the majority of us. Yet your children repeatedly complain, "I'm bored." Sometimes what is perceived as boredom is simply a lack of imagination coupled with being overloaded with too many options. The deliberate parent can make appealing attractions to create, play, and learn rather than frequently yelling, "Go play! You have plenty of toys!"

young girl playing doctor and listening to bears heart

Clean the Area & Clear Your Mind

The area needs to be clutter-free in order to foster an environment where imagination and creativity can flourish. That might entail relegating the majority of toys to the basement or in a storage place out of easy sight. This idea will be particularly important for your youngster who is more sensitive to chaotic clutter or who is a visual learner. Kids may genuinely experience a stress response when they are overstimulated by outside stimuli (such as having too many toys or choices). According to neuroscientists at Princeton University, physical clutter overwhelms your senses, causes stress, and hinders your capacity for creative thought. Children that are stressed out and anxious are more likely to have meltdowns. Sounds recognizable? Maybe - or at least partially - the clutter is to blame. Occasionally, less really is more.

mother and sister helping young brother with project

Building Blocks: Enrichment Resources

Are the playthings you buy for your children on purpose? Do you have some fundamental building blocks for creative, imaginative, open-ended free play among the loud, plastic, licensed things which marketers so successfully scream to get us to buy? These are the playthings - perhaps not legally "toys" since they don't play by themselves. The finest toys for our kids are those that don't require batteries, don't produce annoying noises, and don't lose kids' interest in 5 minutes - or in 5 months! This is true of anything from building toys and cardboard boxes to play kitchens and dress-up outfits.

mother and young daughter looking at fashion drawings

Invitations that are Organized with Intention

Great starting points include providing resources for child-led play in a clutter-free environment that isn't overbearing. However, you can increase their effect by purposefully switching out toys and giving specific "invitations to play" or "invitations to create." It's worth the effort, from daily "silent time" containers to toy rotation timetables! Your children may initially resist it if they aren't accustomed to creative play without devices. But you (and kids) might be startled once they notice you starting to play and become curious.

And instead of "I'm bored," you might start hearing stuff like "Look what I made!" Or, perhaps even better, you won't hear a thing since your kids will be so absorbed in what they're doing.

young boy painting colors on glass

The Bedroom Source

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Contact the friendly staff at The Bedroom Source by calling (516) 248-0600 or by submitting our online contact form. We're a local family owned mom & pop store. When you shop with us, you're dealing directly with the owners. We professionally assemble everything we sell. We deliver to Nassau, Suffolk, the 5 Boroughs, Southern Westchester, Southwestern Connecticut & Northern New Jersey.