It drives me bonkers when kids complain that they're bored. I have no patience when I hear that - you're bored? You're frigging alive! Be happy about that, you little slugs.
Honestly, I should probably have more compassion because I remember being bored as a kid. Sometimes I would feel so bored that I couldn't imagine doing anything except being bored. Forever. I couldn't even move for how bored I was. All my books and toys were the worst, all my friends were busy or boring, outside was boring, inside was boring.
Eventually, when my mum lost patience with this shenanigan, she would say, "there are no boring moments, only boring people." And so, because I didn't want to be a boring person, I would sulk for a few minutes, and then find something to do.
I just read this interesting article about kids being bored. Apparently, a little boredom is a good thing. It encourages kids to manage their own time and find ways to entertain themselves - both skills that are important for children's development.
How do you respond when kids are bored? What are your anti-boredom strategies?
Let kids play video games.
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