How to deal with Mom, I’m Bored. We’ve all been there right?! Especially this summer more than any other time. Read on for some tips on what kids can do to solve their own boredom (and why being bored isn’t really such a bad thing.)…
How to deal with Mom, I’m Bored.
I’m hearing Mom, I’m Bored a lot these days. I get it. This is not a “normal” summer. With the Covid quarantine…the kids have already been close to home for over four months. That’s a long time without the socialization of school, extracurriculars, sports, and socialization with friends their own ages.
Heck, I get bored sometimes!
And yes, I share a lot of structured boredom busters for kids ideas here on Parent Club and the Parent Club social media channels…but here’s a confession…
Sometimes I tell my kids to find something to do on their own.
Shocking right?! Me, the Boredom Busters, lady telling the kids to just figure it out. Yes. Yes. I do. Often.
Why being bored can be a good thing
- Makes one appreciate the fun things a little more
- Opportunity for self-starting and finding something to do independently
- Solving boredom is a life-skill
- Being creative is also a life-skill
How to deal with the I’m Bored comment
- Acknowledge you understand “I hear you”
- Offer some ideas (see below)
- Don’t give in and drop what you are doing immediately to entertain the kids (they need to figure boredom out – see life skills above)
And I admit, I have been the drop-everything-and-entertain parent in past. When the kids were younger and really did need supervision to do things. But not-so-much anymore. As my kids get older, I figure they need to learn how to be more independent. And understand Mom isn’t the playmate. Mom is Mom.
And sometimes Mom has to work. Or make dinner. Or do laundry (since the laundry fairy hasn’t visited our house yet…still waiting for that).
Some choices for the Mom, I’m Bored Kids
- Play in water (kiddie pool, water station, water guns, water balloons, sprinkler, buckets and sponges)
- Bake or cook something (may need adult supervision)
- bike ride up and down the block
- listen to an audio book (lots of free downloads available to borrow from public libraries)
- practice ball drills (soccer, baseball, tennis, football)
- play a game
- read a book
Comment and share with Parent Club!