Boredom!

By Bridget Curran, CDL Head of Student Support Services (and a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist and qualified parents plus programme facilitator)

As we reach the end of another week I decided to reflect with my own children on what they felt they had learned during this last week. My 6-year-old was quick to respond to a variety of things from how to draw a fish to mastering the art of skipping the adverstisements with the TV remote. All in all a mixed bag! My 15-year-old hesitated and then with classic teenage grace and drama she threw her head into her arms and stated “I learned how to be bored”!

This got me thinking. We live in such a high stimulus environment which constantly moves and changes boredom seems to have lost its place with our children. Children no longer appear to know how to be bored.

As parents we also have this desire to immediately plug this boredom hole for them with play dates, activity centres, cinema trips, face painting, shopping… The list is endless. I believe that learning how to be bored for adults and children is essential.

Boredom means we have to sit with ourselves, design our own activities, engage with those around us and use our surrounding environment.

When I reflected on my daughter’s “boring week” it consisted of her doing her school work, walking in our local forest, skimming stones with her Brother, chatting with her friends on facetime, cooking food, playing with her cat, learning how to put on a wash for the first time, engaging with her family and so much more.  

The lesson here has to be It is ok to be bored and in fact is a valuable lesson we can teach our children as parents. 

With this in mind, my favorite coffee has just been restocked in the supermarket so I intend on putting on a pot, sitting on my balcony and enjoying some boredom. 

Wishing you all a lovely weekend!

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