Permission To Be Bored: A Summer of Play

Sooner or later this summer, you’re almost guaranteed to hear two familiar words:

“I’m bored.”

For many of us, our instinct is to solve the problem. We suggest an activity, reach for a screen, or try to fill the silence.

But what if boredom isn’t a problem at all?

At Nord Anglia Education, we believe boredom is often where creativity begins. It’s the moment before a game is invented, a fort is built, a story is written, or an ordinary afternoon becomes an unforgettable family memory.

That’s why this summer, we’re inviting families to embrace boredom – and celebrate everything that comes after it.

Did boredom inspire... 

🏰 A cardboard castle? 
🎲 A game your child invented? 
🗺️ A treasure hunt? 
🎨 A masterpiece? 
📖 A story? 
🌳 An outdoor adventure? 
🎭 A family performance? 

...or something completely unexpected? 
 
We’d love to see it! 

Share the moments that boredom inspired and help show that sometimes the best play isn’t planned at all.

Before jumping in with a solution, why not try one of these prompts? 

Invent a game with only three rules 

Build something from five household objects 

Create a treasure hunt for someone else 

Make up a sport and teach it to me 

Design a brand-new planet 

What could you invent before lunchtime? 

Then step back... 

You might be surprised where their imagination takes them.