Embracing Summer Boredom: Why Kids Need Space to Just Be
Check out the FREE Boredom Jar Activity Below!
As summer break begins, kids are buzzing with excitement, free from school schedules and ready for fun. As parents, we might notice a troubling trend: our constant need for stimulation. Have you caught yourself scrolling on your phone during dinner, unable to eat without the TV on, or feeling restless when you sit still? It’s as if we adults have forgotten how to be bored. In our fast-paced world, we’re glued to screens, podcasts, and notifications, filling every moment with input. This craving for constant stimulation is creeping into our kids’ lives, too—and it’s robbing them of something vital: the space to imagine, create, and grow.
For children, learning to “be bored” is a mental health superpower. Unlike adults, who often dread stillness, kids thrive in those quiet moments when nothing is planned. Without screens or structured activities, they dream up wild stories, invent games, or notice the world around them. Research shows boredom sparks creativity and problem-solving, as kids’ brains shift from consuming to creating. These unstructured moments build resilience, self-awareness, and the ability to entertain themselves, skills that anchor them for life.
But how do we teach kids to embrace boredom when we’re hooked on stimulation? And why is it so crucial during summer break? Constant stimulation can overwhelm kids’ developing brains, leading to anxiety, shorter attention spans, and dependence on external input to feel okay. Boredom, by contrast, fosters emotional literacy—helping kids name feelings like restlessness or curiosity—and lays the groundwork for coping skills, like turning “I’m bored” into “I can find something fun.”
1. Model Boredom
Kids learn from us, so let’s show them boredom doesn’t need to be miserable. Instead of checking your phone during a meal, try sitting quietly. Share what you notice: “I love how peaceful it feels to just listen to the birds.” Invite your child for a “boredom moment,” lying on a blanket to watch clouds. Challenge the desire to always be busy. By embracing stillness, you show them it’s okay to just be.
Try This: Set a “no-screen dinner” night weekly. Share one thing you noticed (e.g., “The sunset is so colorful!”) and ask your child to share, too. Create stories, or games, and connect without distraction.
2. Create a Boredom Jar
When kids say, “I’m bored,” it’s a chance to spark creativity, not a signal for a tablet. Help them make a “Boredom Jar” with open-ended ideas. Write prompts on slips, like “Invent a game with a ball,” “Draw a treasure map,” or “Find five shapes outside.” This can shift focus from external stimulation to internal resourcefulness, building problem-solving skills.
Try This: Decorate a jar together and add 20 ideas. When boredom strikes, have them pick a slip and try it for 10 minutes. Celebrate their effort and reinforce boredom as a creative opportunity.(Check out the free Download for a free “Boredom Jar” activity!
3. Designate Screen-Free Zones
Summer offers endless possibilities—think picnics, park playtime, or backyard adventures. But screens can hijack these moments, keeping kids from fully engaging. Set specific times or places as screen-free, like mornings or the backyard, to encourage unstructured play.
Try This: Declare your backyard a “screen-free zone” for one hour daily. Provide simple props (e.g., chalk, a bucket) and let your child explore. If they complain, validate their feelings (“I know it’s hard to be bored”) and suggest trying one activity. Do the activity with them. If they see you having fun, they will be more willing to jump in.
4. Encourage “What If” Thinking
Boredom is where “what if” questions thrive: “What if I built a fort using only stuffed animals ?” or “What if I’m a pirate and the trampoline is a ship?” These fuel imagination and resilience, key mental health skills. Encourage your child to ask “what if” during quiet moments, turning boredom into a game of possibilities. This reframing helps kids shift from feeling stuck to empowered, like turning “should” into “can” statements.
Try This: During a walk, ask, “What if you were an explorer here? What would you find?” Let your child lead the story. Later, draw or write about their “what if” adventure to solidify the creative spark. Create a treasure map of the neighborhood and use it on your walks to see what treasure you find!
5. Celebrate the Process, Not the Product
As adults, we avoid boredom, fearing “wasted time.” Kids can absorb this pressure, feeling they “should” produce something during summer. Instead, celebrate the process of boredom—wandering thoughts, silly ideas, or doing nothing. This builds self-compassion, helping kids value themselves beyond achievements.
Try This: Create a “Boredom Wins” chart. Each time your child tries something new during boredom(e.g., making a leaf pile, daydreaming), add a star. At week’s end, celebrate with a treat, like ice cream, focusing on effort, not outcome.
Summer break is a perfect time to teach kids that boredom isn’t the enemy—it’s a gateway to creativity and emotional growth. In our stimulation-saturated world, giving kids space to sit with nothingness helps them discover who they are and what they love. As they play outside, splash in pools, or lounge in the grass, these “nothing” moments become everything—building resilience, imagination, and confidence to face life’s quiet spaces.
Let’s start small. Put down the phone at dinner, linger in stillness, and invite your kids to join you. You’ll find boredom might just be what creates summer’s most meaningful, funny, or memorable moments.
All content on A Duck’s Therapist is created and tested by a licensed professional counselor.
