Recently, there’s been a growing conversation around the rising levels of boredom among children and teenagers. Studies show that many young people today are experiencing not just fleeting moments of boredom, but deeper, more persistent feelings of restlessness.
Research by Weybright, Schulenberg, and Caldwell (2021) found that adolescents’ boredom levels have significantly increased in recent years, partly due to changes in lifestyle, reduced opportunities for free play, and more structured environments. While boredom can sometimes feel uncomfortable, it is important to recognise that it also plays a crucial role in fostering creativity, problem-solving, and emotional resilience.
Danckert and Eastwood (2020) explain that boredom creates a mental “gap,” prompting individuals to seek out new goals or creative outlets. When supported appropriately, boredom can spark innovation, self-discovery, and even greater emotional regulation.
How Parents and Caregivers Can Support Children and Teens During Boredom:
1. Normalise Boredom:
Help your child understand that boredom is a natural emotion — not something to fear or avoid. Encouraging them to sit with the feeling rather than immediately seeking distraction builds tolerance and opens the door to creative thinking (Danckert & Eastwood, 2020).
2. Create Space for Open-Ended Play:
Provide access to simple materials like art supplies, building blocks, and craft tools. Studies show that unstructured, imaginative play is linked to higher levels of creative development (Ginsburg, 2007).
3. Encourage Creative Problem-Solving:
Instead of offering ready-made solutions when your child says they are bored, ask open-ended questions like, “What is something you could invent right now?” or “How could you turn this feeling into an idea?” These prompts encourage independent thinking (Hunter & Eastwood, 2021).
4. Model Creative Coping Strategies:
Show your child how you engage with downtime — whether it’s doodling, writing, crafting, or brainstorming ideas. Westgate (2020) emphasizes that modeling creative engagement during periods of boredom helps children learn adaptive responses.
5. Use a “Boredom Jar”:
Together, create a “boredom jar” filled with slips of paper suggesting creative challenges, like “Make up a new board game,” “Create a short story,” or “Build something only using recycled materials.” This gives kids a resource for inspiring self-directed action.
6. Balance Screen Time:
While technology offers easy entertainment, excessive screen time can reduce opportunities for creative thought. Twenge and Campbell (2018) found that lower psychological well-being is linked to high levels of passive screen use. To support healthy development, encourage regular offline time to allow natural creativity to emerge. You could set downtime schedules on their devices, establish consistent routines, and use lockaway charging boxes to physically remove the temptation during rest or creative periods.
7. Validate Feelings and Encourage Exploration:
Empathise with your child’s frustration, but gently guide them toward seeing boredom as an opportunity. Reframing boredom as a gateway to new ideas empowers children to use their imagination and build resilience.
Final Thoughts:
Rather than rushing to eliminate boredom, we can view it as a valuable emotional signal — a starting point for creativity, innovation, and growth. When children and teens are supported through boredom in positive ways, they learn how to engage their minds, regulate their emotions, and develop lifelong skills for independent problem-solving and self-expression.
Written by Lorena Fernandez Collazo, Registered Clinical Counsellor (ACA)
