We’re only a few weeks into summer, and I’m guessing many of us are already hearing the familiar cry from our kids: “I’m bored!” It’s such a natural parenting instinct to try and fix it right away—we set up activities, we turn on a screen, or we jump in to entertain them. But boredom isn’t something we need to rush to solve. In fact, it can be surprisingly good for our kids’ developing brains. Boredom is like your brain’s way of nudging you and saying, “Hey, let’s go find something new to do!.” And it doesn’t feel great but when our kids sit with that feeling instead of escaping it, their brains start connecting old ideas with new ones. That mix of daydreaming and problem-solving is exactly how creativity begins. And something powerful happens when our kids work out what to do on their own. They are using the “planning” part of the brain that helps with independence and decision-making. And when they invent their own fun, the brain gives a bigger dose of the feel-good c...
One of the most common clinical questions I get asked is about phones and social media. Many parents (myself included) are grappling with their child’s phone use and wondering whether it’s crossing the line into something more concerning. Our kids live in a world where phones, apps, and social media are deeply woven into daily life — and as parents, it’s incredibly hard to untangle what’s OK from what might be harmful. A new study published in JAMA Pediatrics (June 2025) offers some timely insight — and tentative reassurance — for everyone trying to navigate this challenge. This large-scale study followed more than 4,300 children aged 8 to 12 over four years. The researchers weren’t just measuring how much time kids spent on their phones — they were also looking at what they described as addictive patterns of use . Importantly, addictive behaviours didn’t simply mean spending lots of time on phones or social media. It meant compulsive, emotionally fraught patterns of use,...