Why Boredom Is the Best Thing About Summer for Our Kids

 

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 chemical dopamine compared to when we hand them a ready-made activity. This is why self-directed play often feels so satisfying. And as a bonus this also builds confidence.  When our kids experience “I can do this on my own” moments they develop trust in who they are and what they are capable of.   

Furthermore, we need to remember that it’s important for our kids to experience discomfort. Boredom, like frustration or nervousness, is part of a healthy emotional range. When we don’t rush to make it go away, kids learn they can handle that discomfort and turn it into something meaningful.

So what do we do…

Instead of rescuing our kids from boredom, Becky Kennedy suggests we simply notice it with them: “It’s hard to feel bored, I wonder what kind of a plan you will come up with”.  A simple acknowledgment helps children feel seen while still leaving space for their own ideas to spark.

Dr. Dan Siegel uses the phrase “name it to tame it” for moments like this. Even a gentle comment such as, “Your brain is searching for something to do right now,” helps our kids understand what’s going on inside them. Learning to notice their own thoughts and feelings strengthens their emotional regulation skills.   

This doesn’t mean leaving our kids completely on their own. We can set them up for success by creating “boredom-friendly” spaces. Simple things—blank paper, cardboard boxes, art supplies—give kids raw materials without giving them instructions. Leaving open time in the day is just as important. If we can tolerate a few minutes (or few hours!) of whining, boredom often flips into imaginative play or a focused project on its own.

Summer is a great time for this. Long, unstructured days give our children’s minds the breathing room they don’t get during the school year. Those lost afternoons are often when their brains do some of their most important work—linking memories, dreams, and plans in a way busy schedules don’t allow.

So this summer, when boredom inevitably shows up in your house, try to see it differently. That lazy morning isn’t wasted time—it’s a space where imagination grows, solutions form, and kids learn how to make something meaningful out of “nothing to do.”