A few weeks ago, I banned all screens from our house as a result of my children not following rules. They had snuck their Nintendo Switch into their room (in the middle of their school day I might add) and I caught them. I took away remote controls, PlayStation controllers and any other devices until further notice. A few days later, and I shockingly, stuck to the punishment. I'm adding emphasis to the word "shockingly" because I'm notorious for not sticking to my threats so this was a big deal for me.
Like many parents, I feel pressure to constantly entertain my children. We're always trying to fill up any empty spots of time throughout the day, ensuring they're always occupied with something. But boredom is not something we always need to “fix.” In fact, boredom is often where creativity begins.
When children are not overstimulated by screens, schedules, or constant entertainment, their minds begin searching for ideas, stories, movement, and imagination.
This is where creative thinking grows. I saw it myself over the weekend where I followed through on my "devices ban". All of a sudden, my children were reaching for sketch books, pulling their puzzles out of the cupboard and even playing UNO...together!!
Boredom encourages:
- Problem-solving
- Independent thinking
- Imagination
- Emotional resilience
- Self-led play
Children who are given space to experience boredom often become better at creating their own activities and exploring their own interests. This doesn’t mean leaving children unsupported. It simply means allowing quiet space without immediately filling every moment.
One helpful approach is creating a simple “creative invitation”:
- Paper and crayons left on a table
- Clay or play dough nearby
- A basket of collage materials
- Watercolours ready to use
No instructions. No pressure. Just opportunity.
Sometimes the most powerful thing we can give children is space.