The June school holidays may be coming to an end, but the Summer holidays will soon begin for some kids! Ditch the dramatic sighs of "Mum, I'm bored!" with Singapore-based psychotherapist Tulika Sahai's top tips.
It is true when people say “You need to let your child be bored,” or “Boredom is good for them,” because boredom can help them develop skills, creativity and self-esteem. But…there is always a but!
While we start the school holidays with good intentions, by week two of summer vacation, “I’m bored” often becomes our kids’ constant refrain. Figuring out how to keep your child entertained over the summer becomes challenging. And it doesn’t help when social media makes it look like every day should look like a massive accomplishment where kids have come up with amazing things to do every day, because that requires much of your time and commitment.
As a parent, I love the idea of letting my kids get bored in the hope their brains will get stimulated and at the end of each day they will surprise me with something amazing. But as a therapist, I understand that this is not possible every day and it’s ok to give them a push to bust their boredom.
Your objective as a parent is to give your child the fuel to start the engine, not to drive the car for them, so consider the following:
- Holidays are a great time to develop creativity, self-esteem and original thinking. Help them to weave this into the holiday.
- When a child says, “I’m bored,” it could be code for a number of different things. They might be hungry, seeking attention, curious about what you’re doing or looking for something to occupy their time. Don’t be too quick to give them attention, listen first then respond.
- Instead of being reactive, it’s better to be proactive with your kids about their options.
So, sit down with your kids for an hour or two at the beginning of the holiday and get them to create a BOREDOM BUSTER cheat sheet like the one below with up to 10 activities within each section. If they come up with the list themselves, there is a higher likelihood they will accomplish them.
Boredom Buster cheat sheet for kids
B for Be creative
What can they do to help them be creative this holiday? What gets their creative juices flowing? They could write a story, create a craft, record a podcast.
O for Outdoor activities
Being outdoors is an important part of development so encourage some outdoor activities: create an obstacle course, race with your friends, ride a bicycle, scavenger hunt, have a picnic.
R for Room for improvement
Feelings of accomplishment help build self-esteem and confidence, two skills that are most helpful in adulthood. What do your kids want to get better at? Darts, swimming, cooking, or reading?
E for Exercise
Exercise releases endorphins which is a feel-good hormone. Maybe jump rope, yoga, or play frisbee are your child’s go-to.
D for Dare to Dream
If there was anything they wish they could do, what would it be? What can help them get there? What can they do to start working towards it?
O for Others
Doing something for others builds empathy. Get them to help in the house by organising their own toys, bake a cake for the family, or even volunteer locally.
M for Make family traditions
Creating family traditions creates connectedness and sense of belonging. Why not come up with some unique to your family? Choose a “weird day” and celebrate it (for example, UFO day is on 24 June!), start a homemade gift giving day, or have a YES day!
Don’t give them answers, instead, give them a starting point so when boredom hits them during the holidays, they have a go to to help them alleviate it, with the outcome being entirely of their own doing. Other than coming up with an exciting and fruitful list of things they can choose from over the holidays, you may also discover lots about your children in the process.
Add fun by making it into a challenge: how many can they do over the holidays?
Holidays no longer need to be challenging, when you turn it into a challenge!
