Written by, Kalpita
5th May 2025
As a parent of little ones, you've definitely heard the dreaded "I'm bored!" a whole lot. While the urge to hastily fill that void with an activity or pass a screen their way is strong, researchers and child development experts assure that boredom is actually a blessing to your child's young mind.
The Surprising Benefits of Boredom:
Boredom is not just something to be avoided - it's a powerful creative and growth-inspiring force. Here's why:
1. Need to Find Stimulation:
When children get bored, their brains are prompted to seek out something new. That need can give rise to creative play, innovative problem-solving, and even the creation of new interests.
For example, instead of handing my child an iPad, I have often encouraged her to explore her shadow or do some paper folding with tissues. This not only kept her busy but also sparked her imagination and problem-solving skills.
The Wright brothers, pioneers of aviation, spent their childhoods tinkering and inventing because they didn’t have digital distractions. Their curiosity, fuelled by boredom, led to the invention of the airplane.
2. Boredom as a Spark for Mind-Wandering:
Boredom evokes the mind to wander, which is important for creating unique associations and coming up with new ideas. Science clearly shows that people, including children, perform creative tasks better after engaging in something mundane.
A classic study showed that people who did a boring task (like copying numbers from a phone book) were more creative afterward when asked to come up with uses for a plastic cup. In everyday life, my child staring out the window (watching the cars go by on a busy street outside, or even watching the clouds on the sky) often gets her to imagine stories, draw pictures, or invent role play games - just as J.K. Rowling conceived the idea for Harry Potter while daydreaming on a delayed train journey.
3. Encouraging Openness and Awe:
When children have spare time at hand, they become more open to unusual things and concepts - a magic ingredient in creativity and awe development.
For instance, my 7-year-old left to her scheduled screen time often incorporates ordinary objects into her imaginative play. Outdoors, she tends to invent an imaginary obstacle course or real-world observational games, discovering new ways to play and explore.
4. Development of Problem-Solving Skill:
Children develop problem-solving, adapting, and planning skills when they are allowed to survive on their own since they will learn to play on their own, gain independence, and grow more confident.
For example, if your child complains of boredom, encourage them to draw, paint, or make a collage using whatever materials are on hand.
5. Creative Evidence Through History:
Artists and writers, from Agatha Christie to current musicians, credit episodes of boredom as the genesis of their most innovative work. Albert Einstein often daydreamed at his mundane job, which he said led to his most creative ideas. Agatha Christie planned her novels while doing chores like washing dishes, and chess grandmaster Bobby Fischer developed new strategies during long, boring waits between matches. These stories show that even the world’s most creative minds relied on boredom to spark their genius.
Some of the very best ideas are conceived in boredom. Creativity emerges after boredom. Our children have to have time to hear their own ideas. That listening occurs in the stillness of 'boredom'.
Here’s a New Perspective for Parents in 2025:
The next time your child says, "I'm bored," try to respond with excitement:
"Great! Can't wait to see what you'll do!"
Boredom is not a problem to be solved, but an opportunity for your child to invent, imagine, and grow. By switching off screens, taking a break from structured activities and embracing those “I’m bored” moments, you’re giving your child the space to become more creative, resilient, and independent - just like the inventors, writers, and artists who changed the world.
So go ahead and let your child get bored. See how their creativity takes flight and enjoy the wonderful surprises that follow!
