Be Bored This Summer

"I'm bored!"

It's inevitable, isn't it? Summer is only half-way over and the kids don't know what to do with all their free time. And they expect you to do something about it.

Now don't get me wrong. Summer is the best time for playdates and outings with your kids. But don't feel the need to be the one shuttling your children from one activity to another all summer! There are plenty of articles out there (like this one) that says "boredom" is a good thing! I'm not a psychologist or child development expert, but I have seen it first hand. "I'm bored" in my house is code for "I want to watch a movie." I respond with, "Here's a list of chores you can help me with" and the child disappears. Ten minutes later, I see this child painting a picture, or inventing a new game outside, or playing with a sibling. Boredom, in the right setting, can open the door to fun and creativity.

And what is the right setting? A place where the child has the space to explore (with boundaries, of course) both physically and mentally. Outside, they can dig or build without feeling like they are going to ruin the carefully-landscaped yard. Inside, they have access to books, paper, craft materials, musical instruments, and open-ended toys. What they are NOT doing is numbing their minds with television and the Internet, which is what our current culture tends to do to fill "dead" time.

Remember, boredom isn't simply something the "experts" recommend. God made us to need down-time. He even commands it! 

Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. It is a Sabbath to the Lord in all your dwelling places. ~Leviticus 23:2

When we rest, we have time to ponder. We meditate. We absorb. Giving your children a time of inactivity allows them to reflect on their own emotions and thoughts. Then their minds know better what they need: to imagine, to sleep, to pray, to process, to problem-solve, to explore. In my family, we ALL rest for an hour on Sundays, regardless of how the children are feeling. And if we've had several busy days in a row, I oftentimes say 'no' to an activity in order to give the children's minds a chance to catch up with their bodies.

This summer, take away the remote, the smart phone, or the Wii every now and then. Give your child's mind the freedom to roam. If you're going on a road trip, feel free to turn off the DVD player or the music. Tell your kids why. Role model it by saying, "Mom and Dad need quiet time sometimes, just to think. And to enjoy the scenery. And each other." Great conversations and shared memories can sprout from these moments.

So go ahead! Be a little bored this summer!