Overcome Childhood Boredom
Use Crafts, Baking, and Organized Toys to Interest Bored Children
Aug 23, 2008
It is inevitable that children will get bored sometimes. A child that is chronically bored needs to be steered towards some interesting activities. This can come in the form of crafts, baking and lots of play time with well-organized, open-ended toys.
Signs that a Child is Bored
When a child is bored, he may not verbally express his boredom, but may, instead, act out in ways that are problematic. Young children especially, often do not have the words or the ability to express their feelings of boredom into words. Here some different ways that a child may use to express his boredom.
- A child may look for something to eat or state that he is hungry when he is bored. Children, like adults, can be emotional eaters and boredom can be a trigger to eat.
- A child that is bored may pick a fight with a sibling or parent. When a child is bored, he starts looking for something to do. This can result in being argumentative with the other people in the house.
- A child that is bored may dump toys out, searching for something new and different. Children will quickly become bored with toys that can only be played with in one way.
How to Help a Child Overcome Boredom
Sometimes children need help in overcoming boredom. Helping a child deal with boredom does not mean that the parent has to play trains for an hour. Instead, help your child find interesting things to do or work together on something that you both enjoy.
Plan a Craft
Most children enjoy arts and crafts. Have ample supplies on hand and pull them out at those times when the kids are bored. Painting, gluing and cutting paper are all creative activities that will engage most children.
Cooking and Baking
When a bored kid is looking for something to eat, instead of giving instant gratification with a prepared snack, use it as an opportunity to teach cooking and baking skills. Young children love to help prepare snacks and bake cookies or desserts. Older children will enjoy learning how to prepare healthy foods on their own.
Organize Toys
Children with a lot of unorganized toys can be overwhelmed with the choices. A parent can store some of the toys away in a closet and bring them out when the children are bored. Some parents rotate the toys that are available for daily play every few weeks to prevent boredom.
Choose Toys Wisely
Choose toys that allow for lots of open-ended play. Look for non-electronic toys that can be used for imaginative play. Building toys, like Legos, allow for creativity. Dress-up clothes and props let children use their imaginations in new ways.
Avoid or Minimize Television Viewing
Too much television viewing leaves children lacking in creativity and imagination. Kids need to have plenty of self-directed play time. According to What to Expect in the Toddler Years, children who watch a lot of TV learn to depend on it for stimulation and satisfaction. When the TV is not on, kids who are used to it will have a hard time entertaining themselves.
Children will get bored now and again as they grow. Parents can help direct a child who is misbehaving or overeating due to boredom to other activities that will stimulate the imagination and creativity. Crafts, baking and open-ended toys will banish boredom and teach kids the skills they need to entertain themselves without relying on the television.
Source:
Arlene Eisenberg, Heidi Murkoff and Sandee E. Hathaway, B.S.N. What to Expect in the Toddler Years. Workman Publishing, 1994.
