Now that we live in the country there is room for the children to run and explore. There are woods by the house, a pasture out back, and hiking trails and an old homestead across the road.
The first time I let the children out to play, they spent 2 1/2 hours out there before I finally rang the bell by the house to call them in.
As I watched the children work and play endlessly and tirelessly, I began to consider something our society seems to be lacking.
Creative boredom.
While I do not believe children should be left to themselves (Prov. 29:15), I do believe they should not need to be entertained by others (including such “others” as T.V., video games, etc).
Always feeling like the need to be entertained leads to UNcreative boredom; whereas, creative boredom happens when children have the ability to turn their boredom into something useful and productive.
However, we cannot expect them to come up with useful and productive things to do if we consistently feed their boredom with mindlessness.
For instance,
“I’m bored.” – “Go watch a movie.”
“I’m bored.” – “Go play your video game.”
“I’m bored.” – “Go away.”
If you have a child who constantly says he’s bored or a child who has come to believe the only way to cure boredom is with flashy entertainment, then it will take a bit more help on your part to get them to a place where they become creative with their boredom.
As a parent, you must:
- Provide the tools
- Provide the time
- Provide the support
Provide the tools
Not everyone can provide an old chicken coop to work on, but that’s what we had and when they asked if they could clean it out, we gave our blessings and sent the chicken coop crew on their way. Two days later it was clean enough for chickens…and an air soft bunker. 😉
Give your children resources likes a hammer and nails, a wagon and buckets. If they show an interest in some project, don’t ignore that interest, feed it!
If you don’t help foster creativity and productivity, you can guarantee they will eventually quit trying and go back to uncreative boredom – it’s easier. (There are the rare exceptions who just keep pushing the limits despite the lack of help from parents.)
Provide the time
Our society is burning the candle at both ends…including the children. Few children have time to ever get to the place where they are bored enough to be creative. Their lives are filled to the brim with activities.
Sometimes it is OUR fault.
We don’t want them to miss out on this activity or this sport or this gathering. Yet, children need time. They need to know how to slow down…to be observant.
Give your children time.
Provide the support
When our oldest daughter showed a true interest in photography, we looked for ways to support her. It was a useful way to spend her time. The results are that as an 11 year old, she provides nearly all the photos for Raising Arrows. If we hadn’t chosen to support her in this interest even though she was young, we would have missed this great talent and tremendous blessing from the Lord.
If you do nothing else for your children, at the very least show genuine interest and support in their creativity. They will find a way to keep striving to take their boredom and turn it into something worthwhile.
Rebecca says
We are blessed with a backyard filled with trees and a creek. we have had many adventures…and love swigning on our tree rope swing….the children are happiest, more joyful and full of love on the days where they are outside, enjoying nature….and exploring. Thank you for the sweet reminder…that by providing the right tools, we are providing them with a life full of rich memories and opportunities for growth.
Debra @ Sweet Kisses and Dirty Dishes says
Amen! I love to see the play Christopher comes up with on his own :D.
Charlotte Moore says
Wonderful post!!! Very true indeed. I am so tired of seeing kids and adults that can do nothing but play games on computers or phones. They have no imagination any more as how to really play. I know this because I worked at school for over 24 years and it continually got worse. What a shame!
Jennifer says
I love this post. A friend gave us a Wii and I am so torn. Of course, I limit the time they can spend on it. I want them to be able to learn self-control and moderation in all things. My oldest especially can be so creative, given the time. Once he gets going, calling him into his homework is so hard. His current teacher gives him so much that he is often up past his bedtime working on his homework. I feel like his childhood is being robbed.
On a positive note, I am planning my scout meeting for this week and going to teach the kids different ways to make “secret” codes. I hope it will spark their creativity and they will go home and play “spy” for weeks, or more. I will teach a little about the CIA and NSA, of course, too.
Amy says
I hear you! My mom has a Wii and we love to play it together, but I’m not sure I want one in my house! lol Can I come to your Scout meeting?! Sounds like a blast!
Caroline @ The Modest Mom says
This is why I want to move to the country SO bad!! I just need to start praying about it, we have tried to sell our house but it has not sold. I grew up living in the country and I want my boys to have the freedom to run and explore like you are talking about. I’m so happy for your family!!
Amy says
We haven’t been in the country for many years (my children don’t even remember it). It doesn’t necessarily take the country setting to foster creativity though…just give them tools you can right where you are and yes…do pray! 🙂
Caroline @ The Modest Mom says
We have given them a certain spot in our yard that is their dirt pile, they can dig and explore, make tractor roads, and we don’t care. Currently when you drive by our house you will see a huge stick fort that is the Alamo, which is what we are reading in history right now. 🙂 I just long for them to have more space to explore, and be free from neighbor children.
Tonya @ My Homey Haven says
We had a beautiful spring-like day this past week. My ‘big teenage boys’ were bored so they went outside and found a place in the creek that they’ve decided to stop up so it can be a swimming hole for them this summer. They worked on it all afternoon and then came inside and ordered sandbags so they can continue. They can’t wait to add a rope swing and spend the summer in their water hole. lol Yes, boredom can be a good thing.
Amy says
How fun! Great idea!
Jarm says
Yes…time and tools! Both are important. Now that I have teens, they have bigger tools, which sometimes need more supervision. Unfortunately, we live in the suburbs of a big city, so, my son doesn’t have much space to ‘play”. But, he does manage to dig up turf in nearby parks when he uses his metal detector…which I hope does not cause problems!
Thanks so much for this great reminder…
Amy says
I have heard great things about kids and metal detectors! lol Sounds like a blast!
Kate @ Modern Alternative Mama says
I have only ever heard “I’m bored” from my kids if we are in a car and not moving. That’s the only time. And can you blame them? Nothing to look at or do when they’re strapped and sitting. But generally I don’t hear it.
My kids are definitely the type of who will find a way to entertain themselves…no matter what. We have movie days (like today…we had a SUPER busy week/weekend filled with grandparents, the zoo, the Natural History Museum, the auto show, Amish country, etc. and they need a break today). But they are constantly doing stuff! I once caught my 4-year-old making her shoes into puppets in the car. I have caught them with toy dishes and water more times than I can count. They are so creative! Sometimes to my distress LOL since they get into things they shouldn’t.
I love that they are creative. And kids SHOULD have time to do those things. How else will they learn if we don’t allow them time?
And speaking of following kids’ interests, I think that is SO important. I love to see who they are and will grow up to be, and we as parents shouldn’t have any strong desires that they do one thing or another (I’m speaking on photography vs. writing, for example, not spiritual matters). My middle child is an athlete. We are not athletic, lol. But he is only 2.5 and constantly begging to play soccer, baseball, etc. He’s rough and tough and really GOOD at it, for a little kid! And I love that about him, even though sports is not MY thing. It’s so important to appreciate our children and their gifts.
Amy says
It is such a blessing to watch my children grow and become their own people! I want to bottle all this wonderfulness up and keep it forever. 🙂
Amy Schaffner says
I LOVE this! I struggle with this on a daily basis, wanting to keep them occupied and feeling guilty when they just “play” – there is SO much wrong with that! My favorite times growing up were ones you described today in your post and I am trying really hard to give that to my children. THank you for the reminder!
Judy @ Contented at Home says
Smiling here, Amy, because my kids have a chicken coop that they “remodeled”! My oldest son even put an old screen door on the front, and he was able to find some windows for free, as well. Terrific experience!
The older boys have also enjoyed making an amazing zipline, homemade stilts, and a neat contraption that the oldest used to pull behind the lawn tractor (yikes!).
The gift of time is just one more benefit of homeschooling! 🙂
Amy says
Amen!