How to Cure Kids' Boredom

As a YMCA Kids Enrichment instructor, I have seen firsthand the importance of keeping kids busy, active and healthy. The winter can also be tough, especially for many who live in areas that have harsh weather. Kids can get bored and stagnant, and many can get into a rut. This means parents need to be proactive.

Why do kids get bored?

There are plenty of reasons kids get bored. If they can't go outside and play, they are stuck in the house. There is only so much TV or so many video games they can play. Electronics get monotonous after a while, and even when kids say they are bored, they will still sit and watch the TV or play the video game which is not a healthy way to spend a day. Kids also get bored when they are not stimulated. Stimulation comes from many things such as learning something new, researching something that is important and almost anything that keeps a mind and body energetic.

How can a parent get involved?

You are the parent, so you can still make the rules and regulations in the house. Personally, I do not let my children watch TV during the week when school is in session. They come home, have a snack, and do their homework. If they do not have a sport or an after school activitiy, they go outside, weather permitting of course, go on educational websites on the computer, make a craft or play the Wii. On the weekends, they can watch TV, but the time is limited.

If your children are young, you can do all sorts of things with them such as baking, crafts, playing games, exercising together and so much more. The key is, If the child sees you doing it, and that you are interested and stimulated, it will make it easier for them to follow.

For older children and teenagers, suggestions never hurt. Keep the rules you made from when they were younger, and know they can always be tweaked. Older children should be involved in a sport, a club or some other activity, even if it is woodworking, that keeps them interested and busy.

How do parents come up with activities?

Many parents just don't know what to do to keep their kids from getting bored, but you don't have to be a naturally creative person to figure it out. If they like video games, try playing board games or finding books that are a similar genre. If they like watching TV, have them write their own show or play or even make a video with their friends. Any kind of craft, at any age, whether it be painting on an easel, coloring a coloring book, making something with clay etc..., are all easy and fun ways to spend a few hours. There are also plenty of opportunities in your community, such as being a big brother/sister, volunteering at a hospital, or helping around the neighborhood that will get them out of the house as well as feeling good about themselves.
Do remember, however, to keep it simple.

There are many ways of turning negative or stagnant behaviors into positive or active ones. Just know, kids will get bored. It's a fact. They certainly are not stimulated 24 hours a day, and that wouldn't be healthy anyway. Instead of yelling at your kids or telling them they have plenty to play with, be proactive, get involved and help them cure the boredom blues.

And hey, parents get bored too. I must say, though, we are usually just too darn busy to be bored