What thoughts come to mind when we hear the words, “I’m bored”? If we look at the definition of the word ‘bored’, it means “lacking interest in one’s current activity” (Oxford Languages, 2024). Looking more closely at the word and from a different perspective, it ultimately comes down to a person’s choice of being in that particular state. This sense of ‘boredom’ often stems from a misconception that your child is not occupied with something to do. When your child’s time is habitually occupied with various activities, they have not had opportunities to use their creativity in finding things to do. Allowing your child to explore and ‘find’ things to do helps nurture their creativity and imagination. If we do not allow our children to practice these skills, how do we expect them to become better at using their creativity and imagination, which are similar to other skills such as riding a bike, swimming, or playing a musical instrument? ‘Being bored’ presents opportunities to trying new things and using their creativity and imagination by finding things to do on their own. With the ever present digital influences that have already stifled our ability to use our imagination, let’s not take away anymore of our children’s creativity and imagination by occupying every minute of their day with things to do. Allow your child some ‘free time’ so that they can practice finding things to do using their own imagination and creativity. According to writer Dorothy Parker, “The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity.”

  This picture is posted on my door. It is how reading uses our imagination, but television and other technology stifles creativity and imagination where everything is presented.