“But I’m Bored!”

Megan Wyatt

“I’m boooooooored.” What mother has not heard this statement coming out of their children’s mouths before? With spring break last week in full swing for my two kids, there were a few days where we didn’t go out, as I chose to just stay home and be together. Mid-day my son comes into the kitchen, slumps into a chair and tells me he is bored. I eye ball all the toys now displaced throughout the hallway and living room, and I decide now is not the time to check if some crept into my bedroom as well. His sister comes quickly after declaring, “Mama, we’re bored.”

Right here is the defining moment. I have noticed many parents are afraid of the moments their kids get bored. I have watched as mothers have immediately asked if children want to either watch T.V. or eat something, as if boredom was a secret cry for hunger. And no, all the toys in the world right now aren’t going to solve the problem. It isn’t about toys and stuff.

I love when my kids tell me they are bored. It is a sign that they are about to embark on a creative adventure whether it’s in the backyard or under their beds. Boredom forces children to get creative, to use their imaginations, so long as they are given the chance.

Many parents complain that their kids want to do nothing but watch T.V., or play video games. They complain their kids can’t entertain themselves, and they have to entertain them all the time or they will wind up in trouble. I beg to differ. Children are perfectly capable of entertaining themselves, and for hours on end, if you give them the opportunity to do so. Even in an empty field of grass and trees, if told this is where they will spend the afternoon, kids will find a way to have fun. My timer usually tells me that it takes about 20 minutes for them to figure something out. After that I can usually count on at least an hour of quiet time for me as the kids become engrossed in their own little world.

I believe strongly that children need to play, explore and imagine. The skills they are developing in these moments and the qualities in their character that are being nourished must not be overlooked. As a Muslim parent, we should want strongly for our children to have a natural love for that which is pure, innocent, halal, and beautiful. We want to develop in them the skills of patience, restraint, and self reliance.

If every time children get bored we rush to serve them something, we are doing them a disservice. Does it require patience on your part as a parent to wait the time it will take for them to figure something out? Yes. Will it be worth it in the long run? Absolutely. It might take some time to develop this new pattern if your kids are used to instant gratification, but it’s worth it! Hearing my kids down the hall laughing and giggling, exploring and imagining together is one of my most favorite sounds, knowing they are bonding together, having simple halal fun, and insha’Allah developing their brain even more!

I understand that a tired and exhausted mother who desperately needs a 20 minute cat nap on the couch may turn to a 30 minute show to give her that opportunity. Aside from that, T.V. becomes a crutch for parents not to parent, and for kids not to be kids. Children, by nature like to move, not sit still in one place, especially younger kids. Let their imaginations go wild. Wild may not be as neat and tidy as we like, but it is much more vivid, beautiful, and inspiring. It will lift their moods, move their bodies, and bring their hearts closer together.