As mums, we know the constant struggle of trying to keep our little ones entertained.
The spectrum is endless. They could get a brand new, expensive toy and want nothing to do with it. They’ll play with the packaging it came in all day instead.
But, according to experts, it turns out that the pressure might be off as boredom has been proven to actually help child development.
Psychologist Dr. Vanessa Lapointe praises unstructured play for kids, encouraging them to be free to use their imaginations as often as possible.
She even supports the idea of boredom among young people.
“The idea of free play that is scripted only by the child's focus and interest is a beautiful thing,” she said on BC Almanac.
“It allows children to have a relationship with the world around them, but also enables them to wander around in that world and understand it from so many different perspectives."
With the younger generation being raised on technology, they are more reliant on digital forms of play and activity than ever before. In fact, children spend up to three hours a day on phones and tablets.
This increased screen time can majorly affect a child’s development. One study linked smartphones to delayed speech development.
Perhaps, this is why free-time outside can have such a positive impact on kids, boosting their creativity and social skills as well.
“When children engage in the world of play, their whole selves, their minds, their bodies, their language development [and] their social development become awakened. They're able to kind of explore in a way they can make sense of," Dr. Lapointe explained.
The parenting expert raises some interesting points with her research-based theories on child development and mental health. Unstructured playtime allows for children to find their own way to interpret the world around them.
Among a wide and wonderful world, they can discover what interests them the most and develop their own hobbies and talents in interacting with nature and other children around them as well.
So letting your kids be bored may not be such a bad thing after all. In fact, according to Dr. Lapointe, we should encourage it.
