Boredom is beneficial to brain development {my mom knew it all along}

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Published on Sunday, 12 June 2011 16:14

My mother used to tell us girls that boredom wasn't something to run from. In fact, she used to allow us to get bored from time to time...on purpose.

Can you imagine?

Nowadays, many parents have their kids scheduled from morning till night with no time for free play or imagination development. It used to really tick me off when my mother would say, "I don't care that you're bored. Figure out something to do."

Last week I was dead beat tired. I told my daughter to go into her room and play for a while, so I could have some quiet time. She replied, "But I'll be BORED!" I answered (while feeling totally and utterly guilty), "That's okay. You may just figure out something to do, all on your own."

A while later she peeked her head out and said, "Mommy - come look at what I made for you!"

I said, "Wow! What is it?"

She answered, "It's an ant tower. I saw an ant in my room and I knew he needed a tower to live in and climb up. So he can reach my ceiling." She was so proud of her creation that she beamed.

Thanks, mom. You were right! Once again.

ABOUT the Author:

Shara Lawrence-Weiss is the owner of Mommy Perks, Personal Child Stories, Early Childhood News and Resources and Emergent Literacy. She and her husband co-own Weiss Business Solutions. Shara has a background in education, early childhood, nanny work, published freelance, marketing and special needs.

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