Boredom Is a Gift: Raising kids who can entertain themselves

Lena Fairwood

Every parent knows the whine that starts within minutes of a quiet afternoon: I'm bored, there's nothing to do. This is the case for letting that moment sit a little longer: why constant entertainment quietly erodes a child's own resourcefulness, what actually happens in an unstructured hour, and how to step back without guilt when the complaining starts. Practical, reassuring, and grounded in what kids need more than what keeps them busy.