Combatting “I’m Bored” This Summer | Live Healthy Live Well

July 16, 2024 by hreister

The beginning of summer is always exciting, but July is around the time adults begin to hear the dreaded complaints of boredom. Although you may be tempted to pack your child’s schedule full of activities to avoid hearing “I’m bored”, Dayton Children’s suggests boredom gives children an opportunity to build skills essential to good mental health. The ability to entertain oneself, problem solve, and seek creative solutions are useful life skills that can combat short-term boredom. Although a small amount of down time can be a good thing, it is important for adults to recognize and intervene when a child is lacking the initiative to find things to do on their own. Dayton Children’s offers the following suggestions to keep kids engaged this summer:

Make a list together of ideas the child can do when they feel bored. Or make a list of things that you can only do during the summer and let them decide which activity they’re in the mood for.
Expect to hear a little frustration. The child may be used to teachers and other adults scheduling their whole lives, and they can feel a little thrown off if they have to come up with their own plans.
If the child complains about boredom, explain that the feeling may be due to having downtime.
Boredom can also be a result of the child’s brain wanting to be more active.
Encourage them to come up with an idea. You can also prompt the child to try something new. Maybe pull out a few supplies and encourage them to make something out of completely random items. If the weather is nice, try some messy play outside. Consider a traditional summer activity—resting in a hammock, taking a swim—and see if they’re interested.

Although summer break means less rigid schedules for some families, research shows that many children are less physically active in the summer months than during the school year. Left on their own, some kids may fall into the habit of utilizing television, computers, or phones to keep entertained. Child Care Aware suggests children have some physical activity each day. Adults can help keep kids active by getting them involved in the planning of activities, making bucket lists of ideas, and setting screen limits.

Cleveland Clinic pediatrician, Dr. Gina Robinson, MD reminds us in addition to the health benefits of getting kids outside and being active, the socialization that comes with being around other children is also a positive result of summer down time. Finding free activities within the community such as trips to the library, volunteering, and playgrounds can also help to address summer boredom and keep kids busy as they head into the final days of summer.

Author: Heather Reister, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Butler County.

Reviewer: Laura Stanton, Extension Educator, Family and Consumer Sciences, Warren County.

Sources:

Beat Summer Boredom with Physical Activity (2023) Child Care Aware https://ks.childcareaware.org/beat-summer-boredom

Beating Summer Boredom (2023) Cleveland Clinic https://newsroom.clevelandclinic.org/2023/06/20/beating-summer-boredom

How to Help Kids Deal with Summer Boredom (2024) Dayton Children’s https://www.childrensdayton.org/the-hub/how-help-kids-deal-summer-boredom-oosblog