How Can We Stop Our Kids from Saying, "I'm Bored"?

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Ever hear the cry of “I’m boooorrrreeeeddd” from your children? In my house growing up, my mom banned the use of the phrase, “I’m bored.” As a mom myself, I followed in her footsteps and did the same. My four children knew better than to say they had nothing to do because I’d find them something to do of the chore variety.

Boredom also gives children opportunities to devise planning strategies, practice flexibility, develop organizational skills, and problem-solve on their own. These are key skills many children with highly structured schedules don’t have. But it’s not the boredom itself that pushes kids to acquire these essential skills—it’s what they do when they find themselves at loose ends.

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