Children being bored over the summer holidays is good for them, according to a psychologist, as she claims it helps spark creativity.
Despite parents worrying about entertaining their kids for six weeks, child development expert and psychologist Dr Amanda Gummer said boredom can be good for them.
Being bored means children are more likely to rely on their imaginations for entertainment, instead of being spoon-fed endless diversions. Research commissioned by The Works revealed that the dreaded chorus of ‘I’m bored’ is parroted 126 times in almost half of homes over the school summer holidays.
The survey found 82% of parents feel overwhelmed by the challenge of keeping their children entertained. But 40% say they want to limit screen time. Dr Gummer said: “Boredom is a brilliant springboard for creativity. When children aren’t spoon-fed entertainment, they’re much more likely to use their imagination, come up with ideas and discover what really interests them.
“With just a few simple resources, families can turn ‘I’m bored’ into ‘Look what I made!’. That’s where the magic happens.”
The Works has recruited three kids for ‘The Boredom Board’ to help banish holiday apathy and encourage time away from screens. The new recruits include five-year-old Jaskirat, appointed Chief Family Officer, seven-year-old Freddie named Head of Rainy Days and seven-year-old Coco-Rae who’s Outdoor Activity Director.
Gavin Peck, CEO at The Works, said: “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome our three young experts to The Works’ Boredom Board. They may be small, but they have big ideas and an even bigger mission to help families across the UK and provide practical solutions along with some great product recommendations for when boredom strikes this summer.
“We know boredom during the summer break is a serious issue and this is a seriously important job, so who better to lead it than kids themselves?”
