Were we bored during childhood? Without knowing for sure, I would say probably sometimes. But complaining brought only my mom’s hands on the hips and a lifted eyebrow. Then, yet another chore since we were so bored. So what happened in my family? We learned to entertain ourselves, in the yard, in the toy chest and even by building forts with the den furniture. We scouted for lizards and other insects, listened for the sounds of crickets, frogs and birds. We were lucky in one sense because we grew up in the “country” where stranger safety isn’t as prevalent because everybody knows everyone else. I am also fortunate enough to raise my own son in the “country” where you don’t have to worry as much about him roaming in the yard since our yard goes on for miles it seems.
Many parents today can be heard rambling on about their child’s constant whining – “I’m bored! There is nothing to do around here.” What does the parent say, “how can you be bored with all of these toys?” The toys are the exact reason for the boredom. The children have not learned, due probably to toys, how to investigate, explore and create through their imagination. Children will need some guidance and modeling on the part of the parent to engage at an independent level of play for an extended period of time.
Are city children more bored than country children? It would be an interesting investigation to conduct. Or, should moms and dads begin dishing out more chores like we had during our childhood to keep the kids busy?
One thing is for certain, the happiest parents are those who have invested the time early to teach their children how to engage in deep imaginary play. These parents didn’t load the child’s room up with expensive toys but taught the child how to turn everyday objects into exciting tools for play. These are the parents that no longer have to beg their children to play alone for a little while. Early Education is the Key!
