TRICKS TO HELP YOUR CHILDREN BEAT BOREDOM
Research has shown boredom is rising year after year among teens. Emma explains how to help them learn to focus, stick with activities and get creative beyond phones and tablets
Remember when, as a kid, you would spend hours sat about chatting with your mates, or walking around town just to pass the time? Now technology fills young people’s lives, but these incredible advances have come at a cost – kids can’t deal with boredom.
GO OLD SCHOOL
Research shows the attention spans of adolescents are getting shorter, and boredom is increasing at a more rapid pace, especially for girls. As a result, their need for stimulating activities is growing. They’re so used to being drip fed endless videos, TV shows and organised activities that thinking for themselves seems almost too much effort. That’s why young people could benefit from old fashioned, back-to-basics activities and experiences to allow imaginations to run free.
HONE IN ON HOBBIES
Bored kids need direction, so help them think about their interests. Maybe they are worried about the environment, or perhaps they are a budding photographer or YouTube vlogger. Figuring out what makes them tick means you can encourage them to volunteer, join groups, or get creative. Buy them sports equipment so they can get active when bored. Even a simple skipping rope or a yoga mat, and a YouTube yoga class or workout app, is enough to get them going. Exercise stimulates endorphins and will energise them mentally and physically, and forming a healthy habit early means they are more likely to stay a good weight.
Help your kids to cultivate patience, too. I get my boys to practise mindfulness with me. This 30 minutes of stillness helps them to get comfortable with silence and is a time to check in with their feelings. Try the Stop, Breathe & Think app, which is specially designed for young people. It’s vastly improved my boys’ ability to focus.
FOCUS THEIR MINDS
Alternatively, give them an ageappropriate crossword or sudoku puzzle to solve, and reward them with a treat once they have completed it. This type of activity will encourage them to slow down and pay attention, which will be hugely helpful for their emotional wellbeing.