How do you respond to your child when they say "I'm bored"?

Question

By the way, my child has not yet said that to me, he's two and we have lots of fun!!
I was listening to the "Parents Journal" on the radio about this and was wondering what most people do.

Answer 1

My uncle told my cousin to take down 12 cynderblocks to the end of the driveway, when he was done. He came into the house and said it again, before my cousin knew it he was bringng the blocks back up. I don't think my uncle ever knew if my cousin was bored again. I tell my kids to unload the dishwasher or straighten their toys, funny, after that I find them entertaining themselves.

Answer 2

I have learned that when my daughter says this, she's not really bored, she means that she is tired of doing whatever she's doing and wants my attention.

So I give her a couple choices of things she can do until I finish what I'm doing, and then I devote a little one-on-one time to her.

Then again, she rarely tells me she's bored, and I spend time with her all the time. It's my opinion that kids who are bored are wanting some parental attention.

Answer 3

I'm not a parent, but during the summer I have to babysit my two nephews (8 and 4). When the 4 year old says he's board, it is usually b/c he is tired and ready for a nap. When the 8 year old says it, I get out a ball and go play with him outside, take a trip to the local lake (I like to give them the gift of memories instead of candy, toys, ect.), or change it up by going to the park so they can play with other kids instead of the same old people.

Answer 4

That is one saying that really gets my goat so to speak. I dont remember saying that much as a kid (I did have siblings, but not much stuff). I have tried to break my kids of it (they also have siblings) I usually tell them if you are so bored go read a book (if old enough) if not they can look at books or I give them my own school work, it keeps them from saying it to often. I do no mean reading is a punishment either my daughter reads every day, I just tell her that if she is bored go on an adventure in her mind by reading. Sometimes I think kids today have too much stuff (mine included) and they just need directed in the right way.

Answer 5

Depends on the age. If they are 3-4 years old I try to find them things to do. If they are 5-6 I ask what would you like to do? Older then that I would encourage them to clean their room take out the trash. Help me with the dishes. Help me with the younger kids to earn money.

Answer 6

I hate to admit it, but I often say the same thing my mother used to say. "Why don't you clean up your room." I also tell them to go outside and ride their bikes, or play with the dogs. My kids are 10 and 14 and they have sooo much stuff, I can't imagine that they'd ever really be bored.

Answer 7

My child is only 19 months old so she doesnt do that right now. But she starts to get cranky and fidgety when shes bored. When that happens, I take her outside to play (if its not too cold) or we raid her toybox together and make the living room a mess. : ) When I was little, if I told my mom I was bored, she would say, "Well theres plenty of dishes to do" or shed say, "Come here" and when I came shed hand me a basket of laundry and said, "Put these away." If I protested she would just say, "Well you said you were bored. I'm just giving you something to do." I learned not to tell my mom that I was bored. : )

Answer 8

I give them a small plastic grocery bag and tell them to go to their room, fill the bag with old toys or books to be given away to someone needy. They end up spending more time playing with old toys then actually filling the bag, but it keeps them busy. Plus they learn a little about charity.

Answer 9

My daughter just started doing this and I just tell her that if she is bored she can clean her room or read a book this usually puts a stop to it for a couple of hours.

Answer 10

I run a childcare and have a list of things for kids to do. Its called the I'm bored list. If they can't find anything on the list to do.( I have 100's of things) I say you are deciding to be bored. After that they always find something on the list. Bye the way my list doesn't have video games on it................................. Only toys games books puzzles Ext.