“I’m Bored!” How to Help Your Child Stay Entertained

5 Tips for Beating Boredom

In our children’s overscheduled, maxed-out world, they are so used to always having something planned for them most of the time. So, when it comes time for them to just play by themselves, they sometimes don’t know how to figure it out. Learning how to play alone is beneficial for children. It forces them to use their imagination and to learn how to figure things out by themselves a little bit. Having constant interaction with adults is not always the best for our kids when it comes to teaching them self-sufficiency. What are some ways that we can help to foster a little more ability to do things alone?

#1

Start young. Starting when your baby is small, allow her time just for a few minutes by herself. Allowing your baby just a couple of minutes to play with her fingers and toes or to just watch nature out a window are all good ways to foster independent play for the future. As your child gets older, she will be able to play alone for longer periods of time.

#2

Rotate toys. Leaving your child access to only some of his toys and putting the rest away will allow you to bring out the hidden ones at a later date. Once your child has not played with something for a while, it becomes intriguing again.

#3

Show your child how to do something, then step away. After showing your child how to do something, allowing them to try alone, even if they experience some frustration is important. Think of how good it feels when you try really hard at something, then finally get it!

#4

Give your child a choice of three things to do. Give your child a choice of a big box of blocks, Play Doh, a tub of sand and some toys, or some paints and brushes (depending on their age, of course). Once their choice is made, just allow them to explore with the toys. This allows them to use their imagination and to create things on their own.

#5

Be there for guidance. Find ways to assist your child when they are struggling with finding out how to do something by guiding them, but not stepping in and taking over.
 
While the time you spend with your child is incredibly important, and certainly not to be discounted, allowing your child the independence and freedom to learn how to play alone is also an equally important life lesson. It is great for their self-esteem and for their problem-solving skills to know how to figure things out by themselves. It also makes the time that you do spend together even more special!
 
 
Meet The Bella Behind the Blog: Kristen Farley is a mother of three and a domestic goddess. She is a former teacher who enjoys spending lots of time with her kids, healthy eating, volunteering at school, and mommy blogging for the masses.

Be on the lookout for more of Kristen’s expert advice and brilliant tips!