Well here we are, more than half-way through the “summer”, as determined by our local school district calendar. Are you hearing lots of “I’m bored”s, especially from older children? With all three of my kids now between the ages of 6 and 12, I have. I’ve given them some ideas for play and sent them on their way, and sure enough, they have generally rediscovered toys and long forgotten pretend play scenarios on their own. Sometimes they play alone, sometimes just two, sometimes all three in some combination. Sometimes someone wants to help my husband and I cook or do a chore (!), which has lead to meaningful time together, parent to child. What I know is that my children rarely have exhausted all of their play options or even social connections when they approach me “bored”. A little nudge gets them off and going, which much more left undone, to remind them of, the next time they find themselves “bored”.
This article about the benefits of alone time crossed my path last week. What are your thoughts?
~Leslie
