Why Boredom Is Actually Good For Your Kids

Published: August 21, 2025

By India McCarty

You might dread hearing your child say “I’m bored!” but these experts say boredom might actually have some benefits for kids.

“Having time that is unplanned and unstructured, and having the freedom to decide what to do, fosters an independence,” Dr. Ashley Castro, a medical psychologist, told Parents. “It allows for exploration, which contributes to building confidence, self-esteem, and problem-solving skills.”

Dr. Diane Franz, pediatric psychologist at Children’s Hospital New Orleans, agreed, calling boredom “a valuable skill for kids to learn,” as it “forces you to be a little more creative and to think beyond your immediate need in the moment.”

In a report published by the Cleveland Clinic, psychologist Kate Eshleman said that boredom can lead to moments of imagination; an important skill for kids to build.

“When we are constantly entertained, it doesn’t lead us to opportunities to occupy ourselves and engage in activities like reading a book, playing with toys or building a fort,” she explained. “When we have structured activities in front of us all the time, it doesn’t create those opportunities which are really important lifelong skills.”

Many parents might want to swoop in and solve your child’s boredom, but Dr. Franz explained that it’s better to let them figure it out on their own.

“It’s a good thing for parents to not feel so compelled to solve every problem their child experiences,” she said. “Having discomfort and not feeling great some of the time is a normal part of life [and] it’s ok to have a child feel that way some of the time, because it helps them learn to manage it in other situations.”

Dr. Castro agreed, saying that some younger children might use “I’m bored” as a placeholder for a real problem.

“It’s possible for them to think they’re bored, but they actually mean that they are hungry, or feeling neglected in that moment,” she said. “It may be that they’re feeling sad, and saying ‘I’m bored’ is less of a vulnerable thing to express.”

So, what should parents say when kids are bored?

For younger children, Dr. Castro recommended “scaffolding and prompting from parents” to help them arrive at a solution. For older kids, she suggested having a conversation.

“There should be a conversation to talk about, okay, you’re bored, what would you like to do?,” she explained. “And maybe there’s some kind of practical barriers that you as a parent can address to help them do that.”

Natasha Sharma, therapist and founder of Toronto family therapy firm NKS Therapy, told Today’s Parents that a good starting response to “I’m bored,” is “What could you do?”

Another question Sharma recommended asking is “Why does feeling bored bother you?”

“Try and get them to talk about the emotion, the feeling of what it feels like to be bored and why it’s an issue for them, and how they can cope with that or move through it,” she said.

It can be difficult to constantly keep kids entertained, especially when they’re young. These tips can help you and your child defeat boredom, and help them start to figure out how to entertain themselves.

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