Have you heard it yet? The dreaded call of summer break – “Mom, I’m bored!” The typical go, go, go of the school year has slowed immensely and the novelty of having nothing to do has worn off. And now, children of all ages are experiencing the extreme emotion of boredom.
“Parents today kind of realize that gone are the days of sending your kids outside to play and only expecting them to return when the streetlights came on. Parenting nowadays seems to require more planning, more entertaining, and more management than ever before,” said Allison Costolnick, LCSW, student support clinician at Catholic Charities of Buffalo. “And although there is truth to this statement, it’s important to note that your summer vacation doesn’t have to feel like a summer project.”
Costolnick said that regardless of your children’s ages, there are a variety of activities that they can do independently or with minimal supervision.
“If your kids enjoy crafts, provide them with paper, crayons, paints, air-dry clay, or playdough and see where their creativity takes them. Kids that are interested in writing or comic books might enjoy creating their own story and characters. There may even be multiple books or stories,” she said. “It’s also a great time to change up your scenery and check out what your town or city offers by way of splash pads, pools, libraries, parks, and playgrounds. We’re really fortunate in Western New York to have many excellent outdoor spaces. The summer is an ideal time to really explore what’s in our own backyard.”
Other ideas for summer fun include making your own sensory bin by filling a bin full of water, sand, or pebbles and add in your child’s favorite figurines, pom poms, or beads of different sizes; enjoying the weather of summer by playing outdoor games, rides bikes, or draw with chalk; hold movie or game nights; scavenger hunts to find items of certain colors or all the letters of the alphabet; encourage your older child or teen to make up their own games – including rules, objectives, gameboard and pieces. Additionally, incorporating a little bit of learning is always a good idea, too, said Costolnick.
“Studies have shown that reading or doing math facts for 20 minutes a day can help maintain their education,” she said. “It’s a simple way to prevent the summer slide and keep their minds engaged while out of the classroom.”
Lastly, Costolnick said, it’s important to remind yourself – and your children – that boredom is not a negative when you view it as an opportunity.
“Some of the best inventions and creative moments come from being bored,” she said. “Summer is meant to be enjoyed, in all capacities, including relishing in a little boredom before the hustle and bustle of the school year is upon us.”
