There is a saying in Italian – ‘Dolce far niente,’ which translates to the sweetness of doing nothing or sweet idleness. For the people of Italy, one of the world’s most creative and culturally rich countries, the idleness of not doing anything, need not necessarily lead to ennui but can also bring joy, relaxation and fill the mind with creative and productive ideas.
But parents almost always feel that to avoid idleness and boredom, children need to be cramped with multiple activities, especially during their school holidays or when they are somewhat free after their exams and feel that kids must attend summer camps. Sometimes, children also say that they are bored, especially when they are alone and missing their playmates or when they want to draw attention.
Studies on boredom
As per a 2018 study cited in an article in the New York Times, modern parenting found that regardless of education, income or race, parents believed children who are bored should be enrolled in extracurricular activities, as if there is a kind of stigma attached to boredom.
But psychological research also shows that in moderate doses, boredom can offer a valuable learning opportunity, spurring creativity, problem solving and motivating children to seek out activities that feel meaningful to them. Boredom is ‘normal, natural and healthy.’
Benefits of boredom
According to mental health experts, boredom is informative and enables children to identify or distinguish their feelings such as between sadness and getting bored.
Boredom can lead to fulfillment by letting the children free to experiment with activities that can be of interest to them. They may even learn to admire nature and observe their environment or discover some new games and art. It can enhance their problem solving capacity, creativity, thinking ability and academic learning skills.
Elaborating on the positive effects of boredom, Dr Vidit Singh, psychiatrist at Tata Manipal Hospital explains, “Every emotion is important in the sense that if one hasn’t encountered an emotion, then one can be vulnerable to it. Boredom is also an emotion that everyone feels every now and then when they break out of the routine and have nothing much to do. It may be more frequent with children who do not have as many responsibilities as adults and as much mundane work but it is not all bad. Putting a child through a routine is important for developing a sense of integrity and discipline, but making them a slave of that routine would be stifling to their growth.”
Let children choose an activity as they like
“A child’s brain is very receptive towards experiences and if the child feels bored at any point of time, it can be utilised to stimulate them in different ways, to allow them to choose between different activities. This will help in developing a sense of autonomy and boost their self-esteem. Letting children choose the activity of their liking, such as spending time in the garden, meeting other kids outside, engaging in art etc. will help to bring out their creativity and adjust socially. This can be done whenever they have free time and complain of boredom,” advises the psychiatrist.
It’s good to break free from stifling routine
“Making them follow a schedule round the clock will become too mechanical and make them dull and unimaginative, which can be very deleterious, especially in childhood. So if the child complains of boredom, it should always be taken up as an opportunity for getting together with the child and exploring their talents, their creative capabilities, interests and pleasures, reading to them or playing with them and stimulating their brain into realising their potential,” cautions Dr Vidit.
‘Remaining idle at times won’t make kids lazy’
Calling boredom a result of overstimulation of the brain, Dr Jyoti Kapoor, senior consultant psychiatrist and psychotherapist and founder-director of Manasthali Mental Health and Wellness Services, says, “When our brain is too active or too busy with several things, we often miss out on enjoying and appreciating the beauty of smaller things of life. We don’t get time to introspect and observe. So let kids remain idle sometimes without being engaged in one activity or another. This pause can help them be good observers and be aware of their surroundings, fuel their imagination, thinking capacity and creativity and it won’t make them lazy.”
“When you child says they are bored, do not hand them a smartphone, or make them sit before the television but rather ask them what they would like to do. Let them come up with creative ideas depending on their age. Let them doodle, write a journal sharing their thoughts, read, observe nature, find something new, even a new word or game, meditate or deep breathe. Do not stop the child if they are lost in daydreaming or are quietly looking outside the window and listening to music but ask them to share what they are thinking or looking at. However, if this goes on for hours and the child becomes reclusive and withdrawn, then it can be a sign of depression. Occasional fantasy thinking is normal for kids and adults and is a useful creative activity but if it becomes prolonged and excessive, it is called maladaptive daydreaming and needs to be identified and addressed,” avers Dr Jyoti.
