what do YOU do when your children say "im bored"

[nailpolish]

do you go and find some activity for them to do?

or do you think children have to learn to find stuff to do for themselves?

i have a 2.5yr old and a 4yr old (dont know if that makes any difference)

[jennifersofia]

I generally say "oh are you dear?" or "only boring people are bored - go and find something to do." But then, I'm mean..
Sometimes I take this as a cue to go outside, depending on how much 'on their own' play time they have had, and if energy levels are feeling really passive or crazy.
mine are 4 and 6.

[Gobbledigook]

Mine are 6, 4 and 2.5 and I've not heard 'I'm bored' yet. They are pretty good at entertaining themselves and each other. If they can go outside it's especially not an issue.

If they did, I guess I'd try to focus them on something - suggest a couple of things - but I wouldn't necessarily drop what I was doing to do it with them.

[MellowMa]

Message withdrawn

[nailpolish]

they look to me for entertainment

i use the "hmm? are you dear?" line too

i am good at trips to the park or baking or making tea together but shit at lets pretend

i think children need to learn boredom

i was bored loads when small

[nailpolish]

REALLT FIO? they must have great imaginations

[hoorayitseasterhols]

suggest they do the washing up or dusting, somehow they are suddenly not bored any more (are bit older though 9 and 7)

[PestoMonster]

I tell them if they are bored, they can come and help me with whatever chore I am doing (or contemplating doing ). It usually does the trick, especially if it's something like cleaning the bathrooms or doing the ironing....

hee heee

[MellowMa]

Message withdrawn

[DrNortherner]

Only boring people are bored - i like it. Will use that in future.

This reminded me of a teacher i had at primary school. We had to write stories and she'd read them out in class and add a loud BOR-ING at the end of it every time!

Imagine that happenning nowadays

[PestoMonster]

hooray, we are very like-minded!

[yesireallycan]

I say fuck off and leave me alone, I'm on Mumsnet!

[Gobbledigook]

Naily - I'm good at taking out but crap at the bits at home too. It's 'entertain yourself' time at home

[AnAngelWithin]

i tell them that i am going to send all their toys to the children who lose everything through disasters, earthquakes/tsunami etc because they have NOTHING. they soon go and find something to do/play with then! bad mummy!!

[nailpolish]

Gdg - phew
glad its not just me

[shouldbedoingsomethingelse]

I say "only boring people are bored" (learnt that from MN a while ago)

Or I say "I can find something for you to do if you like?" try that and watch them run


spooky moment as I am typing my DD1 has just walked up to me saying "I'm bored" LOL

[OrmIrian]

Go and find someone to play with. Actually a lot of the things I say to my kids start with the word 'Go' ... We live in a cul-de-sac stuffed with kids so there's always someone at a loose end, keen to team up with others to hang about in feral groups or vandalise bus shelters...

'S'Ok...only joking. My neglect is largely benign.

[Frascati]

Mine never say it. They are always too busy to be bored,

Best thing I ever bought was the trampoline, hours of entertainment!

[SofiaAmes]

Tell them to think about the starving children in africa who are less fortunate than they are. Offer to throw out all their toys since the are "so boring." Suggest they go to bed.

Never ever let them watch tv as an alternative to "boredom."

[oxocube]

ditto jennifersofia's "only boring people get bored"

[PeachyChocolateEClair]

When I'm being good- raid the art cupboard with them

HWen I'm being bad (or on MN)- say 'well don't then'

[ChasingRabbits]

I have a 14mo and a 4.5y.
At 2.5y my ds1 could not have verbalised "i'm bored", now at 4.5y I'm not sure that I have ever heard it, maybe once or twice but it's certainly not a regular saying.
He plays an awful lot on his own as ds2 has been a very demanding baby.
I quite often get "can you play this with me" (usually some sort of game - top trumps atm), but if I don't (can't be bothered or am doing other stuff) then he will go away and find something else to do.
I am hoping that ds2 will be the same - but somehow I already know that he isn't going to be...

[Hallgerda]

DS1 must have reached the age of 5 before he realised that there was another unmentionable word beginning with "b"

As you may have gathered, I think children need to learn to find stuff to do for themselves.