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Original poster

To think we’re raising kids terrified of boredom?

130 replies

BoredomIsHealthy · 21/12/2025 11:10

Kids seem unable to sit with boredom - everything must be entertaining, instant, stimulating.

AIBU to think boredom builds resilience and creativity, and we’re avoiding it?

OP posts:
EveryKneeShallBow · 21/12/2025 11:34

NuffSaidSam · 21/12/2025 11:14

I think it's the adults who are terrified of boredom and so we raise kids who have never experienced it. They're either being actively entertained or babysat by a screen.

I agree that boredom and the resulting ability to entertain yourself is crucial for resilience, creativity and general development.

I completely agree. I was recently in hospital and there was constant phone noise, music, tictocs, chatting from wake up to lights out. It nearly drove me demented.

Nightmarenewbornnostalgia1 · 21/12/2025 11:34

NuffSaidSam · 21/12/2025 11:14

I think it's the adults who are terrified of boredom and so we raise kids who have never experienced it. They're either being actively entertained or babysat by a screen.

I agree that boredom and the resulting ability to entertain yourself is crucial for resilience, creativity and general development.

Thanks for this. I always get in a cycle of thinking "why cant my child be happy entertaining themselves" when we are at home but this has given me food for thought. I think you have hit the nail on the head. I was always going out with my baby/toddler because staying in seemed like torture. Any tips for struggling with boredom as an adult ? I would love to change

CandyCaneKisses · 21/12/2025 11:30

Mine isn’t like that. They are very content at having time at home too and entertaining themselves.

cadburyegg · 21/12/2025 11:26

I totally agree with you. Lots of kids now don’t seem to know how just to be at home without screens. They always want to be watching tv or if they do go out, they expect to do an expensive child centred activity. Their parents could never tolerate being at home with their babies and toddlers so went out all of the time and it’s just extended as they’ve got older. Then the kids just come to expect constant entertainment and stimulation and why wouldn’t they- they don’t know any different.

Then they can’t cope with normal things like grocery shopping because they aren’t interesting enough, which is why you see kids on screens all the time in shops and restaurants.

One of my friends has a child who struggles with school a lot, and IMO part of the problem is she is taken on constant holidays (literally every single school holiday involves going somewhere), and in the rare times they’re not on holiday they are out doing an activity. They are never just at home. It’s not real life tbh and it’s actually quite disruptive. Of course school is dull in comparison.

NuffSaidSam · 21/12/2025 11:14

I think it's the adults who are terrified of boredom and so we raise kids who have never experienced it. They're either being actively entertained or babysat by a screen.

I agree that boredom and the resulting ability to entertain yourself is crucial for resilience, creativity and general development.