Is it good for kids to be bored? Share your thoughts with BIC KIDS for the chance to win a £300 voucher - PLUS enter this year’s drawing competition!

[EmmaMumsnet]

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In celebration of the launch of the BIC KIDS Young Artist Award created to help children across the nation conquer their boredom over the summer months, we’re keen to hear your opinions on whether you think boredom is good for children and what you do when “I’m bored” strikes.

We are partnering with BIC KIDS again this year to challenge all budding artists aged between 5-11 to create their most imaginative drawings for a chance to see their artwork displayed on a huge billboard! Entries are open from Monday 2nd July – Sunday 5th August and 13 talented finalists will be selected by a panel of experts to represent their region in a public vote.

Rebecca Huda, BIC® UK and Ireland’s Stationery Product Manager says: “We’re delighted to be returning with our BIC® KIDS Young Artist Award for 2018. Last year’s competition was a great success and we were overwhelmed by the quality of the artwork we received. We can’t wait for this year’s imaginative entries to start pouring in, ready to be displayed across the country, there’ll be some proud parents for sure.”

As well as the priceless opportunity to have their drawings published, the 13 deserving finalists will win a hamper full of BIC® KIDS goodies, with the crowned champion receiving their very own creative arts party!

Once your children have created their masterpieces, you can enter them into the competition easily and quickly by visiting bickids.com/uk/youngartistaward and uploading the artwork before the deadline on Sunday 5th August.

Everyone who posts on this thread to share their thoughts on boredom and/or to share the drawing they have entered into the competition will be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 voucher of their choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck!

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NB - you will only be entered into the BIC KIDS drawing competition by submitting your drawing via the link above. However, we also encourage you to share your drawings on this thread to be entered into the £300 voucher prize draw.

Boredom is good as they often re look at what they already have.

I think a little boredom can inspire them to go and look for something different to do, but it can also lead to mischief.

Of course not. Wrap your work commitments around them, and take them to the museum, or a castle, or the countryside ...

Yes, I think children need to sit in their own boredom for the world to become quiet enough that they can hear themselves. I am a firm believer that when we are surrounded by nothing, something comes alive on the inside!

I think being bored is good for my two, they can get exhausted from so many activities and it's nice to just chill out and have some time doing nothing which I find makes them be a little bit more resourceful in finding something to do.

Absolutely! Boredom encourages children to talk to people they would not otherwise engage with and to try activities they would not, under other circumstances, experience. For instance writing for pleasure, reading a book, chatting to elderly neighbours or just reflecting. Our society has now developed an expectation that children need to be constantly stimulated. It’s crucial that we help nurture their creativity and imagination by allowing them to be bored sometimes. As a teacher, I have noted that in recent years children struggle to show imagination or creativity. If they don’t have this experience to channel boredom in a positive and creative way when they are older they will not have the resources to deal with it in the correct way. A little boredom is good!

all depends on the situation if your child is capable of good image play then yes its good for their mind x

Being bored is part of life! If we don't get bored we won't be inspired to try anything out!

If children are allowed to get bored then they get creative in finding things to do

When you sit and play with your child, cars on the floor, the wooden trainset, tea party or colouring giving eye contact and praise and encouragement, and adding toys as 'guests' to the play will encourage a child to be able to play for longer without boredom setting in, and if it does, having a range of activities they can turn to. I thing a child becoming bored is age appropriate, as concentration spans grow, and imagination is allowed to grow it becomes a pleasure to watch your child in their world of play, games and creations. A child who is bored is, in my opinion likely to get up to mischief, and put themselves in a dangerous situation.

This is a hard one because bored kids can result in all kinds of misery BUT you cannot be expected to be a full time parent and full time kids entertainer! I feel if you and of course Mother Nature have provided plenty of 'options' then a few bored moments are healthy insofar as your children imaginations can be stretched....It is great when they come up with an idea on what to do and they feel great when they succeed too...we are lucky to have the beach on our doorstep as we all love the beach too.

We all dislike boredom but it gives us a chance to look for ways of finding things to do, children also need to learn how to entertain themselves when feeling bored

Yes. As it means they're open to different activities.

I don't think it does them any harm to think about things and how they can amuse themselves. On the flip side, kids moping around saying they are bored are one of the most annoying things there is :-)

A bit of boredom doesn't hurt as at least it makes them find something to do!

I remember complaining about being bored as a child but it didn't mean I was entertained. We didn't have much TV, no DVDs or computer games! But when I was bored I went out and played with friends or my sister and made up games. It was so healthy to be out of the house, with other kids and doing 'stuff'. Being creative and using imagination and working things out. This is so much better than the quick fixes of computer games or TV and a more permanent solution to boredom because you learn how to deal with it!

Yes and no. I do try to think of entertaining things for them to do in the school holidays and during the weekend but I also think it is really important for them to be able to entertain themselves and I think boredom encourages imagination and independence. I am not always able to keep them entertained so if they are bored enough it encourages them to maybe read or paint a picture which then can become a hobby they enjoy for life.

yes, crucial so they can learn to find things themselves to do

I don't mind my little one being bored for a short period if it gives him the impetus to find something to do to stop him being bored and learn how to entertain himself (in a safe and non-annoying way!) - encourages him to do or look at things that he may not otherwise turn his hand to if he is being constantly amused. There are inevitably going to be moments in life when it does get a bit boring (queuing, long travels, etc) so having the ability to entertain yourself - as a child or an adult - is a pretty useful skill.

Yes! Of course. The brain needs a chance to rest every now and then. Constant stimulation is a no-no for us.

I agree with a lot of the comments, being bored definitely brings out imagination and creative playing. You need to limit screen time to enable them to do this l, it also encourages them to interact together.

I think it is okay sometimes as they make up games and can have fun when they have to amuse themselves

Being a little bored sometimes doesn't hurt. Gets the imagination going

Yes I think it is good for kids to be bored at times because it helps them to think for themselves, work out if there is something they can do to occupy themselves, to be a little bit more independent and to be more self sufficient.

Nothing wrong with not fussing around our kids every minute making sure they're entertained- it doesn't do them any harm to realise that the world doesn't revolve around them all the time!
A short dose of boredom will soon trigger the imagination and it's great to see the creative ideas they come up with when told that no, you can't watch the telly and mummy's busy for a minute!