A Manifesto for Boredom
Bored? That’s great! You
see, being bored comes
RIGHT BEFORE having
a Really Good Idea.
In a world where children can find
entertainment at the touch of a
button, it’s ever-more important
that they have time to be bored
- because that’s where they have
space to come up with their OWN
Really Good Ideas.
Who doesn’t feel the pressure when their child wails, “I’m BORED!” You naturally think, “Quick!
Come up with something arty or surreptitiously educational to wow them with!”
But did you know, being bored is actually good for them?
Being bored gives kids the chance to develop resilience, independence, imagination, problem-solving
and planning skills, to pursue their interests and find their inner calm. Also, it gives them a chance
to SLOW DOWN from the anxiety-inducing pace of the modern world so they can hear themselves
think. Sometimes that slowing-down process sounds like “I’M BORED!” to begin with, but if you let
them sit with their boredom a little, and let that adjustment happen, the magic can begin.
Being bored comes RIGHT BEFORE having a Really Good Idea. So let your little geniuses have
enough downtime that they start coming up with ideas too.
I’m BoooOORED!
Discover more in
I’m (almost) Never Bored
Illustrations by Åsa Gilland, 2022
© Usborne Publishing Limited, 2023
Play Inspiration
Very little children or kids who aren’t used to playing independently might need a bit of coaching,
and that’s okay. It might take time to build up imaginative stamina. So if they – or you – are at
a loss, here are some starter ideas…
WHAT IF…
What if a cardboard box wasn’t just a cardboard box? What if your child
was the only person in the whole world who knew what it secretly was?
Is it a space ship? A magic train? A little house? A hiding place?
Keep your cardboard boxes, and let your child loose with crayons or
felt pens or even just their imagination.
DOODLE BUG
If you are having to do some desk work, your child may want to hang out
near you. Why not set them up at a desk too, and provide drawing things.
Take a line for a walk and see what happens. Draw a scribble and
see if they can turn it into something.
DEN BUILDING
Let them take over the lounge for the afternoon and build a den using sofa cushions, blankets,
duvets, or chairs, sheets and pegs. This is great for budding engineers. Once they’ve
built it, they might want to take a snack inside, or a comic and a torch.
INVITATION TO PLAY
Sometimes all kids need to get them going is a little
collection of things they haven’t put together before.
You can set up a little invitation to play, and see what
they do with it. It might be play dough and toy cars or googly eyes. Or it might be tape, used
cardboard tubes and marbles! Or a collection of sticks and leaves and a saucepan outside. Don’t
dictate what happens with those things. Let your child explore.
CLOUD WATCHING
Did you ever lie on your back and watch the clouds, and spot shapes in them? It’s a great relaxing
way of winding down and enjoying nature. Also if you play this game with your child once and have
great fun with it, you might find they do it themselves in the future.
Remember it’s not about coming up with a pretty end product – it’s about
the play journey they take.
Discover more in
I’m (almost) Never Bored
Illustrations by Åsa Gilland, 2022
© Usborne Publishing Limited, 2023
