Did You Know? Kids Become More Creative When They’re Bored

1. What the Study Looked At

Researchers explored how boredom affects children’s creativity, motivation, and emotional skills.

They asked:

• Can boredom encourage children to create new ideas?

• Does boredom help children understand themselves better?

• How does boredom shape problem-solving and independence?

They examined:

1) What children do when bored
drawing, daydreaming, inventing games, exploring objects around them

2) How boredom changes the brain
slower attention, fewer distractions, deeper internal thinking

3) How boredom affects emotions
frustration tolerance, patience, ability to stay calm without entertainment

The study included children from different age groups and environments to understand how boredom influences development.

2. What They Found

1) Boredom boosts creativity
When there is no stimulation, children begin to explore ideas.
Their brain shifts from “reacting” to “inventing.”
They build imaginary worlds, make up stories, or combine simple objects in new ways.

2) Boredom supports problem-solving
Without directions, children learn to decide:
“What should I do now?”
They practice planning, testing ideas, and handling small challenges on their own.

3) Boredom helps with emotional growth
Sitting with a quiet moment teaches self-regulation.
Children learn:

• waiting,

• frustration tolerance,

• being okay without constant excitement.

Boredom becomes a mental training field, not a danger.

3. What This Means for Everyday Life

Parents often feel pressure to “fix” boredom:
activities, media, games, schedules.

But when we remove boredom instantly:

• children become dependent on external entertainment,

• they lose the chance to invent and discover,

• they expect stimulation to come from adults.

Instead, we can treat boredom as a normal part of childhood.

It gives space for:

1) Imagination
Children turn sticks into magic wands, stones into treasure, rooms into castles.

2) Confidence
They learn “I can manage this feeling myself.”

3) Calm social energy
Play becomes slower, less explosive, and more collaborative.

You do not need a big plan.
Quiet time, a balcony, a garden, a walk — these open the door to healthy boredom.

4. Small Reset Habits (Easy 10-Minute Ideas)

1) “Do Nothing Corner”
Choose a calm spot: balcony, yard, park bench.
Sit together for 10 minutes.
No toys, no screens.
Just breathe.
→ The brain learns to rest before it seeks stimulation.

2) “Boredom Box”
Fill a box with simple objects: paper, crayons, string, small stones.
When your child says “I’m bored,” offer the box.
You do not explain.
→ They create their own ideas instead of waiting for yours.

3) Nature Boredom Walk
Walk slowly outside.
No tasks, no goals.
Say only: “Let’s notice what we see.”
→ Curiosity replaces frustration.

5. Limitations

Boredom is healthy,
but it is not a solution for every situation.

Seek help if:

1) Your child is constantly withdrawn or sad.
2) Boredom turns into anger or self-harm.
3) They avoid friends or activities they once enjoyed.
4) Daily functioning (school, sleep, appetite) becomes difficult.

Reference

Mann, S., & Cadman, R. (2014). Does being bored make us more creative? Creativity Research Journal, 26(2), 165–173. https://doi.org/10.1080/10400419.2014.901073