What if boredom isn’t the problem?

“I’m bored!” Few phrases strike fear into parents quite like those two words.

Whether it’s reaching for a tablet, suggesting an activity, or planning another day out, our instinct is often the same: solve the problem as quickly as possible.

But what if boredom isn’t actually the problem? What if it’s simply the stage before something interesting starts?

It’s an idea that has been gaining increasing attention among psychologists, neuroscientists, and child development experts. While no one is suggesting children should be bored all the time, a growing body of research points to the value of occasional boredom and unstructured time as an important ingredient in creativity, imagination, and independent play.

A world with fewer empty moments

Today’s children are growing up in a world where almost every spare moment can be filled. Between organised activities, on-demand entertainment, and the endless availability of screens, boredom has become something we instinctively try to avoid.

Yet researchers suggest that constantly eliminating those quiet times may come at a cost.

Writing for National Geographic, science journalist Avery Hurt describes boredom as less of a problem and more of a signal. Cognitive neuroscientist Professor James Danckert compares boredom to pain – not because it’s enjoyable, but because it’s your brain’s way of saying, “What you’re doing now isn’t working. Do something else.” Rather than automatically removing boredom, Danckert argues, we should pay attention to what it is encouraging us to do next.

For children, that “something else” that follows is often remarkably creative.

The moment before imagination

Many parents will recognise the pattern. A child wanders around the house announcing they’re bored. Five minutes later they’re building a fort from sofa cushions, creating a new game in the garden, writing a comic book, or transforming a cardboard box into a spaceship.

The boredom didn’t create the idea – but it created the space for the idea to emerge.

As psychologist Dr Sandi Mann, who has spent years researching boredom, has said, when children tell us they’re bored, perhaps our response shouldn’t always be concern. Sometimes it can simply be: “Job well done.” Her research suggests that moments of boredom encourage the mind to wander, creating opportunities for imagination and creative thinking.

The value of unstructured play

This doesn’t mean children should spend entire summers entertaining themselves without support. Rather, it highlights the importance of balance.

The BBC’s Tiny Happy People initiative describes free, child-led play as an important way for children to develop confidence, resilience, and problem-solving skills. When adults don’t immediately direct every activity, children are given the chance to make decisions, test ideas, and discover what genuinely interests them. Those periods of self-directed play often become the experiences children remember most.

In many ways, boredom isn’t the destination. It’s simply the doorway to unstructured play.

Not every moment needs to be filled

One of the most reassuring messages emerging from the research is that parents don’t always need to provide the answer. Sometimes the most valuable thing we can offer children is time.

Time to wonder. Time to experiment. Time to invent. Time to discover what they’re capable of creating without someone telling them what to do.

That can feel uncomfortable at first – for children and adults alike. Boredom isn’t always pleasant. But allowing children to work through those moments, rather than immediately removing them, helps build independence as well as creativity.

A different kind of summer

At Nord Anglia Education, we believe play is fundamental to learning, confidence, and wellbeing. That’s why this summer we’re inviting families to see boredom a little differently.

Not as something to fear or something to eliminate. But as the beginning of something potentially magical.

So, the next time you hear the words, “I’m bored,” try waiting just a little longer before offering the solution.

You might be surprised by what comes next.

Further reading

If you’d like to explore this topic in more detail, these are excellent places to start:

• National Geographic: Boredom can actually help people reach their creative potential. Here’s how.
• BBC Culture: How boredom can spark creativity
• CBeebies Parenting: Dealing with bored kids: Why boredom is great for children (and parents too)
• Good to Know: Turns out your child being bored may be the best thing for them