Summer freedom can quickly turn into boredom when children want something to do but cannot find anything satisfying. Children may reject suggestions and remain stuck in tension for hours. Boredom arises when the environment does not match goals and nothing feels worth caring about, even if many things are happening. Boredom is painful and pushes children to seek novelty. Interest appears when something new is present and children believe they can handle it, signaling opportunities for exploration and learning. Helping children label boredom, reminding them of prior success managing it, and encouraging brief play or laughter can interrupt boredom and create a shift toward interest. Modeling boredom regulation teaches children to escape boredom on their own.
"For many children, summer opens the door to more relaxed schedules, travel to different locations, visiting relatives, and expanded time to choose their activities. Initially, this freedom is a welcome relief from the constricted settings of the school year. But after a brief honeymoon period, many parents start to hear the dreaded words, "I'm bored." The first response may offer possible solutions, activities the kids enjoy or have been talking about, options to visit friends, things that need to be done for chores, or self-care. Kids might reply with silence or say that the suggestion doesn't sound good or fun. Children can stay in this state of tension for hours, torn between wanting something to do and not finding anything satisfying enough to actually pursue. It's painful for everyone."
"There are two key emotions likely contributing to how children behave in these situations: boredom and interest. Boredom emerges when the environment is not a match for our goals, and we don't care about anything that is happening. This can be because nothing is happening, but people can also feel bored when a lot is happening-they just don't care about any of it. Boredom is painful to experience, and motivates people to seek out something (anything!) new and different. Interest arises when there is something new, and people believe they have the ability and resources to explore and cope with whatever is new. Interest signals that there might be opportunities available, and motivates learning and ex"
"Labeling boredom and pointing to past success in managing it can help kids break free. Getting kids to play or laugh for a few minutes can shock them out of boredom. Modeling how to regulate boredom can help kids learn for themselves to escape."
Read at Psychology Today
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