One of my parenting philosophies is that boredom begets creativity. I am not here to entertain my children with a constant stream of crafts, television, sports, or projects. I try to make things available for them to explore, but I believe the moments they come to me whining because they are bored are critical points of growth. It is in these times they learn new ways to get past frustration, gravitate towards interests, and discover things they love to do. They are already ripe with imagination, but as Ken Robinson says, “Creativity is putting your imaginations to work.”

__________

As adults, we don’t have anybody encouraging us to sit in our boredom. We also have access to a myriad of ways to distract ourselves from discomfort. In times like now, we can choose to parent ourselves in the same ways in order to learn more about what inspires and moves us. I choose to notice my habits and what I reach for in the moments of boredom and challenge that come with making my own schedule at home. I challenge you to do the same. Perhaps instead of reaching for your phone or a new Netflix series, you can try out a new skill, move, write, cook, or create in other ways. Embrace the gift of boredom! That’s where the magic is.