How To Entertain a Bored

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“Mom! I’m bored!” is something children repeat over and over. What can you do at home to entertain a bored toddler? Do you play with them? Why not let them be bored? Is there even any benefits to being bored?

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Open ended or parent directed play can entertain toddlers, but being bored is not always a bad thing. It can even help build your toddlers brain!

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We live in a world where children are expected to be busy or scheduled from dawn to dusk. Giving the child the time and space to be bored can help them develop their creativity, learn to self regulate and improve focus.

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By having a well-stocked and inviting play space at home, it is easy to entertain a bored toddler at home without using screens so that they can play independently.

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How do you keep your toddler from being bored? Simply, you can’t always keep them from getting bored. Despite the latest toys and plenty of outdoor time, kids still get bored. Let’s discuss the benefits of being a bored toddler. I’m about to let you in on a secret:

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Being bored is not a bad thing, in fact, it is good for toddlers

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How often should you be playing with your toddler? So how long should you be playing with your toddler? As often as feels comfortable playing with them. The most important things are to put your phone away, give your child undistracted attention and not to take over the play space. Let your child lead you in their world and join in as much as you want.

Your child needs time to play independently. You want to make the play area or playroom independent-play friendly when you’re setting it up.

Ditch the electronics and go for Open-Ended Toys It is so easy to just hand a bored toddler a phone or a tablet and let them binge Youtube kids. But is it the best way to deal with their boredom? Not really. We all know that screen time should be limited for children (and adults, I know that hurts). But when your child is upset and cranky about being bored it feels like the best solution.

Want more information about how play impacts your child’s development?