Courtesy of Nicole Schildt.
I’m a mom of six, their ages ranging from toddlers to teens, and every summer I make a choice that surprises a lot of people: I don’t plan every moment of their days. In fact, I fully expect them to get bored.
At first glance, that might sound like lazy parenting, especially in a world where Pinterest-perfect summer schedules and curated camps seem to be the norm. But after years of trial and error, I’ve realized that leaving space for boredom actually makes our summers better. Not just for my kids, but for me, too.
Boredom breeds creativity
When my oldest kids were younger, I felt a lot of pressure to keep them entertained around the clock. I’d pack our days with activities including trips to the zoo, messy crafts, and themed library events. I thought boredom meant I wasn’t doing enough as a parent. But what I didn’t realize was that in trying to fill all the gaps, I wasn’t leaving room for them to figure out what they truly enjoyed.
Now, when my kids complain that they’re bored, I don’t rush to fix it. I tell them, “That’s okay. You’ll figure something out.” And they do. They’ve built elaborate forts out of couch cushions, written stories, taught themselves card tricks, and even started a pretend backyard restaurant complete with a hand-drawn menu. Those moments of self-directed play and creativity wouldn’t happen if I handed them a constant stream of activities.
And honestly, I think there’s a reason we 90s kids have such fond memories of our unplugged summers. Long afternoons with nothing but a bike, a sprinkler, and a wild imagination taught us independence and left us with the kind of nostalgia you can’t recreate with a perfectly curated schedule.
It teaches problem-solving and independence
Boredom also forces my kids to practice important life skills like problem-solving and independence. They don’t simply escape into electronics for entertainment. Instead, they’re left with the space to figure things out for themselves — how to fill their time, what interests them, and how to work with others to make it happen. When they don’t have a structured plan handed to them, they have to think about what they want to do, negotiate with siblings, and sometimes compromise.
As a mom, I want my kids to grow up knowing how to entertain themselves, manage their time, and think outside the box, because those skills matter far beyond childhood. If they can learn to handle downtime now, it will serve them well as adults who won’t always have instant stimulation or someone telling them what to do next.
It eases the pressure on parents
Let’s be honest, summers can feel like a marathon for parents. Between work, household responsibilities, and everything else on our plates, the expectation to create a perfect summer can be overwhelming.
Embracing boredom lifts that pressure. It allows me to focus on spending quality time with my kids — reading together on the porch, making spontaneous ice cream runs, or just being present — instead of running myself ragged trying to orchestrate constant entertainment.
We still have structure, but it’s flexible
Letting my kids get bored doesn’t mean we have zero structure. We still have a loose daily rhythm with chores, outside time, and family meals. We sprinkle in occasional outings like swimming or visiting grandparents. But there’s plenty of open space on the calendar, and that space is intentional.
The payoff is worth it
By the end of every summer, my kids have usually made memories, strengthened their sibling relationships, and discovered new hobbies, and they’ve done it largely on their own. I’ve also gained the peace of knowing I’m not their cruise director. I’m their mom, guiding them to grow into capable, creative humans.
So yes, in our house, boredom isn’t a problem. It’s the starting point for curiosity, creativity, and connection. Sometimes the best summer memories are the ones that come from simply having the freedom to do nothing at all.
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