Comments on: I’m Bored! http://www.mabelhood.com/index.php/2010/07/im-bored/ The Mabelhood is the sum of all blogs, combining posts from Mabel Labels' bloggers Julie Cole, Caitlin Madden and a cast of guest bloggers. The Mabelhood documents the daily dramas of a group of people raising families and a label making business, plus everything else in-between. Mon, 06 Feb 2012 02:58:08 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Isabel http://www.mabelhood.com/index.php/2010/07/im-bored/comment-page-1/#comment-10956 Isabel Mon, 26 Jul 2010 05:42:36 +0000 http://www.mabelhood.com/?p=2495#comment-10956 My oldest daughter had a wise kindergartien teacher. She said not to be afraid to let kids get a bit bored, because eventually they'll figure out a way to amuse themselves. Maybe I liked this advice because it suits my parenting style; my kids' lives are not jam packed with activities. They do a few things but they come up with a lot of interesting things on their own, at home. I think it's important for home to be a fun place to play--hopefully some good outdoor space, maybe a treehouse, bushes to make forts in, and lots of pens, scissors, paper and tape for them to access easily on their own without an adult's OK or help. The recylclng bin is not safe with my son around. Another kid of mine spent hours today blowing up balloons and paper bags with an old bike pump. I did not suggest this activity to him. I'd say don't worry about it too much, but don't jump to schedule more activities for him! My oldest daughter had a wise kindergartien teacher. She said not to be afraid to let kids get a bit bored, because eventually they’ll figure out a way to amuse themselves. Maybe I liked this advice because it suits my parenting style; my kids’ lives are not jam packed with activities. They do a few things but they come up with a lot of interesting things on their own, at home. I think it’s important for home to be a fun place to play–hopefully some good outdoor space, maybe a treehouse, bushes to make forts in, and lots of pens, scissors, paper and tape for them to access easily on their own without an adult’s OK or help. The recylclng bin is not safe with my son around. Another kid of mine spent hours today blowing up balloons and paper bags with an old bike pump. I did not suggest this activity to him. I’d say don’t worry about it too much, but don’t jump to schedule more activities for him!

]]> By: Janelle http://www.mabelhood.com/index.php/2010/07/im-bored/comment-page-1/#comment-10928 Janelle Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:25:09 +0000 http://www.mabelhood.com/?p=2495#comment-10928 Boredom is a gift and not enough parents give it to their children. By allowing our children to get "a little" bored--no electronic entertainment, no team sports, no planned activities--we give them an opportunity to give themselves over to their imaginations, their creativity and to learn more about who they are and what they like. I have three kids, ages 5, 8, and 10 and outside of one activity a week (dance, a team sport, etc), I do not consider myself responsible for their entertainment. Yes, they get some tv, Wii and computer time each week (not necessarily each day) and yes, I have a shelving unit full of craft supplies, but the reality is that it is up to each of them to say "What am I going to do with my time today?" Sometimes they act out elaborate games together, they have been know to write music to play on the multitude of instuments in our home, they have written and performed puppet plays, they play sports in the backyard, or simply play--running, sweating, biking, etc. Right now as I write this to you my oldest is sitting beside me learning to make balloon animals, my youngest is pretending to be a pirate in his bedroom and my middle child is currently constructing a working radio out of an electronics kit. The reality is if I was always jumping in to entertain them and keep them from getting bored, they would not have the resourcefulness and skills that they have given themselves through experimenting (and often failing) in their personal attempts to try new things that interest them. Boredom is a gift and not enough parents give it to their children. By allowing our children to get “a little” bored–no electronic entertainment, no team sports, no planned activities–we give them an opportunity to give themselves over to their imaginations, their creativity and to learn more about who they are and what they like.

I have three kids, ages 5, 8, and 10 and outside of one activity a week (dance, a team sport, etc), I do not consider myself responsible for their entertainment. Yes, they get some tv, Wii and computer time each week (not necessarily each day) and yes, I have a shelving unit full of craft supplies, but the reality is that it is up to each of them to say “What am I going to do with my time today?” Sometimes they act out elaborate games together, they have been know to write music to play on the multitude of instuments in our home, they have written and performed puppet plays, they play sports in the backyard, or simply play–running, sweating, biking, etc.

Right now as I write this to you my oldest is sitting beside me learning to make balloon animals, my youngest is pretending to be a pirate in his bedroom and my middle child is currently constructing a working radio out of an electronics kit.

The reality is if I was always jumping in to entertain them and keep them from getting bored, they would not have the resourcefulness and skills that they have given themselves through experimenting (and often failing) in their personal attempts to try new things that interest them.

]]> By: Shairbearg http://www.mabelhood.com/index.php/2010/07/im-bored/comment-page-1/#comment-10927 Shairbearg Sun, 25 Jul 2010 20:22:57 +0000 http://www.mabelhood.com/?p=2495#comment-10927 Ha! My mom always said "Oh your bored? Here's a list of things to do: clean your room, do the dishes, etc etc". We would always find something, or just go hide. But I really like the activity jar. I know for us sometimes we had done everything we could think of and sometimes we wanted to have someone think of something fun to do. Or just do something with Mom. I always try to do things with my boys if they are asking. Sometimes I can't, but I tell them to be patient and do it in a few minutes. Ha! My mom always said “Oh your bored? Here’s a list of things to do: clean your room, do the dishes, etc etc”. We would always find something, or just go hide. But I really like the activity jar. I know for us sometimes we had done everything we could think of and sometimes we wanted to have someone think of something fun to do. Or just do something with Mom. I always try to do things with my boys if they are asking. Sometimes I can’t, but I tell them to be patient and do it in a few minutes.

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