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Working Through Boredom

Boredom and children don't make the best companions. As lot of a parent's time can be spent in trying to keep boredom out of their child's life. Yet there are times when it impossible to keep boredom at day and kids come up with interesting strategies to cope with it.

A few weeks ago, J and I were at standing in a long queue someplace. There is nothing to do except wait for our turn so J decided to find a way to occupy herself. She started to breathe out in the direction of the bushes that were planted along the path. When I asked her what she was doing J replied "I am giving food to the plants" A few days ago J had observed that all people on the planet will die if they keep cutting down trees as they are doing now "There will be no oxygen left for us to breathe".

She has been learning how plants make their food and that lesson came handy in alleviating boredom while standing in line - waiting. Whether alone or with their friends, I have found kids are often able to find diversion and amusement in places and ways that adults could not even conceive of. When we take it upon ourselves to help our children overcome boredom, we probably do more harm than good. Instead, we might learn something about seeing the mundane in extraordinary light by watching our children do so.

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Anonymous said…
" I have found kids are often able to find diversion and amusement in places and ways that adults could not even conceive of. When we take it upon ourselves to help our children overcome boredom, we probably do more harm than good".

You are ssso absolutely correct !
5:17 AM
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