Parents should resist the urge to rescue children from every moment of boredom, instead allowing them the opportunity to discover their interests, develop creativity and learn how to persevere through challenges. This is the central message of an opinion article by Dr Karen Abrams, who argues that boredom should not automatically be treated as a problem requiring immediate intervention.
In her article, published in the Kaieteur News on November 1, 2026, titled “I’m Bored – When did boredom become a reason to quit, and why are parents so quick to rescue children from it?”, Abrams challenges what she sees as a growing tendency among parents to interpret a child’s loss of interest in an activity as a reason to withdraw them.
Abrams- educator, Founder and Executive Director of STEMGuyana and Pathway Online Academy– argues that children should not be encouraged to abandon every activity simply because the excitement of something new has worn off. Learning to remain committed, work through frustration and find new ways to engage with an activity are important lessons that extend well beyond childhood.
Reflecting on her own upbringing, Abrams writes:
“My parents were not employed as my personal entertainment coordinators…”
Her experience illustrates the value of allowing children time and space to entertain themselves, explore their interests and develop independence.
Child development experts also emphasise that parental involvement is essential to a child’s healthy growth. Staying engaged helps build confidence, emotional security, resilience, communication and social skills, while supporting learning and academic achievement. It also enables parents to recognise developmental challenges early and provide timely guidance. Most importantly, children benefit from knowing their parents are present, attentive and supportive while allowing them the freedom to explore, make mistakes and develop independence.
Abrams’ argument is not that parents should ignore their children’s concerns or force them to remain in every activity. Rather, she encourages parents to distinguish between genuine distress, an unsuitable programme or poor instruction and the temporary frustration that can accompany learning something new.
Instead of immediately withdrawing a child who says they are bored, parents can ask what they have tried, what they find difficult and what might make the experience more interesting. Such conversations encourage children to reflect, identify challenges and become active participants in finding solutions.
Research on boredom also supports the idea that it can serve a constructive purpose. Psychologists Sandi Mann and Rebekah Cadman have examined the relationship between boredom and creativity, while researchers James Danckert and John Eastwood have explored boredom as an experience that can prompt people to seek more meaningful engagement.
The lessons are particularly important as children progress through school and eventually enter adulthood. Academic achievement, university life, employment and entrepreneurship all require patience, discipline and the ability to continue working when an activity is no longer exciting.
Abrams, a mother of four young adults, encourages parents to look beyond keeping children constantly entertained and consider the long-term qualities they want them to develop. Creativity, perseverance, self-direction and the ability to tolerate discomfort are not necessarily developed when adults arrange every moment of a child’s day.
Her message is a reminder that parenting involves more than providing opportunities and removing obstacles. It also means preparing children to face difficulties, make decisions and discover what they are capable of achieving.
Rather than treating every declaration of “I’m bored” as a reason to quit, parents can use those moments to encourage curiosity, imagination and perseverance.
Sometimes, the space children need to grow begins when adults resist the temptation to fill every moment for them.
