Introduction Boredom has become a frequent visitor is everyone's lives these days, especially of children.
Summer vacations are underway and suddenly, all the plans of what they'll do in their time are slowly dissipating.
And if we're honest, "boredom" is a word parents aren't big fans of hearing either.
Parents then turn to different options like taking the kids to amusement parks or soccer camps or simply just tell them to engross themselves in their video games.
But are all these ways actually necessary? Why Boredom Isn't the Enemy Boredom isn't all bad, as we're led to believe.
Boredom can actually be vital for your children as it basically gives them room to think about various activities they could come up with when they hit a deadlock.
When kids are bored, they have an opportunity to utilise their imagination and really hone their creative prowess.
A quote I read in The Times by Paddy O'Donnell, professor of social psychology, describes this very well.
He said, "Boredom shouldn't last long if children are in the right environment where they're dragged off either by curiosity or the desire to socialise.
It continues only if there's no one to play with or the environment is too restrictive.
" But then again, there's also not much wrong with an occasional video game or a week of soccer or sport camp - and neither are weekends away to theme parks - but instead of supplying children with a constant supply of activities they'll be engrossed in, give them the free environment to think some of their own.
Combating Boredom You can help your children build environments where their imagination and fun will thrive in your home, out on the street or at your local playground.
It's going to be a bit challenging at first but will definitely pay off in the long run.
Children will flood these areas with their boredom and eventually, come to terms with it as they continue to play.
Bringing the Beach Home If you live in a landlocked area or visiting the beach isn't on the cards, you can always bring the beach to you.
Children love environments and areas they can manipulate according to their liking, and that's exactly what you see at the beaches too - children digging away in the sand and making whatever they like.
Take the hint and consider building a DIY sandbox with water sprinklers and watch as the hours pass by for your little ones.
Improvised Playgrounds And if that doesn't suit your requirements, you could always opt for an improvised playground.
Improvised or "pop-up" playgrounds consist basically of, what to adult minds are, scrap materials and objects, but to children they could be anything their mind makes them.
Children have the ability to see a cardboard box or stack of newspapers as playing equipment and will inevitably turn them into their own kingdoms.
And the best part of all this is that it hardly costs a penny, so you won't have to worry about any unnecessary costs.
Street Play Street play is possibly the most enjoyable of all the, previously mentioned, forms of play.
Encourage your children to embrace the streets and outdoor environments and can always come in handy when you don't have enough space indoors.
Sign a petition with the city hall and close down a residential street to vehicles for a daily, scheduled time and provide your children with instantaneous fun.
It isn't hard, and can easily be done through a few prominent figures in a neighbourhood.
Conclusion Children require play and boredom may hamper it for a while, but with these sure-shot steps, you can guarantee that they won't be left hanging for hours wondering what activity to indulge in.