Oh, those dreaded three little words, “Mom, I’m bored”— to which I cheerily reply, “Good! Go find something to do.”

We live in an age where everyone wants to be entertained 24/7. Evidently I’m not the only one seeing this alarming trend, because September 17th–21st has been dubbed National Keep Kids Creative Week. While I believe creativity is more of a lifestyle than a one-time, Band-Aid fix, it’s still encouraging that people recognize the need to address this issue.

The biggest hurdle we face is the constant bombardment of media. It’s so much easier to click a button, or swipe a screen, than to put aside what we are trying to accomplish and redirect attention to some sort of craft or project. There are definitely times when media offers us a welcome — and even wholesome — choice. I’m simply suggesting there be limits in place (and I won’t take the time to discuss mine, because they are irrelevant; every family needs to come up with a plan that works for them).

My grandmother used to say she had “never been bored in her life.” Wow! What a statement! While I can’t say the same for myself, it’s impressive to think someone could lay claim to that phrase.

And here’s the thing: when limits are in place and every minute of our children’s lives isn’t filled with entertainment, inevitably they will find themselves twiddling their thumbs with boredom. Ahh, such a wonderful thing. If our kids don’t reach that place of being bored, how will they have the time or opportunity for creativity?

One of the many perks of homeschooling is all the time we have. We have the ability to keep our kids’ schedules balanced; they don’t have to sit through classes that just fill a spot on the schedule, or mandatory study halls. They can get their work done and still have time to spare. Every day.

Once you carve out the time for your children to be creative, give them the freedom to explore their interests. Encourage them to try their hand at something new. Be prepared to invest (to a reasonable degree) in the tools and materials they need to explore the area they might be curious about. For an interest like woodcarving or pottery that might need pricey tools, consider those items for birthday or Christmas gifts and find ways to learn more before spending money. For example, perhaps you could find a local woodcarver that your child could observe, or even learn from. Before investing in a kiln, take your child to a few pottery classes. Check into renting a musical instrument before buying your child his own. 

From robotics or computer programming, to sewing, gardening, or animal rescue, find something each of your kids would enjoy and give it a go.

A few suggestions for your journey would be:

• Be patient. Crocheting (for example) isn’t for everyone. Some people actually find it soothing … but guess what? You’ll never know unless you try. It’s okay to start a project and quit before it’s finished; while you don’t want it to become a habit, an occasional full stop mid-project is fine. Your child has discovered something about himself. Move on.
• Be understanding when an interest doesn’t pan out to be what your child thought it was going to be, after all. Sometimes we just don’t know what an activity entails until we’ve experienced it. This is why we try to find a way to explore new pursuits without shelling out too much of an investment, at least until you see if it’s a good fit. Remember you can always resell things, as well.
• Give them freedom. What floats your child’s boat won’t always interest you, and it might even push the boundaries of your comfort level … but creativity needs some freedom. Freedom to try, freedom to explore, and even freedom to fail. We learn a lot just from trying.

  Does one of your kids want to paint their bedroom wall a shade that hurts your eyes? Trust me, paint isn’t permanent. We once had a blaze orange bathroom because my six-year-old thought it was the best color on the planet!

• Don’t be afraid to let them get messy. Easier said than done for some of us, but mud pies and grass soup are just about the definition of creativity. Don’t stop your kids from jumping through the rain puddles or digging in the dirt — assuming they aren’t dressed for church and on their way to get in the car, of course.

  Some hobbies are downright messy. Maybe they need to take it outside, but find a way to make it happen even if you can’t handle them pursuing an interest in the house. Sometimes a project requires junk. As Thomas Edison once said, “To invent, you need a good imagination and a pile of junk.”

• Be flexible. Give them freedom to modify their school work to accommodate interests and creativity. Be willing to rearrange their school day to fit in a project or lesson, but also let them incorporate what they enjoy every day. For example: my daughter loves to draw, but doesn’t really care for reading. This year she is taking Biology, and instead of forcing her to read the textbook (which can be dry at times, even to me!), I bought the MP3 audio and she draws while she listens. It works for her.

  Maybe you have a child that hates to write papers. Let them give oral presentations instead, when you can. I’d rather write than give a speech any day of the week, but the world needs good speakers. too.

  Maybe one of your kids just needs to work somewhere other than a desk. As homeschoolers, we have the freedom to make that happen. A hammock is a great space for creative thought … maybe they’ll want to sit under a tree in the backyard and let the birds serenade their studies.

  Is your child bored out of her mind by handwriting practice? Let her make a card for a friend or relative. Take math into the kitchen; cutting up apples makes a tasty fractions lesson. Or let your hands-on child work out problems with a bag of pinto beans.

• Be accommodating: Sometimes your kids will want something that’s difficult for you to make happen. Rather than just saying no, try to find a compromise. Maybe you live in the city and they want a horse. Even if you can’t own a horse, you can find someone that does and get them exposed to equine life. Horses are a lot of work and many ranchers would welcome a hardworking kid onto their farm and may just be willing to trade riding time for horse grooming or stall cleaning. Those chores get old real fast — so you’ll find out quick if your child is really serious about horses — and build a great work ethic, as well.
• Always praise their efforts. You wouldn’t mention to your three-year-old that the square heads on his drawing are incorrectly drawn. Don’t point out the flaws in your 13-year-old’s attempt either. Chances are, your kids are going to be more critical of their own work than you are. They need encouragement and acknowledgment of their creative works, to inspire them to keep up their efforts. You can prompt them to do better in a positive way, just tread lightly. The last thing you want is for them to feel they’ll never be “good enough” and give up trying.

I’m reminded of another quote from Thomas Edison: “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” Edison was the king of not giving up; I find his life to be so fascinating. Maybe a unit study on Thomas Edison is in order if your kids need some creative inspiration!

Bottom line, if you aren’t already, become your children’s biggest cheerleader. You will never regret encouraging them to try.

 

What are your favorite tips for inspiring creativity
& defeating the “I’m so bored” monster at your house?
Share them by commenting below!

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