May 02, 2020 12:00:00

Researchers argue that creativity and concentration are born from 'boredom', and that 'children don't need to be entertained all the time'

With schools closed and people stuck at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many people and children are likely feeling bored.

Research has shown that people would rather be given an electric shock than be locked in a room with no external stimuli for 15 minutes. However, Mandy Shane, a professor of education at Edith Cowan University, argues that boredom isn't necessarily a bad thing. She argues that boredom can actually be a source of creativity and focus. 'There's no need to entertain bored children,' she says.

Parents, you don't always need to entertain your kids – boredom is good for them
https://theconversation.com/parents-you-dont-always-need-to-entertain-your-kids-boredom-is-good-for-them-136383

◆Why do people get bored?

Boredom is a temporary emotional state, and bored people experience unpleasant feelings, loss of interest in tasks, and difficulty paying attention. Therefore, even if they have something to do, they are unable to immerse themselves in that activity.

Boredom can be caused by a variety of factors, including poor nutrition, lack of mental stimulation, and excessive repetition. Reward-sensitive people are particularly susceptible to boredom because they need constant emotional satisfaction.

Additionally,

a 2006 study showed that when adults choose what children do, they are more likely to become bored than when they choose what to do themselves, suggesting that a lack of control may also be related to boredom.

Is boredom a bad thing?

However, boredom is not necessarily a bad thing.

Research has shown that after completing a boring task, people engage in divergent thinking, such as 'discovering various uses for an item,' 'connecting seemingly unrelated ideas,' and 'generating creative ideas.' It has also been shown that people who perform a boring task such as 'sorting beans by color' subsequently produce more quantitatively and qualitatively superior ideas than people who perform a 'fun paper craft.' Another way of saying this is that 'creativity is born when bored people seek stimulation.'

On the other hand, some people may try to alleviate boredom by using their smartphones or other devices, but this is said to have the opposite effect. Working shallowly rather than immersing yourself in something reduces a person's ability to concentrate, stay on task, and achieve a flow state .

Using smartphones to alleviate boredom is actually increasing boredom - GIGAZINE

When you're bored, sitting down and thinking about 'how to eliminate boredom' is a way to train your concentration through difficult or monotonous tasks. When there's no external stimulation, you need to find stimulation from within. In other words, boredom can be considered an exercise of the mind.

How to solve boredom

As you can see from the above, boredom is necessary for people. Therefore, even if your child seems bored, parents do not need to feel guilty for not entertaining their child.

Shane lists six things to check when your child is bored:

1. Make sure your child is not hungry or tired. These factors can make your child appear bored, when in reality they just don't have the energy to be active.

2: The ongoing COVID-19 quarantine is an 'abnormal situation' in which people are losing a sense of control. For this reason, one way to help children regain a sense of control is to present them with 'choices.' Options can include 'where to eat dinner,' 'what to eat,' and 'the order in which to do things.'

3. Parents should avoid feeling responsible for their children's bad experiences. By solving the problem of boredom themselves, children can develop internal skills such as attention, self-control, and creativity.

4: It's also important to tell your children not to be afraid of the emotions that come with boredom. Boredom is a sign that change is needed. Encourage your children to come up with ideas, get them passionate about one of them, and hold them responsible for their choices.

5: When children are bored, they may just be having difficulty starting something. This is not actually boredom, so it's important to teach them how to get started.

6. Mobile devices provide an easy way to get distracted, and they can easily take away our focus. Set aside time as a family to turn off mobile devices and immerse yourself in something meaningful. Creativity can emerge unexpectedly. If we allow our mobile devices to constantly distract us, we will not achieve what we could have achieved.