Thread by @jengland1226

😱 Your kids' summer boredom is coming.

That's a good thing...if you don't solve it for them.

But if you let them be bored...

You let them learn the lesson of a lifetime.

Here are 5 benefits of boredom. 🧵

1. Boredom is a problem-solving activity.

Every parent dreads these words, "Dad, I'm bored."

Your kids want you to solve their problem.

Don't do it.

You steal their ability to learn how to solve their own problems and wear you out in the process.

2. Boredom leads to creativity.

Leave a child with two forks and nothing to do and they will create a game or a story in minutes.

Shakespeare, Newton, and Einstein all came up with their amazing ideas while isolated with nothing to do but think.

3. Boredom can build a sense of fulfillment.

Your bored kids will start a new project.

Their project will take planning, preparation and work.

When they finish, they will get that sense of fulfillment that only comes from creating something on your own.

4. Learning from failure.

Some of their projects will fail.

The fort will collapse, the art won't look quite right, and the cookies will burn.

You may be tempted to save them from the disappointment.

Don't!

Their failures will teach them to overcome hardship.

5. Grow their people skills.

Often, a bored child will seek others to do something with.

This leads to pretend games, impromptu sports, or shared storytelling.

Kids must learn cooperation, fairness, and negotiation.

People skills lead to high performance later in life.

Remember: Boredom leads to...

- Problem-solving skills
- Creativity
- Fulfillment
- Learning from failure
- People skills

Let your kids be bored this summer.

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I cover the politics of education, how kids learn, and amazing learning models to help your kids match the greatness you see in them.

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