As kids across the country celebrate being out of school for the summer, some parents don’t let a day go by before sending them to camps, programs and extracurriculars. While moms and dads think their kids need their days to be filled with productive activities, it turns out, more unstructured time may be the better way to go.
Instead of trying to keep children busy all summer, giving them a break and letting them get bored might be just what they need. “Kid rotting” is a trendy new name for what summer break used to be like, lots of lounging, daydreaming and not having much to do. Parents may worry that all that free time will make kids lazy or spend too much time on a screen, experts say the opposite is true. When they get bored, kids get creative, start daydreaming and that’s when imagination, independence and creativity take over.
"When kids aren't scheduled every minute, they learn how to problem-solve, explore their interests and build confidence," explains psychotherapist Nicole Runyon. “Unstructured time allows children to discover what motivates them and brings them joy.”
But having some boundaries can help:
- A little downtime doesn’t have to turn into hours lost to gaming, scrolling or YouTube. Parents can make rules and say no to unlimited screen time.
- Instead of focusing on taking away screens, try reframing “free time” as something exciting kids can decide how to use, by playing games, exploring outside, or hanging out with friends.
- Let kids get messy when they get creative. Whether it’s painting, making slime or cooking, it can all be cleaned up.
Source: Good Morning America⠀