How do I help my child find joy in boredom again? 

Parenting Perspective 

For many children today, boredom feels like a problem to be solved instantly with a screen. In reality, boredom can be a gateway to creativity, self-reflection, and inner peace, but only if we allow it the space to work its quiet magic. Helping your child find joy in boredom means showing them that unstructured time is not wasted time, but a precious opportunity to explore the landscape of their own imagination. 

Reframe Boredom as an Invitation 

Begin by talking about boredom in a positive light. You could gently suggest, “That feeling of boredom is just your brain getting ready to have a brilliant new idea,” or, “I find my best thoughts come when I am a little bit bored.” This simple shift in language reframes quiet moments as an opportunity, not a problem, and removes the panic that often accompanies them. 

Protect the Space for Boredom to Grow 

If a screen is always available as an immediate escape route, boredom will never have a chance to blossom into something more. Intentionally create times in the day when all devices are put away, even if this is met with initial complaints. It is in these quiet, screen-free moments that self-driven play, creative thought, and genuine resourcefulness finally have a chance to emerge. 

Offer a ‘Boredom Toolkit’ 

To help ease the transition, you could prepare a “boredom toolkit.” This is not a set of instructions, but a collection of open-ended resources, such as a box filled with art supplies, a basket of building blocks, interesting puzzles, or objects from nature like shells and pinecones. The key is to avoid prescribing an activity; instead, you simply provide the tools and let their own imagination decide what to do with them. 

Model Comfort in Stillness 

Children absorb the emotional atmosphere of the home. Let them see you enjoying moments of quiet contemplation whether it is sipping a cup of tea by the window, reading a book, or simply sitting in the garden without a need to be busy. Your calm example teaches a powerful lesson: that it is not only okay to slow down, but it is also a peaceful and restorative way to be. 

Over time, as your child experiences the small discoveries and unique creations that are born from these quiet moments, they will slowly rediscover that boredom is not an empty space to be feared, but a quiet doorway to their own unique ideas and adventures. 

Spiritual Insight 

Islam has always encouraged moments of quiet reflection and stillness (tafakkur). These pauses allow the heart to remember Allah Almighty and the mind to find clarity amidst the noise of daily life. Just as constant distraction can cloud our connection to faith, learning to be content without stimulation can bring profound peace and insight. 

Allah Almighty states in the noble Quran at Surah Aalai Imran (3), Verse 191: 

‘Those people who remember Allah (Almighty) while standing, and sitting, and whilst (lying asleep) on their sides; and they contemplate on the creation of the layers of trans universal existence and the Earth (and say): “O our Sustainer, You have not created all of this without purpose (and irrefutable nature and logic), praise be to You (Allah Almighty)…”’ 

This verse teaches us that states of physical stillness standing, sitting, or lying down are the very states in which deep, worshipful reflection on creation can take place. 

It is recorded in Riyad as-Salihin, Hadith 97, that the holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said: 

‘There are two blessings which many people lose: health and free time for doing good.’ 

This hadith frames “free time” not as a void to be filled with distraction, but as a precious blessing from Allah. By helping your child embrace boredom, you are teaching them how to use this blessing wisely. You give them the ability to fill their own time with creativity, thought, and remembrance of Allah a skill that will serve them beautifully in this world and the Hereafter.