Embrace Boredom This Summer (And Let Little Imaginations Soar)

As parents, it’s normal for us to feel that summer can be a burden. Fill every day on the calendar with infinite entertainment, activities, day trips and snacks, and oh yeah: make it magical. Camps, swim lessons, soccer, music classes. The more boxes we check, the more it feels like we’re doing it ‘right.’ We want to see our kids busy, active, and thriving. But at what cost?

Schedules fill up fast as our wallets seem to drain out. We pour so much time, energy, and money into activities meant to enrich their lives, but do you ever think ‘is it really worth it’?  And more importantly, is it truly what our children need right now?

There’s no denying that sports and extracurriculars offer value. They teach teamwork, discipline, social skills. But the question we often forget to ask is: Could some of those same benefits be found in your own backyard?

Maybe it’s a quiet game of catch after dinner, a morning bike ride with dad. A neighborhood playdate where no one’s rushing anywhere. These simple, low-pressure moments can be just as fulfilling and carry the added bonus of meaningful connection.

When we adapt play to our little ones instead of placing them in large group settings, something powerful happens. We meet them where they are developmentally. We notice their interests and quirks. We create a space for tailored learning, where a love for dinosaurs or baking or building can be nurtured one-on-one without distraction or comparison.

There’s safety in that too - not just physical, but emotional safety. A child who feels seen and heard in their play builds confidence. They begin to trust their voice and follow their curiosity instead of waiting for someone else to lead the way.

And then there’s rest - something we overlook far too often. Our lives as parents are overstimulating. We’re juggling work, housework, relationships, and the invisible weight of ‘getting it right.’ Why add that same pressure to our children?

This blog isn’t an anti-camp message. It’s not about quitting sports or skipping every class. Those things absolutely have their place. But so does nothing. We need to hold space for open time: slow mornings, lazy afternoons, and the powerful words, ‘I’m bored.’

Because one of my core beliefs in early childhood is this: imagination thrives from boredom.

It’s in those quiet, unscheduled moments that creativity takes off. A box becomes a spaceship. A puddle becomes a science lab. A stick becomes a magic wand. No adult-led curriculum could ever compete with the worlds they build on their own.

And in a world that’s increasingly looking for out-of-the-box thinkers, we need to give our kids permission to think outside the box. That doesn’t come from constant direction - it comes from exploration. From space. From not knowing what comes next.

So this summer, leave some gaps in the calendar. Let them be bored. Let them lead. You might be surprised where their imagination takes them - if only we’re brave enough to step back and give them the room to soar.

Because being the best version of themselves doesn’t start with being the busiest, it starts with having the space to figure out who they truly are.

MG