The 1 Response To Have Up Your Sleeve When Kids Say 'I'm Bored'

Today, 12 August, is the day that kids reach peak school summer holiday boredom, apparently – yet chances are you’ve already heard your fair share of ‘I’m bored’ and ‘can you play with me?’ comments over the six-week break.If this resonates, parents on Reddit might just have a handy retort to try which can encourage kids to either help tick things off your daily to-do list – or go off and play with something while you get things done. In a recent post on r/Parenting, a parent of a nine-year-old said if their son isn’t allowed on the Playstation or iPad, “he literally follows us around the house”.“We suggest all types of things and he doesn’t want to do any of them,” said the baffled parent before listing all the toys available to him. “He just doesn’t want to do anything by himself.”They asked Redditors (and fellow parents) for tips on how to get their child playing independently – and the top comment has been upvoted over 400 times for good reason. “When mine follow me around while I’m doing chores, I give them a chore to do,” said the parent of a three- and five-year-old.“I’ve told them ‘if you keep following me around while I’m doing chores, I’m gonna give you a chore to do’ and when I say that they’ll usually go find something else to do.”Genius.“I do this, too,” said another parent. “Half the time they help. The other half, they pout and storm off into their room. Within 10 minutes or so, they miraculously remember they have toys, crayons, books, and imaginations.”It turns out this incredibly simple response seems to encourage a lot of kids to find something else to do, sharpish. “I started doing this when my 6 year old whines about how bored she is. She usually takes off and hides,” said one commenter.Another affirmed it worked on them growing up: “Was raised on ‘if you tell me you are bored, I’ll find a chore for you.’ Can confirm this works.”And it turns out getting kids involved in chores could benefit them well into adulthood.A 75-year study from Harvard found that children who were encouraged to do chores around the house were more likely to be happier as adults, have more empathy towards others, and be more successful in their careers.Listing the benefits, a paediatrician from Utah – known as TikTok Kid Doc – said “having your children do chores gives them a sense of self-worth and it helps them to realise that they’re contributing to a larger ecosystem”.“They become more selfless, they become more willing and able to see the needs of other people around them.“Chores also strengthen family bonds with siblings and with parents. And chores help to instil a better work ethic which translates pretty well into school and career success.”Using this hack today, tomorrow and always. Related...UK Beachgoers Warned Not To Walk Barefoot On Sand This SummerWelcome To The Sh**show, AKA The Working Parent Summer Holiday JuggleI'm A Psychologist – This Is Why Summer Can Be So Hard On Neurodiverse Kids

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