I'm BORED! The Developmental Benefits of Boredom

Authored By Elise Weinstein, M.S. CCC-SLP, Speech Therapist at The Village Therapy Place

The Benefits of Boredom

In households across America, children complain to their parents, “I’m bored!” With entire stores dedicated to the entertainment of children and the vast selection of toys available today, you would think our children would be happily occupied. And yet…the cry of boredom persists.

Our children have become so used to being provided with a stimulating environment and opportunities for entertainment that they have not had enough opportunity to just…be bored. And boredom can actually be beneficial for development in so many ways. Boredom fosters...

·        Creativity

·        Independence

·        Critical Thinking

·        Planning/Praxis

·        Language

·        Motor Development

·        Confidence

When children are bored and need to figure out what to do on their own, they have the opportunity to become independent, and forced to exercise creativity to create a plan for how to entertain themselves. They use language and critical thinking skills to figure out how to design a new game or activity, and then execute that plan with their fine and gross motor skills. This in turn builds confidence, as children feel proud of their new creations.

So the next time your children complain of boredom, remember that boredom is an opportunity to inspire creativity, independence, and critical thinking skills…and let your children banish boredom on their own.

Who We Are:

We are The Village Therapy Place, a multidisciplinary pediatric therapy center located in Wyckoff, NJ- in Bergen County. We aim to provide integrative, neurodevelopmental, individualized, pediatric therapy in a warm, fun, and collaborative environment. 

We offer pediatric services that include physical therapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy, feeding therapy, and DIR Floortime.  

 At The Village Therapy Place, we utilize current and evidence-based treatment techniques to help treat your child during his PT, OT, speech therapy, feeding therapy and DIR Floortime session. These include sensory integration, reflex integration, therapeutic listening, Kinesiotape, craniosacral therapy, NDT, BrainGym, feeding therapy, PROMPT, to name a few. 

Our expert pediatric therapists offer a variety of treatment options, including 30/45/60 minute sessions, group classes, at home sessions and virtual therapy to best suit your child’s needs. 

 The pediatric physical therapists, occupational therapists & speech therapists at The Village Therapy Place are in constant contact with a child's caregivers to facilitate lasting change. 

Call us today at (201) 201-8220 or email us at office@thevillagetherapyplace.com to speak with a pediatric expert who will help your child thrive!