Opinion: Borka Schuster
Every summer, the same thing happens. I open social media, and within minutes I'm hit with twenty videos on how to build a mini amusement park at home, set up a sensory play station, plan a themed adventure week, or come up with fifty creative activities in case your child stays bored for more than five minutes.
The intention is good, of course. We all want to build lovely memories with our kids, and most of us could honestly use a little creative backup by day three, when the ideas start running dry. Naturally, we want summer break to feel special, full of shared moments we'll smile about years from now.
And there's nothing wrong with that.
My problem is more with the fact that social media sometimes acts like summer break is a two-month kids' entertainment project — one where the mom is solely in charge, and apparently has nothing better to do than make her child's every day magical.
As if a child needs a scheduled activity every waking minute. As if we have absolutely nothing else to do for two and a half months.
As if we're bad parents when a random Tuesday morning doesn't include homemade ice cream, salt-dough sculptures, and a rainbow obstacle course all at once.
I've fallen into this trap too
There were summers when I felt like I had to organize something constantly. A trip, a craft project, some baking together, a playground visit, an activity — and just to be safe, one more activity.
These experiences matter, of course, and it's worth making a few plans for the weeks when we're actually on vacation. But most of us don't spend the entire summer off work. We're trying to hold down a job, run a household, function as the family's logistics manager, and on top of all that, engineer an unforgettable break as if we were the creative director of a family theme park.
That's simply not a realistic expectation.
And here's what matters even more: it isn't even necessary
Because whatever the internet suggests, it does no harm for a child to be bored now and then.
In fact, quite the opposite.
Developmental psychology and research into childhood creativity have long shown that boredom isn't necessarily a negative state. When a child isn't handed a ready-made activity, isn't being entertained by someone, and isn't facing a constant stream of stimulation, they're forced to figure out what to do with their own time.
That's when their imagination kicks in.
They build a fort in the living room, invent a game, start drawing, make up a story — or simply gaze around, daydream, and let their thoughts wander.
Researchers say these seemingly "do-nothing" stretches play an important role in developing creativity, problem-solving skills, and independence.
And I'm speaking from personal experience: the classic "I'm boooored" chorus, if we don't rush to fix it immediately, tends to fade surprisingly fast. Lo and behold, kids start tinkering with something on their own.
It's even possible that these lazy, do-nothing afternoons end up creating warmer memories than the fiftieth Pinterest suggestion. Maybe that's exactly what our own kids will hold onto from summer, the same thing we remember: that easy, blurred-together, sticky, endless-feeling sensation those breaks left behind.
So here's what I say: collect shared memories, watch shooting stars, hit the beach, and eat ice cream for lunch! But don't feel guilty for not filling every single day hour by hour. Not only are you creating needless guilt for yourself, you may not even be doing your child any favors by trying.
Is boredom actually good for children?
According to developmental psychology and research on childhood creativity, boredom isn't necessarily negative. Without constant stimulation, children are pushed to invent their own games and activities, which helps their imagination and independence grow.
Do I need to plan activities for my kids all summer?
No. While a few planned outings are worthwhile, especially during your own time off, most parents can't fill every hour, and they don't need to. Unstructured time has real value for kids.
What happens when kids complain they're bored?
If you don't jump in to fix it right away, the complaints usually fade quickly. Children tend to start finding something to do on their own within a short time.
Why do I feel guilty for not entertaining my kids constantly?
A lot of that pressure comes from social media, which can make summer look like a nonstop entertainment project run entirely by mom. That's an unrealistic expectation, and letting it go is better for both you and your child.
