Christine Carter: What should a parent do when your child says, "I'm bored!"?

Christine Carter: What should a parent do when your child says, “I’m bored!”?

The author of Raising Happiness says parents shouldn't try to save kids from boredom. Besides, the complaint usually has nothing to do with being bored.

by: The GreatSchools Editorial Team

Check out The essential guide to managing your child’s behavior and discipline. In our guide, you can see all the aspects of children’s behavior that we cover. Our guide helps you understand your child鈥檚 behavior, respond with care, and use discipline effectively.

Here鈥檚 how 4 other parenting experts say to respond…

Erica Reischer
Parent coach and clinical psychologist Erica Reischer says parents shouldn’t try to fix bad feelings. Do this instead, she advises, and the payoff will be huge.
Format: Video (0:54)

Alfie Kohn
The author of 10 books on children, education, and parenting, Alfie Kohn wants parents to not only hear what their child is saying, but listen to what’s “behind the words.” Format: Article

Mary Ann Zoellner
The co-author of “Sh*tty Moms” doesn’t go for the “I’m so sorry, honey” approach to parenting. Instead, she suggests a modern fix to an age-old whine. Format: Article

Melissa Taylor
“When my kids say, ‘Mom, I’m bored!’ they hate my answer,” says Pinterest superstar Melissa Taylor. Find out why. Format: Video (0:35)

About the author

The GreatSchools Editorial Team

撸友看片 is a national nonprofit with a mission to help every child obtain a high-quality education that values their unique abilities, identities, and aspirations. We believe in the power of research-backed, actionable information to empower parents, family members, and educators to help make this happen. For 25 years, the GreatSchools Editorial Team has been working to make the latest, most important, and most actionable research in education, learning, and child development accessible and actionable for parents through articles, videos, podcasts, hands-on learning resources, email and text messaging programs, and more. Our team consists of journalists, researchers, academics, former teachers and education leaders 鈥� most of whom are also dedicated parents and family members 鈥� who not only research, fact check, and write or produce this information, but who use it in our daily lives as well. We welcome your feedback at editorial@greatschools.org.