Why boredom is important for your child's development with Susie Allison

Reflective Parenting by Curious Neuron

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Boredom is not a problem to solve but an essential skill children must develop for emotional regulation and creative thinking. When parents constantly entertain their children or rescue them from boredom, they unintentionally prevent crucial developmental growth. In today's replay episode (this is the second most downloaded episode of our podcast!) I chat with Susie Allison, founder of Busy Toddler with over 2 MILLION followers.
• Boredom is where creativity, problem-solving, and intrinsic motivation are born
• Children as young as babies can practice independent play when parents allow them space
• "Boredom busters" should be avoided - instead, honor the emotion but don't rush to fix it
• Screen time should be a predictable, scheduled tool for parents, not a boredom solution for kids
• Play shouldn't always involve adults - independent, unstructured play is where deep learning happens
• Start small with independent play - use a visual timer for young children to understand timeframes
• Creating the right environment with fewer, more intentional toys helps children engage independently
• Neurodivergent children may need different approaches to handling boredom
• Child-led play means letting children determine how they use toys without adult interference
• Expensive toys aren't necessarily better - simple household items often make the best play materials
Try the Reflective Parent Club for free for seven days to build emotion regulation skills and join our supportive community. Visit CuriousNeuron.com to access resources and learn more about supporting your child's emotional development.
Learn more from Susie on Instagram

https://busytoddler.com/

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Chapters

1. Why boredom is important for your child's development with Susie Allison (00:00:00)

2. Introducing the Reflective Parenting Podcast (00:00:14)

3. Building Emotion Regulation Skills (00:07:14)

4. The Value of Boredom with Susie Allison (00:15:49)

5. Child-Led Play vs Parent Intervention (00:24:56)

6. Supporting Independent Play Development (00:33:18)

7. Reclaiming Screen Time as a Parent Tool (00:41:52)

8. Neurodivergent Children and Boredom (00:49:06)

9. Understanding Unstructured Free Play (00:54:11)