Today we live in an age of constant electronic stimulation; whether walking down a street, riding an elevator, or taking public transit and looking at those around you; they all seem plugged-in; everyone seems preoccupied by something and their earbuds appear permanently engaged with something they’re engaged in, never giving room for contemplation, reflection and creativity – or boredom!
Babies need unstructured downtime when playing on their own without an adult present to let them play freely without restrictions or schedules. It is vital for their wellbeing that this occurs regularly.
Charles Dickens was one of the greatest and most prolific English language authors ever known, writing from 9 am until 2 pm before taking long walks through London’s streets for “down time,” inspiring his creativity with every step – in part thanks to these long walks which provided time for reflection as his books came alive!
While providing infants with quiet time alone for reflection and play may appear nonproductive, giving them this time is invaluable – it allows them to reflect upon and consolidate activities of the day while being free from outside influence while exploring their environment without distraction.
Boredom is one of those unpleasant human experiences no one enjoys; it symbolizes dissatisfaction with one’s current circumstances, leading them to feel exhausted by what lies before them; for most however, boredom engenders feelings of restlessness and anxiety that interfere with living their best lives.
What happens when babies get bored?
Their first instinct is usually to seek distraction; as children become restless they become creative; searching for anything to occupy their minds or take an interest. In doing this they could find something appealing like toys they could play with or images to gaze upon – anything to hold onto or study!
Boredom stimulates creative thought and action – from babies to adults alike! Writer Thomas Kersting noted in his book Disconnected that boredom “can act similarly to weightlifting as exercise for your brain.
Professor Foerbel considers boredom “mental fertilizer”, while criticizing parents who feel pressure to provide their young babies, especially infants, with external stimulation in every moment of life; particularly electronic stimulation.
Education that prioritizes academic preparation and an overly planned lifestyle are interfering and disrupting children’s ability to engage in “child-led” play – according to Pediatrics magazine (vol 119 issue 1)
Your children need the enrichment provided by you as parents! Engaging and sharing the daily rituals while awakening their five senses to all that the world offers will go a long way toward helping their development in these formative years of life.
Enjoy and celebrate every moment in life – take a lesson from Moses by teaching your child how to live when at home and away, lying down or standing back up! My advice to parents of my patients who want their kid with them at all times would be: Put him or her in your back pocket wherever life leads!
By including them in daily events that affect life, demonstrate to them what life really entails, and take comfort knowing you are helping their learning and development in every possible way!
From Robert C. Hamilton’s M.D. book 7 SECRETS OF THE NEWBORN: Secrets and (Happy) Surprises of the First Year with Sally Collings as co-author (c) 2018, published with permission by St Martin’s Press.