“Mom, I’m bored.” Those three words are enough to make many parents cringe. They often signal the start of a spiral—whining, pestering, maybe even arguments over screen time. We feel pressure to solve the problem: to offer an activity, suggest a solution, or hand over a device just to quiet the storm.

As a church leader, you can speak into this common problem that children experience. Parents don’t know what to do and sometimes take on the responsibility of being the cruise directors for their kids. You can share this solution with them and bless them in a practical way.

What if boredom isn’t a problem to solve? What if it’s actually an opportunity? In a world saturated with instant entertainment, our children rarely experience unfilled time. With a screen always within arm’s reach, the moment they feel restless or unengaged, there’s an easy fix. But the ease of that solution might be costing them something important. As parents, we need to rethink boredom—not as something to eliminate, but as something to redeem.

The Discomfort of Boredom

At the heart of boredom is discomfort. Something inside says, “I don’t know what to do with myself.” That internal restlessness used to be the starting place for imagination. It pushed children to pick up a stick and turn it into a sword, to gather pillows and build a fort, or to write a story just because they could.

But now, that same restlessness often leads straight to a screen. The brain learns to associate discomfort with stimulation. And over time, children become dependent on external input to feel okay. That’s a heart issue.

It’s not just about attention span or activity level. It’s about how a child learns to manage their inner world. Do they have the internal strength to sit in silence, to reflect, to create, or to endure frustration? Or do they expect to be entertained constantly, reacting with anger or sadness when those expectations aren’t met?

Boredom, when embraced properly, becomes a training ground for emotional resilience and creativity. But it means that parents must respond differently. Instead of rescuing or directing them to do a particular thing, maybe it would be better to transfer the responsibility to the child. Let me explain. First, we must understand that boredom is really stillness, and using it is an important part of maturity.

What the Bible Says About Stillness

Although Scripture doesn’t use the word “boredom,” it has a lot to say about stillness and reflection. Psalm 46:10 famously calls us to “Be still, and know that I am God.” Stillness is not a passive experience—it’s a posture of the heart that allows us to tune in, rather than check out.

Boredom gives space for those discoveries to take place. And, this isn’t just a word for children. It’s also important for parents—and for church leaders.

Here’s a story from home. A mother once told me how she decided to take a two-week break from screens in her house. Her kids, ages seven and ten, were furious. The first two days were full of complaints and emotional outbursts. They didn’t know what to do with themselves.

But by day three, something shifted. Her son started collecting sticks in the backyard to build a fort. Her daughter pulled out art supplies and began painting. They invented games. They found books they hadn’t touched in months. Their relationships improved too—less fighting, more shared laughter. By the end of the second week, both kids admitted they didn’t miss the screens as much as they thought they would.

What changed? The space boredom created allowed their minds and hearts to reawaken. That’s because boredom trains the heart to think and act differently. It’s just one illustration of the way a heart-based approach works. In heart-based parenting, we focus on what’s going on beneath the surface. That means using everyday challenges as training moments—not just for behavior, but for character.

Boredom is one of those moments.

When a child says, “I’m bored,” we don’t have to panic. Instead, we can respond with calm curiosity. “Interesting. What might you do with this time?” We can guide them toward reflection: “What’s something you’ve wanted to try but haven’t had time for?” We can even affirm the discomfort: “It’s okay to feel bored. Sometimes great ideas come from that space.”

Each time we do this, we’re helping the child build the internal muscles of patience, curiosity, and contentment. We’re teaching them that their emotions don’t need to be solved immediately—and that they can face discomfort without escape. Over time, that training adds up.

So, if you’re ready to turn boredom into a blessing, here are a few simple ways to start. First, don’t rescue too quickly. It’s tempting to rush in with ideas, but let your child sit in the discomfort for a few minutes. Boredom can be the seedbed of creativity if given time.

You might even create a space for the heart to work by designating quiet hours, or if you need to start small, quiet minutes. Try setting aside a time each day when screens are off and kids must find their own way to use the time.

Long-Term Gains

Children who learn to manage boredom become adults who can sit in silence without anxiety. They become workers who can focus without needing constant stimulation, friends who listen deeply, and believers who can reflect on Scripture and wait on God.

In contrast, those who are trained to avoid boredom at all costs often grow up dependent on distraction. They struggle to finish tasks, to be alone, or to persevere when things get hard. That’s not just a lifestyle issue—it’s a spiritual issue.

And it starts, surprisingly enough, with letting them be bored.

Dr. Scott Turansky is a professor at Concordia University where he teaches parenting to Masters Level students getting a Family Life Education Degree. He also heads up the National Center for Biblical Parenting where he has trained over 500 parent coaches. He’s co-authored 15 books on parenting and teaches globally about a heart-based approach to parenting. He and his wife Carrie have 5 children and 12 grandchildren and live in New Jersey. He has been a pastor for over 40 years and enjoys taking Biblical teaching and applying it to the family. You can learn more at biblicalparenting.org.