News Detail
Daisies in the Middle
The Hidden Gift of Boredom: Why Unstructured Time Matters for Adolescents and Teens
When your daughter says, “I’m bored,” it may be tempting to fix it right away. Many adults quickly offer an activity, suggest a screen, or make a plan. But boredom is not always a bad thing. In small doses, it can help adolescents grow in healthy ways. As psychologist Lisa Damour reminds parents, “The job of teenagers is to become independent.” Unstructured time gives them opportunities to practice that independence in everyday ways.
Middle school students live busy lives filled with school, activities, friendships, and technology. While those things are important, students also need quiet, unplanned time. These slower moments give them space to think, create, and learn how to manage their own time.
Boredom can lead to creativity, independence, and resilience. When students are not entertained, they often come up with their own ideas. They may draw, write, build, explore outside, or start a new project. Sometimes boredom is the first step toward imagination and innovation. Instead of depending on adults to plan every moment, students learn to make choices, solve problems, and take initiative. These skills are especially important during middle school. Not every moment in life is exciting or fun. Learning to handle boredom helps students practice patience and cope with discomfort without needing instant entertainment.
With gratitude,
Ms. Hall
Middle School Counselor & Counseling Department Chair
Back
Ideas for Summer Downtime: Making Space to Be Bored
Summer can be a great time to slow down. Not every day needs to be filled with camps, travel, or activities. Leaving some open time in the schedule gives your daughter room to rest, think, and choose what to do on her own.
- Plan “nothing time” each week with no scheduled activity.
- Limit screen use during certain parts of the day.
- Encourage time outside in the yard, park, or neighborhood.
- Keep art supplies, books, journals, or puzzles easy to reach.
- Let your daughter choose and plan her own afternoon activity.
- Encourage projects like baking, gardening, organizing, or learning a new skill.
- Make time for walks, quiet car rides, or screen-free family time.
- Allow slow mornings or unscheduled afternoons.
- When she says, “I’m bored,” try saying, “I wonder what you’ll come up with.”
These moments may seem simple, but they often help confidence, creativity, and independence grow.
With gratitude,
Ms. Hall
Middle School Counselor & Counseling Department Chair
The Hockaday School
Within the private school community, The Hockaday School is an independent college-preparatory day school for girls from grades PK–12 located in Dallas, Texas. Students realize their limitless potential through challenging academic curricula, arts, athletics, and extracurricular programs so that they are inspired to lead lives of purpose and impact.
The Hockaday School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law in the administration of its educational, admissions, financial aid, athletic, and other policies and programs.
The Hockaday School does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, ethnicity, creed, religion, sexual orientation, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law in the administration of its educational, admissions, financial aid, athletic, and other policies and programs.