Summer is here! This time of year brings a glorious reprieve from places to be, drop-off lines to battle, and homework to manage – and hopefully brings opportunities for sun, travel, and family time!

However, when a child’s uber-scheduled days suddenly turn into a black hole of unstructured time… then come the words most parents dread:

“I’m bored!”

“There is NOTHING to do!”

“I need TV/video games/iPad!”

Don’t get me wrong – after enduring a long school year, there is nothing wrong with enjoying some screen time. However, many parents fear the unwanted side effects of excessive screen time, such as inactivity, lack of engagement, and attention or behavior issues. If you long to enforce a boundary that sticks, yet you struggle to fill your child’s time with non-screen activities, try this trick!

1.       Create a Boredom Buster Board. Involve the whole family! Brainstorm ALL the activities that involve moving, innovating, exploring, problem-solving, and novelty (remember… this isn’t just a parent wish list. As long as activities are safe and feasible, let your kids’ imaginations run wild!). If possible, use a large dry erase board so you can refresh the list throughout the summer.

2.       Hang the Boredom Buster Board in a place where your kids can easily see it. Hype it up and model using it ALL the time! “Hey, I just got an idea for the board! I’m going to add it.” “I’m not sure what to do tomorrow – can you look at the board and help me decide?”

3.       USE the board to create a rule around screen time! Depending on what’s realistic for your family, this can look a number of ways:

• First/Then: “First choose 3 things off the board, then you can choose screens.”

• Scheduled Time: “Morning is for choosing from the board, afternoon is for screens.”

• Time Limit: “You have up to 1 hour per day for screens. Then you can choose from the board!”

Detaching from screens may be hard at first, but with a consistent boundary, your kids will learn WHEN to expect screens and WHAT they can do instead! Plus, the board acts as a visual support that fosters self-management and independence.

Need more help creating a routine and managing boundaries? Reach out to chat!