Helping Kids Survive Summer
How kids can escape boredom during the dog days of summer.
Posted May 20, 2026 | Reviewed by Lybi Ma
For many children, summer opens the door to more relaxed schedules, travel to different locations, visiting relatives, and expanded time to choose their activities. Initially, this freedom is a welcome relief from the constricted settings of the school year. But after a brief honeymoon period, many parents start to hear the dreaded words, “I’m bored. ” The first response may offer possible solutions, activities the kids enjoy or have been talking about, options to visit friends, things that need to be done for chores, or self-care. Kids might reply with silence or say that the suggestion doesn’t sound good or fun. Children can stay in this state of tension for hours, torn between wanting something to do and not finding anything satisfying enough to actually pursue. It’s painful for everyone.
The literature on emotions and where they come from offers some tips for how to think about and manage this complicated situation. There are two key emotions likely contributing to how children behave in these situations: boredom and interest. Boredom emerges when the environment is not a match for our goals , and we don’t care about anything that is happening. This can be because nothing is happening, but people can also feel bored when a lot is happening—they just don’t care about any of it. Boredom is painful to experience, and motivates people to seek out something (anything!) new and different. Interest arises when there is something new, and people believe they have the ability and resources to explore and cope with whatever is new. Interest signals that there might be opportunities available, and motivates learning and exploration. If you imagine someone sitting quietly in a safe space, you can think of interest as the carrot that entices them to leave the shelter because they see a new opportunity, and boredom as the stick that drives them out of the shelter—they cannot take it anymore.
Although both emotions motivate people to change, they probably very rarely occur at the same time. People feel bored when there’s nothing they care about, and they have to care about something to feel interested enough to pursue opportunities. This complexity leads people to become entangled in an emotional snare that is hard to emerge from. They’re bored and want to do something different, but nothing seems interesting enough to do. This happens to everyone, but it’s particularly hard for kids who are still learning to regulate their emotions.
What can help children struggling to manage their boredom?
Boredom is probably inevitable; it seems to be felt frequently throughout the day for most people. But that does not mean it has to trap our kids or us. When children face the struggle of boredom and reach out for help, parents and caregivers can help them escape. Learning this young can set children up for a life where they are better prepared to face challenges and take on new opportunities.
Share this post Facebook Bluesky Linkedin Email
There was a problem adding your email address. Please try again.
By submitting your information you agree to the Psychology Today Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy
Heather Lench, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences and Senior Associate Vice President for Faculty Affairs at Texas A&M University.
Get the help you need from a therapist near you–a FREE service from Psychology Today.
This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.