What a Wait for Dinner, a Scrunched-Up Receipt, Pram Peg, a Cup, and a One-Year-Old Taught Me…
By Sarah | Educator, Creative and Mum
As I sit here watching my kids play with my husband’s childhood marbles and jigsaw puzzles, after a full morning in the creek with sticks, rocks, and mud, I can’t help but think:
This is the magic. And the magic is so simple.
We’re so quick these days to set up our kids with the things we think are beneficial — the best educational toys, high-tech learning apps, programs to make them read faster. But… are we missing the whole point?
Is all of this really better for them?
My answer is: no, it’s not.
Now I’m not saying those things don’t have merit — they do. But what I’ve seen, time and time again, is that simple is often best. We’re overwhelming our kids (and ourselves) with “all the things,” rushing to keep them busy or stop them being bored — and in the process, we’re depriving them of the most magical gift:
The time and space to be bored.
Because boredom? That’s when creativity comes alive. That’s when children reset, regulate, solve problems, and let their imaginations stretch. That’s when they grow.
The Lesson We Learned With a Scrunched-Up Receipt and a Cup
When our eldest was one, we were on holidays by the beach. We went out for dinner early, trying to avoid toddler hanger, only to be told the chef was running late. We didn’t realise we’d be waiting for over an hour… and I was not prepared.
No toy bag. No backup plan. Just nappies, wipes, a few rationed biscuits, a receipt, and a pram peg.
After a few songs and chats, we scrunched up the receipt into a ball and threw it into a cup. Our toddler laughed and played. Then he used the pram peg to try and pick up the paper and drop it in. This turned into a full-blown game with sound effects, cheering, and connection.
Forty minutes passed. No meltdowns. No screens. Just a moment that stuck with us — eight years later.
We still talk about that dinner. Because it reminds us: kids don’t need much.
Why Are We Filling the Gaps So Quickly?
At restaurants, doctors’ offices, in cars — screens come out the second there’s a pause. But what are we teaching in those quiet, waiting moments? Are we offering our children time to reflect, be mindful, get curious, or be present?
Why are we so quick to fill every gap?
Why are we afraid of letting our kids be bored?
We’re not giving them the chance to learn what it means to be patient, or to think for themselves, or to feel okay just being. These moments don’t have to be “wasted.” They can be filled with play, connection, creativity, and growth.
Simple Things We Can Do Instead:
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👀 Don’t be quick to whip out the iPad or phone — especially for short moments like waiting at a cafe or in a queue. Try “I Spy” or rhyming games instead.
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🧘♀️ Structure fewer activities. Leave open time in your child’s day to “just be” and see what they come up with.
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🌤️ Embrace slow days. Have whole days with no plans or structured activities.
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💬 Reframe boredom:
Instead of “go find something to do,” try:-
“It’s lovely outside — what could you explore today?”
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“Maybe we could bring out the [sticks / box / old lids] and see what you can create.”
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📌 Use prompts not tasks: Our “Bored is When the Magic Happens” poster is a great way to guide open-ended play without overstimulating or scripting it.
Backed by Research — Simple Play Is Powerful
✅ Loose‑parts play sparks creativity
A 2025 systematic review found that indoor “loose parts” play — with simple items like cups, pegs, and marbles — builds creativity, problem-solving, and divergent thinking in children aged 0–6.
(ERIC, MDPI, ResearchGate)
✅ Nature-based unstructured play boosts wellbeing
A 2020 PLOS review showed that free play in natural settings (mud, sticks, water) improves physical health, motor skills, imaginative play, attention, and emotional resilience.
(Journals.PLOS.org)
✅ Unstructured play builds emotional and self-regulation skills
A 2021 longitudinal study found preschoolers who engage in 1–5 hours of unstructured active play had significantly better self-regulation two years later.
(ScienceDirect)
In Short: Let Them Be Bored
When we slow down and let kids dive into simple, open-ended play — whether it’s throwing a paper ball into a cup or splashing in a creek — we give them something priceless:
Space to think. Time to regulate. The chance to breathe, imagine, and grow.
With love,
🌈Sarah