Teenage homeschoolers are usually pretty smart (thanks mom and dad!), but they are also just as easily bored. They finish their lessons in a fraction of the amount of time as their regularly-schooled peers. But then they have the rest of the day to do…well, nothing! (according to them). So what do you do with a bored homeschoolers?
What happens after the homeschool lessons?
After homeschoolers complete the day’s lessons, they find themselves unsure of what to do with their energy. So what do they do? A bored teenage homeschooler usually turns to an electronic device of choice to immediately satisfy this boredom. But soon the the stimulation of the cell phone or video games wears off. And the boredom quickly returns with a vengeance (and an appetite!).
We all know what happens when homeschoolers (especially teens) get bored. They get mopey, dreary, dismal, downcast, somber, and despondent. They can even get downright nasty (and they make sure everyone around them knows it).
I once heard a great saying that changed my perspective on how I think about the word boring and all of its derivatives:
Only boring people get bored.
The average teenage homeschooler
The teenage homeschool population is, in fact, not boring. They are the exact opposite! They have such incredible minds bursting with creativity and wonder and, dare I say it, maturity! With the right opportunities and resources, these bored homeschoolers have the potential to make huge impacts in their lives and the lives of others. They just need to fill their unstructured time with value-added activities and opportunities. They may need some guidance in finding something productive, interesting, and valuable (in their eyes) to do with their time.
Is boredom productive?
In more academic terminology, here is a specific definition of boredom:
Boredom is a special frame of mind in which one has the available resources (time and energy) to exercise creative energy and choose mentally stimulating and fulfilling challenges to remove oneself from an otherwise disconcerting cognitive state of mind. Whew, that was a lot.
In other words, boredom is the tool behind what makes us the great thinkers. Inventors. Authors. Founders. Designers. Creators. Experimenters. Originators. Architects. And innovators behind the ideas, solutions, products, and businesses that service the world.
Boredom isn’t time wasted twiddling one’s thumbs or watching paint dry, as the proverbial sayings go. It is instead the secret weapon behind what motivates us, what inspires us. Boredom makes us want to be and do better!
Boredom is, in fact, a secret weapon. Yes, it’s productive! With the right help, bored homeschoolers will eventually find something that clicks with them. They will begin to use this secret weapon as they refocus energy into more positive, stimulating experiences. They will turn boredom into a hobby that they enjoy, an activity that they look forward to, or an exertion of energy that leaves them feeling refreshed, renewed, and satisfied each day.
Parent’s Role
Let your homeschooler get bored! But the next time they whine about how bored they are (I can almost hear it now), challenge them. Yes, that’s right. Challenge them to engage in a hobby or to actually pursue something worthwhile. You may have to lead them at first, but soon your bored teen will look forward to his or her new “free” time to spend on his or her new passions.
Need some ideas for your bored homeschooler? Read my blog post about 62 ideas for teens to fight boredom and the parents’ guide to helping bored teens find their passion!