431 | What Do You Do When a Child Says 'I'm Bored' in the Playroom?

Episode summary

In this episode, I answer a question about something nearly every child-centered play therapist will eventually hear: "I'm bored." When a child complains that there's nothing to do, asks why you never get new toys, or seems dissatisfied with the playroom, it can be surprisingly easy to take those comments personally and start questioning whether we're providing enough. I explain why boredom isn't evidence that your playroom is inadequate—it's communication. Anxiety, resistance, avoidance, power and control, discomfort with choice, or simply not knowing what to do with freedom can all show up as "I'm bored."

I also discuss how to respond without getting pulled into explaining, defending, or justifying the playroom. Rather than answering the child's question literally, we can reflect the feeling or content and allow the child to sit in the discomfort of the moment. Ultimately, boredom is another behavior we need to approach with neutrality: it isn't about us, and we don't need to fix it. Our job is to provide the consistent CCPT environment, trust the child, and remain adherent while they figure out what to do with what they're experiencing.