Stephanie Finne - I Feel Bored

TIPS FOR CAREGIVERS

Social and emotional learning (SEL) helps children manage emotions, create
and achieve goals, maintain relationships, learn how to feel empathy, and
make good decisions. The SEL approach will help children establish positive
habits in communication, cooperation, and decision-making. By incorporating
SEL in early reading, children will be better equipped to build confidence
and foster positive peer networks.

BEFORE READING

Talk to the reader about boredom. Boredom can be a sign of other feelings.

Discuss: What does it feel like when you are bored? What other feelings
do you feel? What do you do when you feel bored?

AFTER READING

Talk to the reader about ways to cultivate creativity. Explain that being bored
helps us be creative. It helps us find what we enjoy and can also help us learn
how to make our own choices.

Discuss: How often do you feel bored? What can you do?
Can you set aside one night a week for a new activity?

SEL GOAL

Some students may struggle with boredom because they have trouble focusing.
They may be expressing many other feelings that they havent been able to
identify. Help them find words for their inner experiences and states of mind
through books, visuals, and other resources.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CHAPTER

FEELING BORED

Have you ever been
bored? How did that
feel? Were you tired
and unable to ?
Did you want to do
something different?

We feel bored when we arent interested in
something. Boredom can happen at home
or at school. It can even happen when we
are doing something fun! Sometimes we just
arent interested in an activity.

Boredom looks different for
everyone. Some people .
Some stare or .

O thers cant sit still. They have
too much . They may act
out. Mark gets bored in the car.
He picks on his little sister.

PASS THE TIME

If you are somewhere for a long
period of time, find a game you can
play. This can help pass the time.

CHAPTER

WHAT CAN YOU DO?

Being bored can be .
When you dont find an activity
interesting, it can be hard
to focus. You want to
do something else.
When you cant,
you may get angry.
So what can you do?

Try doing something active! When Abby
is bored at home, she asks her neighbor
to play outside. They take turns thinking
of new games!

fidget spinner

You cant do whatever you want in
school. Even if you are not interested
in a subject, you still need to listen.

Benji takes notes with different
colored pens. If Maren finishes
a test early, she quietly plays
with her fidget spinner. It helps
her release energy.

BE AWARE

Just because you are bored
doesn't mean others are.
Think before you act. Will your
actions bother those around you?

If you are bored often, try writing
down your feelings. Think about
what is making you bored. Then
ideas. What could
you do to feel ?

Make a list of activities you
like to do at home. Think about
ways you can join in lessons at
school. Write your ideas down.

ASK FOR HELP

Talk to a parent or teacher
if you are feeling bored
often. Ask them to help
you brainstorm ideas.

Try a new activity. It can be scary to
try something new, but it can also
feel good. It is OK to make mistakes.
K eep trying. Learning something
new is never boring!

Exercise helps Tia focus. She was
nervous to try out for the team,
but she loves practice! She is
making new friends, too!

Practice being .
This helps us be in the
moment and appreciate
what is happening right
now. Close your eyes.
What do you hear and
smell? How does your
body feel?

MINDFULNESS EXERCISE

Try the S.T.O.P. exercise:

Stop what you are doing.
Take a breath.
. Take note
of what is happening.
How do you feel?
. After you take
a moment, keep going!

CHAPTER

SHARING SPACE

Everyone gets bored sometimes.
Mel doesnt get mad when her
brother gets bored. Instead, she
suggests a new game. They find
something else to play.

Set with your friends,
or help them set their own.
Micah's goal is to try a
new recipe.

Some new choices or goals
dont feel right. Thats OK .
It happens! Think about what
you could do differently next